Composite lobe joint and manufacturing method

Abstract

Methods of making composite drive shafts and manufacturing assemblies thereof are provided. The methods include providing a removable mandrel having a cylindrical shape and assembling a lobe joint member at an end thereof. The lobe joint member includes at least three lobes equally distributed thereabout. A removable end flange is assembled to the lobe joint member at an opposite end of the lobe joint member from the removable mandrel to form a manufacturing assembly. A composite material is applied to an exterior surface of the manufacturing assembly to form a composite tubular that includes the lobe joint member at an end thereof. The removable end flange is removed from the lobe joint member and the removable mandrel is removed from within the composite tubular to form a composite drive shaft comprising the composite tubular and the lobe joint member integrally formed at an end of the composite tubular.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.