Containment structure

Claim 2

A containment casing for blocking the movement of particles moving through an axially extending region, the particles having a radial component of velocity, which comprises: an inner casing which has an exterior and which extends circumferentially about the axially extending region; a fabric extending circumferentially about the exterior of the inner casing, the fabric having a first end, a second end, a first mass per unit length in a first portion of the fabric, and a second mass per unit length in a second portion of the fabric which is smaller than the first mass per unit length; and, means for applying a load to the first end and the second end which engages the ends to place the fabric in tension.

Claim 3

The containment casing of claim 1 which further has an edge region extending circumferentially about the fabric wherein said first portion of the fabric is in the edge region of the fabric.

Claim 4

The containment casing of claim 2 which further has a leading edge region wherein the first portion of the fabric is in the leading edge region of the fabric.

Claim 5

The containment casing of claim 3 wherein the containment casing is radially outwardly of an array of rotor blades, the rotor blades having a spanwise length and a leading edge wherein the leading edge region of the fabric extends from a first point axially forwardly of the leading edges of the rotor blades a distance equal to thirty percent of the spanwise length of a rotor blade to a second point axially forwardly of the first point.

Claim 6

The containment casing of claims 1, 2, 3 or 4 wherein said means extends between the ends.

Claim 7

The containment casing of claim 5 wherein each end of the fabric is adapted by a loop to engage said means.

Claim 8

The containment casing of claim 6 wherein said means has at least two axially extending bars each of which is adapted to engage an associated loop and further has a means for bringing the two bars closer together.

Claim 9

The flexible casing of claim 7 wherein the means for bringing the two bars together is a turnbuckle.

Claim 10

A containment casing for blocking the movement of particles originating in the axially extending flow path of a gas turbine engine, the particles having a radial component of velocity, which comprises: an inner casing which has an exterior and which extends circumferentially about the axially extending flow path; a fabric including a plurality of layers of material which extend circumferentially about the exterior of the inner casing, each layer having a first end, a second end, a first mass per unit length in a first portion of the layer, and a second mass per unit length in a second portion of the layer which is smaller than the first mass per unit length, a first ribbon of material attached to a pair of layers at the first ends of the pair of layers the first ribbon having a first strip and a second strip spaced from the first strip leaving a gap therebetween, and a second ribbon of material attached to a pair of layers of material at the second ends of the pair of layers, the second ribbon having a first strip and a second strip spaced from the first strip leaving a gap therebetween; and means for applying a load to the fabric which includes a first bar adapted to engage the strips of the first ribbon and a second bar adapted to engage the strips of the second ribbon, means for bringing the bars closer together which engages the first bar and the second bar and which extends through the gaps between the strips.

Claim 11

A containment casing for blocking the movement of particles originating in the axially extending flow path of a gas turbine engine, the particles having a radial component of velocity, which comprises: an inner casing which has an exterior and which extends circumferentially about the axially extending flow path; a fabric including a plurality of layers of material which extend circumferentially about the exterior of the inner casing, each layer having a first end, a second end, a first mass per unit length in a first portion of the layer, and a second mass per unit length in a second portion of the layer which is smaller than the first mass per unit length, a first ribbon of material attached to a pair of layers at the first ends of the pair of layers the first ribbon having a first strip and a second strip spaced from the first strip leaving a gap therebetween, and a second ribbon of material attached to a pair of layers of material at the second ends of the pair of layers, the second ribbon having a first strip and a second strip spaced from the first strip leaving a gap therebetween; and means for applying a load to the fabric which includes a first bar adapted to engage the strips of the first ribbon and a second bar adapted to engage the strips of the second ribbon, means for bringing the bars closer together which engages the first bar and the second bar and which extends through the gaps between the strips.

Claim 12

The containment casing of claim 9 wherein the means for bringing the bars closer together is a turnbuckle.

Claim 13

The containment casing of claim 9 which further has an edge region extending circumferentially about the fabric wherein said first portion of the fabric is in the edge region of the fabric.

Claim 14

The containment casing of claim 11 which further has a leading edge region wherein the first portion of the fabric is the leading edge region of the fabric.

Claim 15

The containment casing of claim 12 wherein the containment casing is radially outwardly of an array of rotor blades, the rotor blades having a spanwise length and a leading edge, wherein the leading edge region of the fabric extends from a first point axially forwardly of the leading edges of the rotor blades a distance equal to thirty percent of the spanwise length of a rotor blade to a second point axially forwardly of the first point.

Claim 16

A flexible casing for blocking the movement of particles having a radial component of velocity, which comprises: a fabric which is adapted to extend circumferentially about an axially extending region containing said particles, the fabric having a first end, a second end, a first mass per unit length in a first portion of the fabric, and a second mass per unit length in a second portion of the fabric which is smaller than the first mass per unit length; and, means for applying a load to the first end and the second end which engages the ends to place the fabric in tension.

Claim 17

A flexible casing for blocking the movement of particles having a radial component of velocity, which comprises: a fabric which is adapted to extend circumferentially about an axially extending region containing said particles, the fabric having a first end, a second end, a first mass per unit length in a first portion of the fabric, and a second mass per unit length in a second portion of the fabric which is smaller than the first mass per unit length; and, means for applying a load to the first end and the second end which engages the ends to place the fabric in tension.

Claim 18

The flexible casing of claim 14 which further has an edge region extending circumferentially about the fabric wherein said first portion of the fabric is in the edge region of the fabric.

Claim 19

The flexible casing of claim 15 which further has a leading edge region wherein the first portion of the fabric is in the leading edge region of the fabric.

Claim 20

The flexible casing of claims 14, 15 or 16 wherein said means extends between the ends.

Claim 21

The flexible casing of claim 17 wherein each end of the fabric is adapted by a loop to engage said means.

Claim 22

The flexible casing of claim 18 wherein said means has at least two axially extending bars each of which is adapted to engage an associated loop and further has a means for bringing the two bars closer together.

Claim 23

The flexible casing of claim 19 wherein the means for bringing the two bars together is a turnbuckle.

Claim 24

A flexible casing for blocking the movement of particles orginating in the axially extending flow path of a gas turbine engine, the particles having a radical component of velocity, which comprises: a fabric including a plurality of layers of material which is adapted to extend circumferentially about the axially extending flow path, each layer having a first end, a second end, a first mass per unit length in a first portion of the layer, and a second mass per unit length in a second portion of the layer which is smaller than the first mass per unit length; and, a first ribbon of material attached to a pair of layers at the first ends of the pair of layers, the first ribbon having a first strip and a second strip spaced from the first strip leaving a gap therebetween and, a second ribbon of material attached to a pair of layers of material at the second ends of the pair of layers, the second ribbon having a first strip and a second strip spaced from the first strip leaving a gap therebetween; and means for applying a load to the fabric which includes a first bar adapted to engage the strips of the first ribbon and a second bar adapted to engage the strips of the second ribbon, means for bringing the bars closer together which engages the first bar and the second bar and which extends through the gaps between the strips.

Claim 25

A flexible casing for blocking the movement of particles orginating in the axially extending flow path of a gas turbine engine, the particles having a radical component of velocity, which comprises: a fabric including a plurality of layers of material which is adapted to extend circumferentially about the axially extending flow path, each layer having a first end, a second end, a first mass per unit length in a first portion of the layer, and a second mass per unit length in a second portion of the layer which is smaller than the first mass per unit length; and, a first ribbon of material attached to a pair of layers at the first ends of the pair of layers, the first ribbon having a first strip and a second strip spaced from the first strip leaving a gap therebetween and, a second ribbon of material attached to a pair of layers of material at the second ends of the pair of layers, the second ribbon having a first strip and a second strip spaced from the first strip leaving a gap therebetween; and means for applying a load to the fabric which includes a first bar adapted to engage the strips of the first ribbon and a second bar adapted to engage the strips of the second ribbon, means for bringing the bars closer together which engages the first bar and the second bar and which extends through the gaps between the strips.

Claim 26

The flexible casing of claim 21, which further has an edge region extending circumferentially about the fabric wherein said first portion of each layer is in the edge region of the fabric.

Claim 27

The flexible casing of claim 22, which further has a leading edge region wherein the first portion of the layer is in the leading edge region of the fabric.

Claim 28

The flexible casing of claim 22, wherein the first portion of each layer having a first mass per unit length has an additional thickness of material in the edge region of the fabric.

Claim 29

The flexible casing of claim 24, wherein the additional thickness of material is a portion of the layer which is folded over.

Claim 30

The flexible casing of claim 24, wherein the additional thickness of material is a strip of material attached to the layer of material by thread extending through the layer and the strip of material.

Claim 31

The flexible casing of claims 21, 22, 23, 24 or 26, wherein the means for bringing the bars closer together is a turnbuckle.

Claim 32

The flexible casing of claims 21, 22, 23, 24 or 26, which further has a plurality of first ribbons of material and a plurality of second ribbons of material each extending between said pair of layers of material, a first bar extending axially to engage the strips of the first ribbons, a second bar extending axially to engage the strips of the second ribbons and a plurality of turnbuckles extending between the first bar and the second bar.

Claim 33

The flexible casing of claims 21, 22, 23, 24 or 26, wherein a plurality of first ribbons of material and a plurality of second ribbons of material extend between said pair of layers of material, a plurality of first bars one bar at each first ribbon each first bar extending axially to engage the strips of the first ribbon, a plurality of second bars one bar at each second ribbon each second bar extending axially to engage the strips of the second ribbon, and a plurality of turnbuckles each turnbuckle extending between an associated first bar and an associated second bar.

Claim 38

The method of forming a containment structure of claim 31, wherein the step of applying a load to the fabric includes the step of increasing the load until an elongation occurs which is equal to at least three percent (3%) of the free length of the fabric.

Claim 39

The method of forming a containment case of claim 31, wherein the fabric has a first end, a second end, and in a portion of the fabric a first spring constant under a first tension and a second spring constant under a second tension which is greater than the first spring constant wherein the step of applying a load to the fabric includes the step of increasing the length of fabric to cause a level of tension in that portion of the fabric which is equal to or greater than said second tension.

Claim 40

The method of forming a containment case of claim 33, which further includes the step of securing the fabric against contraction by restraining a portion of the fabric against movement.

Claim 41

The method of forming a containment case of claim 33, wherein the fabric has two ends and the step of securing the fabric against unwrapping further includes the step of restraining an end of the fabric against movement with respect to a second end of the fabric.

Claim 43

The method of forming a containment case of claim 36, wherein the load lies in a range of forty-five (45) pounds of force to fifty-five (55) pounds of force per axial inch of length of fabric.

Claim 46

The method of forming a containment case for a rotary machine of claim 38, wherein said load is a first load and said portion of the axial length is a first portion of the axial length, and wherein the method further includes the step of applying a second load which is not equal to the first load along a second portion of the axial length of the fabric to cause an elongation in the circumferential length of the second portion of the fabric.

Claim 47

The method of forming a containment case for a rotary machine of claim 39, wherein the fabric has an edge region extending circumferentially about the first casing, the first circumferential length is in the first circumferential portion of the fabric, and the first circumferential portion of the fabric is in the edge region of the fabric.