Composite mandrel
AssigneeA&P Technology, Inc.
InventorSteven Stenard
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A mandrel and method of making a mandrel for use as a substrate in the manufacture of woven or braided articles. The mandrel may have an inner core of foam; at least a first layer of carbon fiber-reinforced resin, and an outer layer of glass fiber-reinforced resin. The foam core may be a high density, closed cell polyurethane foam that is formed of a desired size and shape. The fibers in the first layer and outer layer may be, for example, chopped fibers, continuous longitudinally aligned fibers, circumferentially wound fibers, obliquely aligned fibers, or the fibers may have a woven or braided pattern. Multiple mandrels may be joined together to form complex mandrel shapes such as curves, ovals, and circles.
Claims7
A method of making a mandrel that is used as a substrate in the manufacture of a woven or braided article, comprising the steps of:
- providing a mandrel core of foam having two ends and one or more sides,
- overlaying the foam core with a sleeve of carbon fibers in contacting engagement with the foam core and enveloping each of the one or more sides of the foam core, the carbon fibers axially-aligned relative to a longitudinal axis of the mandrel body, the sleeve comprising resilient fibers transverse to the carbon fibers;
- applying a resin to the carbon fibers to create a carbon fiber-reinforced resin layer;
- after the carbon fiber-reinforced resin layer cures, overlaying the carbon fiber-reinforced resin layer with a sleeve of glass fibers;
- applying a resin to the glass fibers to create a glass fiber-reinforced resin layer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.