Abstract: A composite gas turbine engine blade is made by braiding a plurality of fibers to form a preform having an airfoil precursor portion and an integral root precursor portion. A plurality of fiber shaping inserts are positioned in the root precursor portion, either by braiding the root precursor portion around the inserts or inserting the fiber shaping inserts into the root precursor portion after braiding, to impart an enlarged, divergent shape (e.g., dovetail precursor shape) to the braided root precursor portion. The braided preform with the enlarged, shaped root precursor portion is infiltrated with matrix material and shaped to near net shape to provide the composite blade with a dovetail shaped root.

Abstract: An annular fluid seal is provided between a pair of spaced apart machine components, such as a rotor and a stator. The rotatable component includes an annular sealing surface of increasing diameter in a given direction (e.g., along its length or along a radially extending shoulder). An annular fibrous sealing element is disposed proximate the clearance space between the components in such a manner that a sealing portion thereof engaging the other component moves in the direction of increasing diameter as the sealing portion may wear so as to maintain sealing contact with the annular sealing surface. A fluid seal is thereby maintained between the components.

Abstract: A composite gas turbine engine blade is made by braiding a plurality of fibers to form a preform having an airfoil precursor portion and an integral root precursor portion. A plurality of fiber shaping inserts are positioned in the root precursor portion, either by braiding the root precursor portion around the inserts or inserting the fiber shaping inserts into the root precursor portion after braiding, to impart an enlarged, divergent shape (e.g., dovetail precursor shape) to the braided root precursor portion. The braided preform with the enlarged, shaped root precursor portion is infiltrated with matrix material and shaped to near net shape to provide the composite blade with a dovetail shaped root.

Abstract: A braided gas turbine engine blade preform includes an airfoil precursor portion and an integral root precursor portion. A plurality of fiber shaping inserts are disposed in the root precursor portion, to impart an enlarged, divergent shape (e.g., dovetail precursor shape) to the braided root precursor portion. The braided preform with the enlarged, shaped root precursor portion is infiltrated with matrix material and shaped to near net shape to provide a composite blade with a dovetail shaped root.

Abstract: The apparatus includes a plurality of fiber strand carrier members that are movable on a carrier surface defined by multiple, movable, side-by-side support members and a plurality of fiber guides affixed on the support members for dispensing axial stuffer fiber strands as the carrier members move along predetermined paths to intertwine the fiber strands from the fiber guides. The carrier members are disposed on the support members for movement therewith and for movement from one support member to abother. The fiber guides are affixed on the support members for movement only with the respective support member. The stuffer fiber strand for each fiber guide is dispensed from a spool that is carried on a respective support member or is mounted on a stationary base.

Abstract: The apparatus includes a plurality of movable support members that are arranged side-by-side and collectively form a quadratic carrier surface, such as a cylindrical carrier surface. A plurality of fiber strand carrier members are movable on the carrier surface to intertwine the fiber strands. Each fiber strand extends from its carrier member along an axis that intersects the axes of the other fiber strands at a generally common consolidation point near a fiber gathering device that gathers the fiber strands from the carrier members. The carrier members are generally equidistant from the fiber consolidation point as a result of moving on the quadratic carrier surface so that the gathering device can maintain a generally constant tension in the fiber strands regardless of their position on the carrier surface.