Composite connectors and methods of manufacturing the same
AssigneeCrompton Technology Group Limited
InventorsJames BERNARD, Will POLLITT
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of manufacturing a connector for a fluid transfer conduit comprises: manufacturing a tube which runs parallel to a central axis C from fibre-reinforced polymer, said tube comprising a hub portion 206 and a flange-forming portion 208 located adjacent to the hub portion 206, wherein the hub portion 206 comprises continuous circumferentially oriented fibre-reinforcement 210; and the hub portion 206 and the flange-forming portion 208 comprise longitudinally oriented fibre-reinforcement 212 which runs continuously from the hub portion 206 into the flange-forming portion 208; and bending the flange-forming portion 208 away from the central axis C such that it extends from the hub portion 206 at an angle to the central axis C.
Claims15
A method of manufacturing a connector for a fluid transfer conduit, the method comprising:
- manufacturing a tube which runs parallel to a central axis from fibre-reinforced polymer, said tube comprising a hub portion and a flange-forming portion located adjacent to the hub portion, wherein the hub portion comprises continuous circumferentially oriented fibre-reinforcement;
- and the hub portion and the flange-forming portion comprise longitudinally oriented fibre-reinforcement which runs continuously from the hub portion into the flange-forming portion;
- and
- bending the flange-forming portion away from the central axis such that it extends from the hub portion at an angle to the central axis.
A connector for a fluid transfer conduit, the connector being made from fibre-reinforced polymer and comprising:
- a hub portion comprising a tube which extends substantially parallel to a central axis;
- and
- a flange portion which extends from the hub portion at an angle to the central axis;
- wherein the hub portion comprises continuous circumferentially-oriented fibre reinforcement;
- and
- wherein the connector comprises longitudinally oriented fibre reinforcement which runs continuously from the hub portion into the flange portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.