Composite springs and methods of manufacture
AssigneeSpencer Composites Corporation
InventorsBrian E. SPENCER, Zachary B. SPENCER
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Abstract
Composite springs and methods of manufacture are described. The composite springs include a flexible core supporting multiple layers of a cured, resin-impregnated composite fiber wherein resin-impregnated composite fiber is wound or braided over the flexible core and cured on a helical mold to form a spring having a desired helical pitch, diameter and spring rate. The multiple layers of resin-impregnated composite fiber are wound or braided at ±5-90 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis of the flexible core.
Claims11
A composite spring comprising:
- a flexible core supporting multiple layers of a cured resin-impregnated composite fiber, the flexible core and cured resin-impregnated composite fiber wound or braided to form a spring having a desired helical pitch, diameter and spring rate.
A method of manufacturing a composite spring comprising the steps of:
- a. winding resin-impregnated composite fiber over a flexible core to create a wet fiber cord;
- b. wrapping the wet fiber cord on a spring mold and allowing the wet fiber cord to cure to form a cured fiber spring;
- and
- c. removing the cured fiber spring from the spring mold.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.