Hybrid piston pin
AssigneeExxon Research & Engineering Co.
InventorHoward D. Driver
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A light-weight, high-strength composite pin for use in pin-jointed reciprocating mechanisms and a method of preparation thereof is provided. Basically, the pin has a tubular metal sleeve and an interior fiber-reinforced resin core. At least 50% of the fibers in the core are continuous fibers which are oriented at a predetermined specific angle of orientation ranging, in general, from 0.degree. to about .+-.25.degree.. Indeed, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the fibers are cross-plied at an angle of orientation of from about 5.degree. to about 12.degree..
Claims7
A method of making a pin for a pin-jointed reciprocating mechanism comprising:
- forming a fiber-reinforced resin core member having at least 50% of continuous fibers therein, said fibers being oriented at a predetermined angle of orientation of between about 0.degree. to about .+-.25.degree. with respect to the longitudinal axis of said core;
- inserting said core in a tubular metal sleeve, said sleeve and core being of predetermined dimensions to provide a prestressed, snug fit of said core in said sleeve;
- heating said core and sleeve at elevated temperatures and for a time sufficient to post-cure said resin of said core and to relieve said stress of said snug fit.
A method of making a pin for a pin-jointed reciprocating mechanism comprising:
- providing a plurality of sheets of resin impregnated unidirectional continuous fibers in the form of a predetermined flat pattern, said fibers being oriented at a predetermined angle of orientation with respect to the longitudinal axis of said flat pattern, said angle being in the range of from about 0.degree. up to about 25.degree.;
- arranging said sheets in alternating fashion one on top of the next to provide a laminate whereby the fibers in adjacent sheets are cross-piled when said angle is greater than 0.degree. and whereby said fibers in adjacent sheets are unidirectional when said angle is 0.degree.;
- wrapping said laminate around a mandrel;
- heating said assembly to cure said resin;
- allowing said assembly to cool to ambient temperatures;
- removing said mandrel;
- providing a tubular metal sleeve;
- inserting said fiber-reinforced cured resin into said tubular sleeve to form a prestressed snug fit between said cured resin and said tubular sleeve;
- heating said sleeve and fiber-reinforced resin to post-cure said assembly and to relieve said stress of said snug fit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.