IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,234,141
Granted Patent B2
US 10,234,141 · App. 15/140,911 · Granted Mar 19, 2019

Ceramic and ceramic matrix composite attachment methods and systems

Inventor: Chris Vargas (West Hartford, CT)
Assignee: United Technoloigies Corporation
F23R3/007F01D11/08F01D25/005F01D25/24F01D25/28F01D25/30F16B37/048F23R3/60F05D2220/32F05D2230/20F05D2230/31F05D2230/60F05D2240/35F05D2260/30F05D2300/6033F16B5/0642F23R2900/00018
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,234,141
App. No.
15/140,911
Granted
Mar 19, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

Attaching a fastener to a ceramic matrix composite or ceramic body by inserting a portion of the fastener into a compartment of the body, the compartment having a first portion and a second portion, the second portion outboard of and narrower than the first portion; and delivering a fluid into the fastener to expand a portion of the fastener within the blind compartment first portion.

Claims (42)

1. A method for mounting attaching a ceramic matrix composite or ceramic body, the method comprising:

attaching a fastener to the ceramic matrix composite or ceramic body by:

inserting a portion of the fastener into a compartment of the body, the compartment having a first portion and a second portion, the second portion outboard of and narrower than the first portion; and

delivering a fluid into the fastener to expand a portion of the fastener within the compartment first portion;

passing a threaded shank of the fastener through a hole in a mounting structure; and

installing and tightening a nut to the shank.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the compartment is a blind compartment.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the method comprises engaging a fluid source to the shank before the delivering and disengaging the fluid source from the shank after the delivering.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

heating a portion of the fastener.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising forming the blind compartment by:

laterally shifting a rotating bit, the rotating bit having a protuberant cutting or grinding portion that forms the blind compartment first portion.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the forming the blind compartment further comprises:

forming an initial bore.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein:

the lateral shifting comprises a circular shift.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the body is a combustor panel body.

9. The method of claim 4 wherein:

the heating is induction heating that selectively heats the metal relative to the ceramic matrix composite or ceramic body.

10. The method of claim 4 wherein:

the heating is infrared heating that locally heats a surface of the ceramic matrix composite or ceramic body opposite the fastener so that the ceramic matrix composite or ceramic body, then heats the fastener via conduction.

11. A mounted panel assembly comprising:

a mounting structure having a hole in the mounting structure;

a ceramic matrix composite or ceramic body, the body having a compartment, the compartment having a first portion and a second portion, the second portion outboard of and narrower than the first portion; and

a fastener having:

an expanded portion deformed to protuberance within the compartment first portion; and

a threaded shank passing through the hole in the mounting structure and held by a nut.

12. The panel assembly of claim 11 wherein:

the compartment is a blind compartment.

13. The panel assembly of claim 11 wherein:

the expanded portion is hollow.

14. The panel assembly of claim 13 wherein:

the expanded portion interior is continuous with a hollow portion of the shank.

15. The panel assembly of claim 11 wherein:

the body is shaped as a segment of a frustoconical shell.

16. A gas turbine engine comprising the panel assembly of claim 11 wherein:

the panel is along a gaspath of the gas turbine engine.

17. The gas turbine engine of claim 16 wherein:

the panel is selected from the group consisting of combustor panels, blade outer air seals, and exhaust nozzle liners.

Assignments (4)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jul 27, 2023
From: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
To: RTX CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 064714/0001 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE AND REMOVE PATENT APPLICATION NUMBER 11886281 AND ADD PATENT APPLICATION NUMBER 14846874. TO CORRECT THE RECEIVING PARTY ADDRESS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 054062 FRAME: 0001. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE CHANGE OF ADDRESS. Recorded Mar 4, 2021
From: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
To: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 055659/0001 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Sep 4, 2020
From: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
To: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 054062/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 28, 2016
From: VARGAS, CHRIS
To: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 038406/0298 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20170314785A1 · Nov 2, 2017
Cited By (2)
US 12,578,093 US 12,747,861