Integrated composite drive shafts
AssigneeGoodrich Corporation
InventorsMark R. Gurvich, Michael J. King, Brayton Reed, Joyel M. Schaefer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A composite shaft includes a plurality of composite elements arranged about an axis to form a hollow shaft with at least one undulation. The plurality of composite elements incudes a first group of the composite elements arranged about the axis offset by an angle +α and a second group of the composite elements arranged about the axis offset by an angle −α to form a web with the first group of composite elements. The first and second groups of the plurality of composite elements are configured to cooperate with one another to allow the hollow shaft to be flexible under axial load and stiff under rotational load.
Claims19
A composite shaft, comprising:
- a plurality of composite elements arranged about an axis to form a hollow shaft,
- wherein the plurality of composite elements incudes:
- a first group of the composite elements arranged about the axis offset by an angle +a;
- a second group of the composite elements arranged about the axis offset by an angle −a to form a web with the first group of composite elements,
- wherein the first and second groups of the plurality of composite elements are configured to cooperate to allow the hollow shaft to be flexible under bending and/or axial load and stiff under rotational load;
- and
- a third group of composite elements arranged generally circumferentially about the axis and axially spaced apart from one another along the axis, and
- one or more undulations extending radially outward from the shaft;
- wherein the third plurality of individual composite elements are positioned between the one or more undulating portions.
A method of making a composite shaft, comprising,
- forming a mandrel to have one or more undulating portions along an axis of the mandrel;
- overlaying a first group of composite elements arranged about the axis offset by an angle +α, a second group of composite elements arranged about the axis offset by an angle −α, and a third group of composite elements as axially spaced hoops around an external surface of the mandrel to form a composite web with the first and second groups of composite elements, wherein the third group of composite elements are positioned between the one or more undulating portions;
- hardening the composite web on the mandrel;
- and
- removing the mandrel from within the composite web to form a hollow shaft;
- wherein the first and second groups of the plurality of composite elements are configured to cooperate to allow the hollow shaft to be flexible under bending and/or axial load and stiff under rotational load.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.