Composite material force or motion transmitting member

A composite, force-transmitting rod comprising:

• an end fitting having an outer end face defining an associated end of said rod and an inner end face spaced axially inwardly of said outer end face and defining the inner limit of said end fitting, said end fitting having a tapered portion which tapers from said inner end face such that the diameter of said end fitting diminishes in proceeding from said inner end face toward said outer end face along said tapered portion, and
• a strength member having a main portion exteind along a substantial portion of its length and of substantially constant outside diameter, said strength member also having an end portion adjacent said main portion which end portion includes a layer of braided strands embedded in a cured resin, said braided layer surrounding at least a part of said tapered portion of said end fitting and fitting snugly around said tapered portion so that when a rod is subjected to a longitudinal, tensile force said end portion of said strength member abuts said tapered portion of said end fitting to help prevent said strength member from separating from said end fitting,
• said end portion of said tubular strength member also including a layer of strands wrapped generally circularly around said braided layer along said tapered portion of said end fitting, said layer of circularly wrapped strands being also embedded in said cured resin and said end portion of said strength member along its entire length having an outside diameter less than said outside diameter of said main portion.

A force-transmitting rod comprising:

• a light weight cylindrical core,
• a metal end fitting at one end of the core having an outer end face defining an associated end of said rod and an inner end face spaced axially inwardly of said outer end face and defining the inner limit of said end fitting, said end fitting fruther having a tapered portion extending from said inner end face such that the diameter of said tapered portion diminished in proceeding from said inner end face toward said outer end face,
• a plurality of discrete protuberances extending from said tapered portion of said end fitting, and
• a stiff strength member having a main portion extending along a substantial portion of its length and of substantially constant outside diameter, said strength member having an end portion adjacent said main portion which end portion includes a layer of braided strands which surrounds at least a part of said tapered portion and said discrete protuberances, said discrete protuberances penetrating at least half way through the thickness of said braided layer
• said strength member also including a layer of strands wrapped generally circularly around said braided layer along said tapered portion of said end fitting, and both said layer of braided strands and said layer of circularly wrapped strands being embedded in a cured resin, and said end portion of said strength member along its entire length having an outside diameter less than said outside diameter of said main portion.