Back to results
US 4,929,505 AGranted
Carbon-carbon composite structural assemblies and methods of making the same
AssigneeAcurex Corporation
InventorsRobert M. Washburn, Jerry D. Dodson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Various methods of fixedly connecting together carbon-carbon composite structures are disclosed herein along with the ultimately connected structural assemblies. These assemblies for the most part consist only of the carbon-carbon composite structures and a char forming material such as pitch which has been charred and do not require fastening means made of any other type of material such as metal bolts or the like. As a result, each of these assemblies, in its entirety, is especially suitable for use in high temperature environments including specifically hyperthermal environments.
Claims34
A method of fixedly connecting together first and second carbon-carbon composite structures along predetermined first and second segments of said structures, respectively, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) configuring said structures such that at least one of said structures is sufficiently resilient so that said surface segments engage one another in a compression fitted fashion without the continued use of external force therefor, whereby to hold said structures together;
- (b) coating at least one of said surface segments with a char forming material;
- (c) causing said surface segments to engage one another in said compression fitted fashion with said char forming material therebetween;
- and
- (d) thereafter, subjecting said char forming material to a heated environment sufficient to char said char forming material, whereby this fixedly connects said structures together.
2 more elements
A structural assembly, comprising:
- (a) first and second carbon-carbon composite structures having predetermined first and second surface segments, respectively, at least one of said surface segments being sufficiently resilient such that said surface segments engage one another in a compression fitted manner without the aid of external forces, whereby to hold said structures together;
- and
- (b) a layer of charred material disposed between said surface segments for fixedly connecting said composite structures together, said charred material being the result of coating a char forming but uncharred material over at least one of said surface segments prior to engaging said surface segments to one another and after so engaging these surface segments subjecting the coated char forming material to a heated environment sufficient to char the material.
A method of making a bolt having an externally threaded shank and comprising substantially entirely of carbon-carbon composite structural material, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a carbon-carbon composite structure in the shape of a block;
- (b) machining said carbon-carbon composite structural block into the shape of said bolt with a continuous opening extending axially through its shank, said opening having a circular cross section of a given diameter;
- (c) providing a tapered pin of carbon-carbon composite structural material such that the maximum cross sectional diameter of said pin is slightly greater than the diameter of said opening;
- (d) coating the axially extending outer surface of said tapered pin and/or the axially extending inner surface of said opening with a char forming material;
- (e) thereafter, forcing said pin into said opening so as to cause at least axially extending sections of said surfaces to engage one another in a compression fitted fashion with said char forming material therebetween;
- and
- (f) after said tapered pin has been forced into said opening, subjecting said char forming material to heat sufficient to char said char forming material.
4 more elements
A bolt, comprising:
- (a) A bolt body including an axially extending, externally threaded shank and an enlarged head at one end of said shank, said body being formed in its entirety of carbon-carbon composite structural material and having a through hole extending axially through said head and said shank;
- (b) a tapered pin disposed within said through hole in a compression fitted fashion, said pin being constructed in its entirety of carbon-carbon composite structural material;
- and
- (c) a coating of charred material disposed between the outer axially extending surface of said pin and the internal surface of said bolt body defining said through hole.
1 more element
A structural assembly comprising:
- (a) a first substrate constructed in its entirety of carbon-carbon composite structural material, said substrate having a through hole;
- (b) a second substrate constructed of a material other than carbon-carbon composite structural material and having a different thermal coefficient of expansion than said first substrate, said second substrate having a through hole;
- and
- (c) means for interconnecting together said first and second composite structures in a way which allows them to move relative to one another as a result of thermal expansion and contraction, said interconnecting means including a bolt constructed substantially entirely of carbon-carbon composite structural material, said bolt including a shank which extends through and has a cross-sectional configuration smaller than both of said through holes, and a nut constructed entirely of carbon-carbon composite structural material connected to the bolt in a way which fixedly connects said first and second substrates together while allowing said relative expansion and contraction of the two.
1 more element
A bolt, comprising:
- (a) a bolt body including an axially extending, shank and an enlarged head at one end of said shank, said body being formed in its entirety of carbon-carbon composite structural material and having a through hole extending axially through said head and said shank;
- (b) a tapered pin disposed within said through hole in a compression fitted fashion, said pin being constructed in its entirety of carbon-carbon composite structural material;
- and
- (c) a coating of charred material disposed between the outer axially extending surface of said pin and the internal surface of said bolt body defining said through hole.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.