US 11,976,763 B2Granted

Fibre reinforced polymer tube

AssigneeHitachi Energy Ltd

InventorsAnders C Johansson, Magnus U. Henriksson, Anders Holmberg

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Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) tube, the tube comprising a plurality of concentric layers of an FRP material forming a shell of the tube. At least one blind threaded longitudinal bolt hole is provided from a transverse end surface of the shell. The bolt hole extends in at least three of the plurality of layers, a middle layer encompassing a plane passing through a center of the bolt hole, an inner layer encompassing a plane of an innermost extent of the bolt hole, and an outer layer encompassing a plane of an outermost extent of the bolt hole. The fibre filament of each of the inner and outer layers has been wound at a first angle to the longitudinal axis and the fibre filament of the middle layer has been wound at a second angle to the longitudinal axis.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) tube having a longitudinal axis and a circular cross section, the FRP tube comprising a plurality of concentric layers of an FRP material forming a shell of the tube,

wherein at least one blind threaded longitudinal bolt hole is provided from a transverse end surface of the shell;
wherein the bolt hole extends in at least three of the plurality of layers, a middle layer encompassing a plane passing through a center of the bolt hole, an inner layer encompassing a plane of an innermost extent of the bolt hole, and an outer layer encompassing a plane of an outermost extent of the bolt hole;
wherein the FRP material for each of the plurality of layers is formed from at least one wound continuous fibre filament in a solid polymer resin;
wherein the at least one filament of each of the inner and outer layers has been wound at a first angle to the longitudinal axis corresponding to 90° minus a lead angle of the threading of the bolt hole ±5° or ±2°;
and
wherein the at least one filament of the middle layer has been wound at a second angle to the longitudinal axis corresponding to 90° minus half of a thread angle of the threading of the bolt hole ±5° or ±2°.

3 more elements

A method of forming a shell comprising a plurality of concentric layers of a fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) material, of an FRP tube having a longitudinal axis and a circular cross section, wherein at least one blind threaded longitudinal bolt hole comprising a thread is provided from a transverse end surface of the shell, the method comprising:

forming each of the plurality of layers of the shell by, around a support tube, applying a polymer resin and winding at least one continuous fibre filament at an angle to the longitudinal axis, followed by curing of the polymer resin to form the layer having the wound filament in a solid resin matrix, wherein:
the at least one filament of an inner layer of the plurality of layers is wound at a first angle to the longitudinal axis corresponding to 90° minus a lead angle of the thread of the bolt hole ±5° or ±2°,
the at least one filament of a middle layer, concentrically outside of the inner layer, is wound at a second angle to the longitudinal axis corresponding to 90° minus half of a thread angle of the thread of the bolt hole ±5° or ±2°,
the at least one filament of an outer layer, concentrically outside of the middle layer, is wound at 180° minus the first angle to the longitudinal axis;
drilling the at least one bolt hole from a transverse end surface of the shell of the formed plurality of layers;
and
threading the at least one drilled bolt hole with said thread.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 17/055,259Filed 3 Jul 2019
Priority: EP 181815944 Jul 2018
Published: US 2021/0199224 A11 Jul 2021
Granted: 7 May 2024
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification25 codes

B29C 70/06
Comprising reinforcements only, e.g. self-reinforcing plastics: fibrous reinforcements only
F16L 47/16
Connecting arrangements or other fittings specially adapted to be made of plastics or to be used with pipes made of plastics: screw-threaded joints
B29C 53/56
Shaping by bending, folding, twisting, straightening or flattening; Apparatus therefor: winding and joining, e.g. winding spirally
B29C 53/587
For making tubular articles with particular features: having a non-uniform wall-structure, e.g. with inserts, perforations, locally concentrated…