Electrical conductor paths

Abstract

A component, for example an aerofoil vane or other gas path structure in a gas turbine machine such as a gas turbine engine, in which an insulated electrical conductor path ( 2 ) is embedded structurally integrally, and in which electromagnetic shielding ( 1, 2, 20, 22 ), for the embedded electrical conductor path is provided structurally integrally.

1 . A component in which an insulated electrical conductor path is embedded structurally integrally, and in which electromagnetic shielding for the embedded electrical conductor path is provided structurally integrally. 
     
     
         2 . A component as claimed in  claim 1 , being a gas path structure of a gas turbine machine. 
     
     
         3 . A component as claimed in  claim 2 , being an aerofoil vane of a gas turbine machine. 
     
     
         4 . A component as claimed in  claim 1 , having a fibre reinforced plastic structure comprising plies each a weave of fibres and a matrix material in which the plies are embedded. 
     
     
         5 . A component as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein plies of the fibre reinforced plastic structure comprise each a weave of electrically insulating fibres, and wherein an electrically insulating fibre is substituted by an electrically conducting fibre integrally woven into the ply concerned, the electrically conducting fibre thereby providing the electrical conductor path or the electromagnetic shielding. 
     
     
         6 . A component as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein plies of the fibre reinforced plastic structure comprise each a weave of electrically insulating fibres, and wherein an electrically insulating fibre is provided with an electrically conducting covering integrally woven with the fibre into the ply concerned, the fiber having the electrically conducting covering thereby providing the electrical conductor path or the electromagnetic shielding. 
     
     
         7 . A component as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein one or more plies, comprising each a weave of electrically insulating fibres, are laid up in such a way that a channel is provided in which one or more electrically conducting members are embedded, thereby providing the electrical conductor path and/or the electromagnetic shielding. 
     
     
         8 . A component as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein at least some of the plies are of fibres having some electrical conductivity, such that they provide the electrical conductor path and/or the electromagnetic shielding. 
     
     
         9 . A component as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein plies of fibres having some electrical conductivity provide the electrical conductor path and the electromagnetic shielding, the plies of the electrical conductor path and the plies of the electromagnetic shielding being electrically insulated from one another. 
     
     
         10 . A component as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the plies of the electrical conductor path and the plies of the electromagnetic shielding are electrically insulated from one another by a ply or plies of electrically insulating fibres. 
     
     
         11 . A component as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising a conductive surface coating which provides electromagnetic shielding. 
     
     
         12 . A component as claimed in  claim 11 , the component being a gas path structure of a gas turbine machine, wherein the conductive surface coating is an erosion protection coating on the gas path structure. 
     
     
         13 . A precursor of a component as claimed in  claim 1 , having a fibre reinforced plastic structure comprising plies, each a weave of fibres, and a matrix material in which the plies are embedded, wherein one or more plies, comprising each a weave of electrically insulating fibres, are laid up in such a way that a channel is provided in which there is embedded one or more passageway defining members, providing passageways in the completed precursor, into which passageways one or more electrically conducting members may be subsequently by introduced to provide the electrical conductor path and/or the electromagnetic shielding. 
     
     
         14 . A gas turbine machine comprising a component as claimed in  claim 1 .