End-fittings for composite tubes, method for joining fittings to the ends of composite tubes and composite tubes incorporating end-fitting
US8262825B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 8, 2008 |
| Grant date | Sep 11, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 26, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T156/1051
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
Composite tubes may be fabricated by filament winding a layer of resin impregnated carbon fiber with a near-axial fiber orientation over a mandrel and over end-fittings. Bands of resin-impregnated fibers are then wound circumferentially around this near-axial layer in a position that coincides with a circumferential groove in the underlying end-fittings. The ends of the near-axial layer are folded back over the bands, resulting in a double layer of intact near-axial fibers locked into the groove on the end-fittings by the bands of intact circumferential fibers. Testing has shown this arrangement to be effective for introducing very high axial loads onto the composite tube.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.