US Patent 8449260 Composite load-bearing rotating ring and process therefor

Composite load-bearing rotating rings suitable for use in fan sections of gas turbine engines, and processes for their fabrication. Such a ring has at least a first portion defining an integral abutment surface adapted to abut and retain hardware of a rotating machine, at least a second portion defining an integral flange adapted to secure the ring to a support structure of the rotating machine, and an insert. Each of the first and second portions and the insert contains a polymer matrix material and a fibrous reinforcement material, and the fibrous reinforcement material within the insert is oriented predominantly in a circumferential direction of the ring for carrying both circumferential and radial loads during rotation of the ring.