Tubular structure and a method of manufacturing thereof
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorGeorge Stephen Cowart
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods and structures are disclosed. An example method includes: rotating a tubular mandrel about a longitudinal axis of the tubular mandrel; depositing a composite material on an inner surface of the tubular mandrel to form a composite tubular member on the inner surface of the tubular mandrel; inserting and expanding an inner expandable mandrel within the composite tubular member to cause the inner expandable mandrel to press the composite tubular member against the inner surface of the tubular mandrel; curing the composite tubular member; removing the inner expandable mandrel; placing a frame within the composite tubular member; and removing the tubular mandrel so as to obtain the composite tubular member with the frame placed therein.
Claims17
A tubular structure comprising:
- a composite tubular member;
- a geodesic frame disposed within and contacting the composite tubular member, wherein the geodesic frame comprises two oppositely-wound spirals joined at intersection points of the two oppositely-wound spirals;
- and
- an end plate coupled to respective ends of the two oppositely-wound spirals.
A fuselage comprising:
- a section having a tubular member comprising a composite material;
- a geodesic frame disposed within the tubular member and supporting the tubular member, wherein the geodesic frame comprises two oppositely-wound spirals joined at intersection points of the two oppositely-wound spirals;
- and
- an end plate coupled to respective ends of the two oppositely-wound spirals.
An aircraft comprising:
- a fuselage section comprising a tubular member made of a composite material;
- a geodesic frame disposed within the tubular member and supporting the tubular member, wherein the geodesic frame comprises two oppositely-wound spirals joined at intersection points of the two oppositely-wound spirals, wherein pitch and number of coils of the two oppositely-wound spirals are configured to form space for one or more aircraft windows;
- and
- an end plate coupled to respective ends of the two oppositely-wound spirals.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.