Methods for forming composite tubing having tapered ends
AssigneeKaiser Aerospace & Electronics Corporation
InventorsJames M. Barrier, Mark D. Drey, Leslie V. Montford, Stephen S. Tan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Reinforced composite tubes having integral tapered ends are formed on mandrels which are tapered at each end. Reinforcement fabric is first conformed to the mandrel with at least one end of the fabric structure retaining an opening therein. The mandrel is disassembled and removed through the opening, and a matrix cured within the fabric to produce the desired composite. Usually, the fabric structure will be cured in an external mold with an inflatable mandrel inserted through the opening applying internal pressure.
Claims19
A method for forming a reinforced composite tube having integral tapered ends, said method comprising:
- conforming a fabric over an elongate mandrel, the mandrel having a non-tapered central portion with a first thickness, non-tapered end portions with a second thickness, the first thickness being thicker than the second thickness, and tapered portions between the central portion and end portions tapering from the first thickness to the second thickness, such that the fabric is formed into a hollow fabric structure having first and second tapered ends and an opening in at least one of said fabric structure tapered ends which is smaller than the central portion of the mandrel;
- removing the mandrel from the interior of the fabric structure by disassembling the mandrel to fit through the opening;
- curing a matrix precursor material in the fabric to form the reinforced composite tube
- and, forming at least one of the tapered ends in the fabric into a tapered connector configuration.
A method as in claim I, wherein the fabric is conformed by rolling onto a cylindrical mandrel having tapered ends.
a method for forming a reinforced composite tube having integral tapered ends, said method comprising:
- conforming a fabric over an elongate mandrel, the mandrel having a non-tapered central portion with a first thickness, non-tapered end portions with a second thickness, the first thickness being thicker than the second thickness, and tapered portions between the central portion and end portions tapering from the first thickness to the second thickness, such that the fabric is formed into a hollow fabric structure having first and second tapered ends and an opening in at least one of said fabric structure tapered ends which is smaller than the central portion of the mandrel;
- removing the mandrel from the interior of the fabric structure by disassembling the mandrel to fit through the opening;
- introducing an inflatable mandrel into a hollow interior of the fabric structure;
- inflating the inflatable mandrel while the fabric structure is held within an external mold having a desired geometry;
- curing a matrix in the fabric to form the reinforced composite tube;
- and, forming at least one of the tapered ends in the fabric into a tapered connector configuration.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.