Triaxially braided composite nut and bolt

Abstract

A hollow composite internally threaded member such as a nut includes a reinforcing fabric layer such as a braided or knit layer extending in the axial direction of the member and conforming to its threads and an exterior cross-sectional configuration defined by a tubular braided triaxial fabric having axially extending elements of greater size than the remainder of the elements forming the triaxial fabric. A method of making such an internally threaded member comprises forming and embedding in a mtrix at least one reinforcing fabric layer and one triaxial fabric layer on an externally threaded cylindrical core and thereafter removing the core. Such internally threaded member may be threadedly joined and bonded to an externally threaded member of complementary thread pitch and thread diameter to form a bolt. The externally threaded member may comprise an elongate core having an integral tubular fabric layer bonded to its exterior surface.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.