Composite joint assembly
AssigneeGoodrich Corporation
InventorsMark R. Gurvich, Rony Giovanni Ganis
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The composite tube may include a body having a longitudinal centerline axis and at least one end portion. The at least one end portion may include a plurality of segments that are angled relative to the longitudinal centerline axis and are circumferentially separated from each other by a plurality of slits. The composite tube may be implemented in a joint assembly that includes a support wedge. The support wedge may at least partially engage at least one of a radially inward surface of the at least one end portion and a radially outward surface of the at least one end portion.
Claims18
A composite tube comprising:
- a body comprising a longitudinal centerline axis;
- and
- at least one end portion, wherein the at least one end portion comprises a plurality of segments that are angled relative to the longitudinal centerline axis and are circumferentially separated from each other by a plurality of slits;
- wherein the plurality of segments respectively comprise base portions connected to the body and tip portions, wherein the tip portions of the plurality of segments cumulatively form a segmented rim;
- and
- wherein the segmented rim has a cross-sectional shape that is different than a cross-sectional shape of the body.
A joint assembly comprising:
- a composite tube comprising a body having a longitudinal centerline axis and at least one end portion that is angled relative to the longitudinal centerline axis;
- and
- a support wedge that at least partially engages at least one of a radially inward surface of the at least one end portion and a radially outward surface of the at least one end portion;
- wherein a cross-sectional shape of the at least one end portion of the composite tube is non-circular;
- wherein the at least one end portion of the composite tube comprises a plurality of segments that are angled relative to the longitudinal centerline axis and are circumferentially separated from each other by a plurality of slits.
A method of forming a joint assembly, the method comprising:
- cutting a plurality of slits into an end portion of a composite tube, wherein a plurality of segments of the composite tube are circumferentially separated from each other by the plurality of slits, wherein the plurality of segments respectively comprise base portions extending from a body of the composite tube and tip portions, wherein the tip portions of the plurality of segments cumulatively form a segmented rim;
- bending the plurality of segments relative to a longitudinal centerline axis of the composite tube, wherein the segmented rim has a cross-sectional shape that is different than a cross-sectional shape of the body;
- engaging a support wedge to the end portion of the composite tube to support the plurality of segments;
- and
- curing the composite tube.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.