Integrated composite drive shafts
AssigneeGoodrich Corporation
InventorsMark R. Gurvich, Michael J. King, Brayton Reed, Joyel M. Schaefer
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Abstract
In accordance with at least one aspect of this disclosure, a composite shaft includes a plurality of composite elements arranged about an axis to form a hollow shaft with at least one undulation. The plurality of composite elements incudes a first group of the composite elements arranged about the axis offset by an angle +α and a second group of the composite elements arranged about the axis offset by an angle −α to form a web with the first group of composite elements. The first and second groups of the plurality of composite elements are configured to cooperate with one another to allow the hollow shaft to be flexible under axial load and stiff under rotational load.
Claims20
A composite shaft, comprising:
- a plurality of composite elements arranged about an axis to form a hollow shaft, wherein the plurality of composite elements incudes:
- a first group of the composite elements arranged about the axis offset by an angle +α;
- and
- a second group of the composite elements arranged about the axis offset by an angle −α to form a web with the first group of composite elements,
- wherein the first and second groups of the plurality of composite elements are configured to cooperate to allow the hollow shaft to be flexible under bending and/or axial load and stiff under rotational load;
- and
- one or more undulations extending radially outward from the shaft.
A method of making a composite shaft, comprising,
- forming a mandrel to have one or more undulating portions along an axis of the mandrel;
- overlaying a composite web onto an external surface of the mandrel;
- hardening the composite web on the mandrel;
- and
- removing the mandrel from within the composite web to form a hollow shaft.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.