REINFORCED ELASTOMERIC BLADE

摘要

The present disclosure provides for a reinforced elastomeric blade having a plurality of laminated layers. The laminated layers can include at least two layers of elastomeric material at least partially separated by a fiber reinforced laminate layer or an embedded metal layer.

主权项

1. A method of fabricating a monolithic elastomeric blade composed of elastomeric material having oriented reinforcing fibers therein, comprising:
providing a moldable preform of elastomeric material containing oriented reinforcing fibers; disposing said moldable and curable elastomeric material preform in a first portion of a mold cavity and extending into a chamber adjoining said mold cavity, said first portion of said mold cavity having adjoining thereto and communicating therewith a second portion of said mold cavity; displacing said moldable elastomeric material preform from said chamber, causing flow of said elastomeric material into said second portion of said mold cavity; reorienting, by said flow, said fibers in the elastomeric material flowing into said second portion of said mold cavity into a second fiber orientation direction, while leaving fibers in said first portion of said mold cavity as originally oriented; curing said elastomeric material preform, thereby forming said molded article; wherein said oriented reinforcing fibers comprise at least a first and a second laminated layer of fibers; and, said first laminated layer of fibers and said second laminated layer of fibers separated by elastomeric material therebetween.