Composite connectors and methods of manufacturing the same
AssigneeCrompton Technology Group Limited
InventorsJames Bernard, Will Pollitt
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of manufacturing a connector for a fluid transfer conduit comprises: manufacturing a tube which runs parallel to a central axis C from fibre-reinforced polymer, said tube comprising a hub portion 206 and a flange-forming portion 208 located adjacent to the hub portion 206, wherein the hub portion 206 comprises continuous circumferentially oriented fibre-reinforcement 210; and the hub portion 206 and the flange-forming portion 208 comprise longitudinally oriented fibre-reinforcement 212 which runs continuously from the hub portion 206 into the flange-forming portion 208; and bending the flange-forming portion 208 away from the central axis C such that it extends from the hub portion 206 at an angle to the central axis C.
Claims16
A method of manufacturing a connection system comprising a connector and a fluid transfer conduit, the method comprising:
- manufacturing a tube which runs parallel to a central axis from fibre-reinforced polymer, said tube comprising a hub portion and a flange-forming portion located adjacent to the hub portion,
- wherein the hub portion comprises continuous circumferentially oriented fibre-reinforcement, the flange-forming portion comprises little or no circumferentially-oriented fibre reinforcement, and the hub portion and the flange-forming portion comprise longitudinally oriented fibre-reinforcement which runs continuously from the hub portion into the flange-forming portion;
- bending the flange-forming portion away from the central axis to form a flange portion which extends from the hub portion at an angle to the central axis and is arranged for securing the connector to another structure;
- and
- connecting the fluid transfer conduit to the hub portion of the connector such that the fluid transfer conduit fits over an outer diameter of the hub portion or inside an inner diameter of the hub portion;
- wherein the longitudinally oriented fibre-reinforcement runs continuously from the hub portion into the flange portion and continues across a radius of the flange portion to an outer edge of the flange portion;
- wherein the fluid transfer conduit comprises continuous circumferentially oriented fibre-reinforcement;
- wherein the composition and orientation of the continuous fibre reinforcement within the hub portion is selected such that a coefficient of thermal expansion of the hub portion substantially matches a coefficient of thermal expansion of the fluid transfer conduit and/or a stiffness of the hub portion substantially matches a stiffness of the fluid transfer conduit;
- and
- wherein the continuous circumferentially oriented fibre-reinforcement in the fluid transfer conduit has a fibre angle which differs by no more than 15° to a fibre angle of the continuous circumferentially oriented fibre-reinforcement in the hub portion.
A connection system comprising a connector and a fluid transfer conduit, wherein the connector is made from fibre-reinforced polymer and comprises:
- a hub portion comprising a tube which extends substantially parallel to a central axis;
- and
- a flange portion which extends from the hub portion at an angle to the central axis and is arranged for securing the connector to another structure;
- wherein the hub portion comprises continuous circumferentially-oriented fibre reinforcement, the flange portion comprises little or no circumferentially-oriented fibre reinforcement, and the connector comprises longitudinally oriented fibre reinforcement which runs continuously from the hub portion into the flange portion and continues across a radius of the flange portion to an outer edge of the flange portion;
- wherein the fluid transfer conduit is connected to the hub portion of the connector such that the fluid transfer conduit fits over an outer diameter of the hub portion or inside an inner diameter of the hub portion;
- wherein the fluid transfer conduit comprises continuous circumferentially oriented fibre-reinforcement;
- wherein the composition and orientation of the continuous fibre reinforcement within the hub portion is selected such that a coefficient of thermal expansion of the hub portion substantially matches a coefficient of thermal expansion of the fluid transfer conduit and/or a stiffness of the hub portion substantially matches a stiffness of the fluid transfer conduit;
- and
- wherein the continuous circumferentially oriented fibre-reinforcement in the fluid transfer conduit has a fibre angle which differs by no more than 15° to a fibre angle of the continuous circumferentially oriented fibre-reinforcement in the hub portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.