Patent ID: 7762502
Filing Date: 2010-07-27
Classification: B29C,B29K,B29L,B32B,F16L,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A tube clamp for use in a hot section of a gas turbine engine, comprising: a first half of cured composite material, the first half having a first portion, a second portion, and a filler material, the first portion including fibers embedded in a matrix, the fibers comprising axial surface portions and comprising fiber ends defined by radial surface portions, the first portion being of a predetermined thickness to form a bottom ply layer and having a predetermined contour conforming to at least a portion of a tube and an interface, the bottom ply layer having a contoured tube-contacting surface comprising axial surface portions of the fibers and essentially no radial surface portions, the second portion being of a predetermined thickness to form a top ply layer, the filler material being sandwiched between the top ply layer and the bottom ply layer; a second half of cured composite material, the second half having a first portion, a second portion, and a filler material, the first portion including fibers embedded in a matrix, the fibers comprising axial surface portions and comprising fiber ends defined by radial surface portions, the first portion being of a predetermined thickness to form a bottom ply layer and having a predetermined contour conforming to at least a portion of a tube and an interface corresponding to the interface of the first half, the bottom ply layer having a contoured tube-contacting surface comprising axial surface portions of the fibers and essentially no radial surface portions, the second portion having fibers embedded in a matrix, the second portion being of a predetermined thickness to form a top ply layer, the filler material being sandwiched between the top ply layer and the bottom ply layer; and means for joining the first half to the second half.