US 12,404,002 B2
Skin assembly and method for manufacturing the same
Grant Henson, Niskayuna, NY (US)
Assigned to GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, Evendale, OH (US)
Filed by General Electric Company, Schenectady, NY (US)
Filed on Nov. 4, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/980,605.
Prior Publication US 2024/0150003 A1, May 9, 2024
Int. Cl. B32B 18/00 (2006.01); B32B 3/06 (2006.01); B64C 1/12 (2006.01); B64C 1/38 (2006.01); B64C 30/00 (2006.01); C04B 35/565 (2006.01); C04B 35/80 (2006.01); C04B 41/91 (2006.01); C04B 111/00 (2006.01)
CPC B64C 1/12 (2013.01) [B32B 3/06 (2013.01); B32B 18/00 (2013.01); B64C 1/38 (2013.01); B64C 30/00 (2013.01); C04B 35/565 (2013.01); C04B 35/80 (2013.01); C04B 41/91 (2013.01); C04B 2111/00982 (2013.01); C04B 2237/82 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A skin assembly, comprising:
a first ceramic-matrix-composite skin panel comprising one or more first fingers extending along a first direction; and
a second ceramic-matrix-composite skin panel comprising one or more second fingers extending along the first direction, the one or more second fingers interdigitated with the one or more first fingers to define a plurality of staggered expansion gaps between the first ceramic-matrix-composite skin panel and the second ceramic-matrix-composite skin panel wherein the plurality of staggered expansion gaps are configured to accommodate thermal expansion of at least a portion of the skin assembly when an outer surface of the skin assembly is subject to a speed greater than Mach 5.