Nested tube cryogenic support system
AssigneeHarsco Corporation
InventorsZachary R. Taylor, Fred J. Darms, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved nested tube cryogenic support and its method of manufacture includes a plurality of nested tube assemblies each including an FRP tube having a metal connector element integrally joined at each end thereof by forming a groove around the outer periphery of the connector elements, forming the end portion of the uncured FRP tube into the groove, and applying a prestressed fiber reinforced plastic band around the outer periphery of the tube at the groove to apply a compressive force reinforcing the joint between the connector elements and the tube.
Claims18
A cryogenic support including at least one generally cylindrical structural assembly comprising a tubular member formed of a fiber reinforced plastic material having a low thermal conductivity and a pair of metal connector members rigidly mounted one on each end of said tubular member,
- said connector members each including an annular outer surface portion having an annular groove formed therein, said groove being defined by a shoulder abutting one end of said tubular member, a trough portion adjacent to and extending from said shoulder axially inward of said tubular member, and an outwardly convex transition portion extending axially inward of said tubular member from said trough portion and including a first section having a relatively short radius of curvature and a second section having a substantially longer radius of curvature, said first section being located adjacent to said trough portion and cooperating therewith to provide an axial abutment resisting relative axial movement between said tubular member and said connector member,
- said tubular member including an annular contoured inner surface at each end thereof complementary to and fitted within said annular groove in said connector member mounted thereon, and
- a plastic impregnated prestressed fiber reinforcing band extending around the outer surface of said tubular member at least in the area radially outward of said contoured surface portion, said reinforcing band being bonded to and forming an integral part of said tubular member and being under a hoop tensile load applying a compressive load between said connector member and said tubular member.
A folded tube cryogenic support including first and second elongated generally cylindrical structural assemblies each having first and second ends and each comprising a tubular member formed of a fiber reinforced plastic material having a low thermal conductivity and a metal connector member rigidly mounted on said first and said second ends thereof, said second generally cylindrical structural assembly being of a smaller diameter and having its first end located within said first structural assembly and in proximity to the first end thereof,
- said connector members each including an annular outer surface portion having an annular groove formed therein, said groove being defined by a shoulder abutting one end of said tubular member, a trough portion adjacent to and extending from said shoulder axially inward of said tubular member, and an outwardly convex transition portion extending axially inward of said tubular member from said trough portion,
- said tubular member including an annular contoured inner surface at each end thereof complementary to and fitted within said annular groove in said connector member mounted thereon,
- a plastic impregnated prestressed fiber reinforcing band extending around the outer surface of said tubular member at least in the area radially outward of said contoured surface portion, said reinforcing band being bonded to and forming an integral part of said tubular member and being under a hoop tensile load applying a compressive load between said connector member and said tubular member, and
- mounting means within said first generally cylindrical structural assembly mounting the first end of said second generally cylindrical structural assembly to the second end of said first generally cylindrical structural assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.