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US 4,171,626 AGranted
Carbon fiber reinforced composite drive shaft
AssigneeCelanese Corporation
InventorsDerek N. Yates, David B. Rezin
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AssigneeCelanese Corporation
InventorsDerek N. Yates, David B. Rezin
Estimating the term…
A carbon fiber reinforced composite tubular drive shaft is provided wherein the fibrous reinforcement is positioned in a structural configuration capable of yielding improved service characteristics. The wall of the drive shaft comprises at least four bonded circumferentially disposed layers composed of appropriate fibrous reinforcement situated within a resin matrix (as described). The carbon fibers are disposed generally longitudinally in a layer at an intermediate position within the tube wall and are capable of efficiently increasing the stiffness of the shaft. The overall requirement for the carbon fiber component of the fibrous reinforcement is minimized. Glass fibers likewise are disposed generally longitudinally in a layer at an intermediate position within the tube wall and are capable of economically contributing resistance to torsion buckling to the overall drive shaft without deleteriously influencing the critical speed of the drive shaft. The drive shafts of the present invention, accordingly, are light weight and surprisingly capable of yielding reliable service in the absence of harmful secondary powertrain resonance and the concomitant noise associated therewith.
A carbon fiber reinforced composite tubular drive shaft having improved service characteristics comprising a plurality of bonded circumferentially disposed layers composed of fibrous reinforcement situated within a resinous matrix material, wherein the innermost layer comprises glass fibers disposed at an angle of from .+-.30.degree. to .+-.50.degree. to a line parallel to the longitudinal axis of said shaft, the outermost layer comprises glass fibers disposed at an angle of from .+-.60.degree. to 90.degree. to a line parallel to the longitudinal axis of said shaft, an intermediate layer comprises glass fibers disposed at an angle of from 0.degree. to .+-.15.degree. to a line parallel to the longitudinal axis of said shaft, and an intermediate layer comprises carbon fibers disposed at an angle of from 0.degree. to .+-.15.degree. to a line parallel to the longitudinal axis of said shaft.
A carbon fiber reinforced composite tubular drive shaft suitable for use with land vehicles having a longitudinal modulus of elasticity of approximately 5.5 to 20 million psi and improved service characteristics comprising a plurality of bonded circumferentially disposed layers composed of fibrous reinforcement situated within a resinous matrix material, wherein the innermost layer comprises glass fibers disposed at an angle of .+-.40.degree. to .+-.50.degree. to a line parallel to the longitudinal axis of said shaft, the outermost layer comprises glass fibers disposed at an angle of .+-.80.degree. to 90.degree. to a line parallel to the longitudinal axis of said shaft, an intermediate layer comprises glass fibers disposed at an angle of 0.degree. to .+-.10.degree. to a line parallel to the longitudinal axis of said shaft, and an intermediate layer comprises carbon fibers disposed at an angle of 0.degree. to .+-.10.degree. to a line parallel to the longitudinal axis of said shaft.
A carbon fiber reinforced composite tubular drive shaft suitable for use with land vehicles having a longitudinal modulus of elasticity of approximately 5.5 to 20 million psi and improved service characteristics comprising four bonded circumferentially disposed layers composed of fibrous reinforcement situated within a resinous matrix material, wherein the innermost layer comprises glass fibers disposed at an angle of approximately .+-.45.degree. to a line parallel to the longitudinal axis of said shaft, the outermost layer comprises glass fibers disposed at an angle of approximately .+-.80.degree. to a line parallel to the longitudinal axis of said shaft, a first intermediate layer adjacent said innermost layer comprises glass fibers disposed at an angle of approximately .+-.10.degree. to a line parallel to the longitudinal axis of said shaft, and a second intermediate layer adjacent said first intermediate layer and said outermost layer comprises carbon fibers disposed at an angle of approximately .+-.10.degree. to a line parallel to the longitudinal axis of said shaft.
A carbon fiber reinforced composite tubular drive shaft suitable for use with land vehicles having a longitudinal modulus of elasticity of approximately 5.5. to 20 million psi and improved service characteristics comprising four bonded circumferentially disposed layers composed of fibrous reinforcement situated within a resinous matrix material, wherein the innermost layer comprises glass fibers disposed at an angle of approximately .+-.45.degree. to a line parallel to the longitudinal axis of said shaft, the outermost layer comprises glass fibers disposed at an angle of approximately 90.degree. to a line parallel to the longitudinal axis of said shaft, a first intermediate layer adjacent said innermost layer comprises glass fibers disposed at an angle of approximately 0.degree. to a line parallel to the longitudinal axis of said shaft, and a second intermediate layer adjacent said first intermediate layer and said outermost layer comprises carbon fibers disposed at an angle of approximately 0.degree. to a line parallel to the longitudinal axis of said shaft.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.