Tubular Structure and a Method of Manufacturing Thereof
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorGeorge Stephen Cowart
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods and structures are disclosed. An example method includes: rotating a tubular mandrel about a longitudinal axis of the tubular mandrel; depositing a composite material on an inner surface of the tubular mandrel to form a composite tubular member on the inner surface of the tubular mandrel; inserting and expanding an inner expandable mandrel within the composite tubular member to cause the inner expandable mandrel to press the composite tubular member against the inner surface of the tubular mandrel; curing the composite tubular member; removing the inner expandable mandrel; placing a frame within the composite tubular member; and removing the tubular mandrel so as to obtain the composite tubular member with the frame placed therein.
Claims20
A method comprising:
- rotating a tubular mandrel about a longitudinal axis of the tubular mandrel, wherein the tubular mandrel is vertically-oriented;
- depositing a composite material on an inner surface of the tubular mandrel as the tubular mandrel is rotated so as to form a composite tubular member on the inner surface of the tubular mandrel;
- inserting an inner expandable mandrel within the composite tubular member;
- expanding the inner expandable mandrel so as to cause the inner expandable mandrel to press the composite tubular member against the inner surface of the tubular mandrel;
- curing the composite tubular member while being sandwiched between the inner expandable mandrel and the tubular mandrel;
- removing the inner expandable mandrel;
- placing a frame within the composite tubular member;
- and
- removing the tubular mandrel so as to obtain the composite tubular member with the frame placed therein.
A tubular structure comprising:
- a composite tubular member;
- and
- a geodesic frame disposed within and contacting the composite tubular member, wherein the geodesic frame comprises two oppositely-wound spirals joined at intersection points of the two oppositely-wound spirals.
A tubular structure prepared by a process comprising:
- rotating a tubular mandrel about a longitudinal axis of the tubular mandrel, wherein the tubular mandrel is vertically-oriented;
- depositing a composite material on an inner surface of the tubular mandrel as the tubular mandrel is rotated so as to form a composite tubular member on the inner surface of the tubular mandrel;
- inserting an inner expandable mandrel within the composite tubular member;
- expanding the inner expandable mandrel so as to cause the inner expandable mandrel to press the composite tubular member against the inner surface of the tubular mandrel;
- curing the composite tubular member while being sandwiched between the inner expandable mandrel and the tubular mandrel;
- removing the inner expandable mandrel;
- placing a frame within the composite tubular member;
- and
- removing the tubular mandrel so as to obtain the composite tubular member with the frame placed therein.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.