US4718818A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Containment structure
Assignee: RTX Corp
•
Filing: 1984-09-04
•
Granted: 1988-01-12
•
Expires: 2004-09-04
Abstract
Abstract A circumferentially extending structure 30 for containing particles having an axial component and a radial component of velocity is disclosed. The apparatus is comprised of a support structure 46 and a fabric 44 wrapped under tension about the support structure such that the installed length of the fabric is greater than the free length of the fabric. In one particular embodiment the fabric is coated with a layer of epoxy resin such that the resin penetrates only the top layer of the fabric to form a shield 95 which protects the containment fabric from injury. A method for forming the circumferentially extending structure is disclosed which includes the steps of forming a support structure and wrapping a fabric about the support structure under a preload to cause an elongation of the fabric and tension in the fabric in the installed condition.
Inventors
- 👤 Emile J. Premont
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 14:34
CPC Classifications
F; F01; F01D; F01D21/00; F01D21/04; F01D21/045; F05; F05D; F05D2220/00; F05D2220/30; F05D2220/32; F05D2220/327; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T50/00; Y02T50/60
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
82 words
A containment structure for a rotary machine having a rotor assembly, the containment structure extending circumferentially about the machine outwardly of the rotor assembly and including: a support structure; a fabric extending circumferentially about the support structure under a tension in the installed condition under normal operative conditions wherein the fabric has a free length and an installed length and the installed length of the fabric is greater than the free length of the fabric such that the fabric has said tension.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
82 words
A containment structure for a rotary machine having a rotor assembly, the containment structure extending circumferentially about the machine outwardly of the rotor assembly and including: a support structure; a fabric extending circumferentially about the support structure under a tension in the installed condition under normal operative conditions wherein the fabric has a free length and an installed length and the installed length of the fabric is greater than the free length of the fabric such that the fabric has said tension.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The containment structure of claim 1 wherein the fabric has two ends one of which is attached to the support structure.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
63 words
The containment structure of claim 1 wherein the fabric has two ends, wherein one end is attached to the support structure, wherein the fabric terminates in a last wrap and extends circumferentially about the support structure for at least one wrap to cover a portion of the fabric, and wherein the second end is attached to the wrapping fabric beneath the last wrap.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
88 words
A containment structure for a rotary machine having a rotor assembly, the containment structure extending circumferentially about the machine outwardly of the rotor assembly and including: a support structure; a fabric extending circumferentially about the support structure under a tension in the installed condition under normal operative conditions wherein the fabric has a free length and an installed length and the installed length of the fabric is five percent greater than the free length of the fabric under normal operative conditions such that the fabric has said tension.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
88 words
A containment structure for a rotary machine having a rotor assembly, the containment structure extending circumferentially about the machine outwardly of the rotor assembly and including: a support structure; a fabric extending circumferentially about the support structure under a tension in the installed condition under normal operative conditions wherein the fabric has a free length and an installed length and the installed length of the fabric is five percent greater than the free length of the fabric under normal operative conditions such that the fabric has said tension.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
143 words
A containment structure for a rotary machine having a rotor assembly, the containment structure extending circumferentially about the machine outwardly of the rotor assembly and including: a support structure; a fabric extending circumferentially about the support structure under a tension in the installed condition under normal operative conditions wherein the tension in the fabric is equal to the tension produced by a load lying in a range of forty-five pounds to fifty-five pounds of force per inch of axial width of the fabric, wherein the load is distributed uniformly over and acts tangentially to the fabric on the minimum cross-sectional area presented by the fabric to the load and wherein the fabric has a free length and an installed length and the installed length of the fabric is greater than the free length of the fabric such that the fabric has said tension.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
143 words
A containment structure for a rotary machine having a rotor assembly, the containment structure extending circumferentially about the machine outwardly of the rotor assembly and including: a support structure; a fabric extending circumferentially about the support structure under a tension in the installed condition under normal operative conditions wherein the tension in the fabric is equal to the tension produced by a load lying in a range of forty-five pounds to fifty-five pounds of force per inch of axial width of the fabric, wherein the load is distributed uniformly over and acts tangentially to the fabric on the minimum cross-sectional area presented by the fabric to the load and wherein the fabric has a free length and an installed length and the installed length of the fabric is greater than the free length of the fabric such that the fabric has said tension.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
The containment structure as claimed in claims 1, 4, 2, 3 or 5 wherein the last wrap of fabric is bonded to the preceding wrap, wherein the exposed fabric has an outer surface and wherein a shield covers the outer surface of the fabric.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The containment structure as claimed in claim 6 wherein the shield is formed by a coating of epoxy resin on the outer surface of the fabric.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The containment structure as claimed in claim 7 wherein the coating of epoxy resin extends over the edges of the fabric.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
The invention as claimed in claim 6 wherein the last wrap of fabric is bonded to the preceding wrap with an adhesive which flexibly attaches the wraps together.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
122 words
A containment structure for a rotary machine having a rotor assembly, the containment structure extending circumferentially about the machine outwardly of the rotor assembly and including: a support structure; a fabric extending circumferentially about the support structure under a tension in the installed condition under normal operative conditions, the fabric having 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 and wherein the fabric has a free length and an installed length and the installed length of the fabric is greater than the free length of the fabric such that the level of tension in the fabric is equal to or greater than the second tension.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
122 words
A containment structure for a rotary machine having a rotor assembly, the containment structure extending circumferentially about the machine outwardly of the rotor assembly and including: a support structure; a fabric extending circumferentially about the support structure under a tension in the installed condition under normal operative conditions, the fabric having 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 and wherein the fabric has a free length and an installed length and the installed length of the fabric is greater than the free length of the fabric such that the level of tension in the fabric is equal to or greater than the second tension.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The containment structure as claimed in claim 10 wherein the second spring constant is as at least six times greater than the first spring constant.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2489791A
Cited
GB907562A
Cited
US3203180A
Cited
US3542152A
Cited
GB1245415A
Cited
US3481427A
Cited
US3602602A
Cited
US3684205A
Cited
US3794708A
Cited
GB1453873A
Cited
GB1480378A
Cited
GB1485032A
Cited
US4263246A
Cited
GB2037900A
Cited
US4377370A
Cited
US4411589A
Cited
EP0030179A1
Cited
US4452565A
Cited
US4452563A
Cited
US4475864A
Cited
US4484856A
Cited
US4490092A
Cited
US4500252A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-01-11 | 1991-07-13 | 1992-01-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-01-11 | 1995-07-13 | 1996-01-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-01-11 | 1999-07-13 | 2000-01-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |