Back to results
US 6,519,909 B1Granted
Composite reinforcement for support columns
OwnerNorman C. Fawleyinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A process for reinforcing a load supporting structure including placing a first layer of at least one distinct pre-cured composite piece around the structure, applying adhesive between the piece and the structure, exerting pressure until the adhesive cures, wherein the piece is performed with a shape complementary to the structure, placing at least one additional layer of at least one distinct pre-cured composite piece around the structure and the first layer, and applying an adhesive between the layers.
Claims26
A reinforced load supporting structure comprising:
- (a) An inner load supporting structure having an exposed perimeter;
- (b) A first layer around said exposed perimeter of said load supporting structure having at least one distinct piece of preformed engineering material having high tensile strength and high modulus;
- (c) At least one additional layer around said exposed perimeter of said load supporting structure and said first layer, having at least one distinct piece of preformed engineering material having high tensile strength and high modulus wherein each piece of engineering material is joined together at at least one joint and wherein said at least one joint on at least one additional layer is not aligned with said at least one joint on said first layer;
- and
- (d) An adhesive substance adhering said layers of at least one distinct piece of engineering material wherein each piece of engineering material is preformed with shape complementary to the exposed perimeter of the load supporting structure.
2 more elements
A process for reinforcing a load supporting structure around its exposed perimeter with a pre-cured composite shell comprising:
- (a) placing a first layer of at least one distinct precured composite piece around said exposed perimeter of said load supporting structure;
- (b) applying an adhesive substance between said piece and said structure;
- and
- (c) exerting pressure on said shell until the adhesive cures wherein each pre-cured composite piece is preformed with a shape complementary to the exposed perimeter of the load supporting structure, (d) placing a least one additional layer of at least one distinct pre-cured composite piece around the exposed perimeter of said load supporting structure and first layer of at least one precured composite piece and applying an adhesive substance between said layers.
1 more element
A process for reinforcing a load supporting structure around its exposed perimeter comprising:
- (a) placing a first layer of at least one distinct piece of preformed engineering material having high tensile strength and high modulus around said exposed perimeter of said load supporting structure;
- (b) placing at least one additional layer of at least one distinct piece of preformed engineering material having high tensile strength and high modulus around said exposed perimeter of said load supporting structure and said first layer, wherein said at least one piece of engineering material is joined together at at least one joint and wherein said at least one joint on at least one additional layer is not aligned with said at least one joint on said first layer;
- (c) applying an adhesive substance between said layers of at least one distinct piece of engineering material;
- and
- (d) curing said adhesive wherein each piece of engineering material is preformed with shape complementary to the exposed perimeter of the load supporting structure.
2 more elements
A method of reinforcing a cylindrical support column, comprising:
- preforming a plurality of reinforcing members each comprising a sleeve terminating in lateral edges next to each other, said sleeve defining a discontinuity at the lateral edges, said sleeve having a plurality of first high tensile strength filaments extending parallel to one another, and a plurality of second high tensile strength filaments extending parallel to one another at a 90° angle to the first filaments, wherein the first and second filaments are embedded in a matrix of a fully cured resin,
- wherein the step of preforming comprises forming at least some of the sleeves to have an inner diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the cylindrical support column,
- wherein the step of preforming comprises preforming said sleeve to have the first high tensile strength filaments comprise approximately 90% of all of the high tensile strength filaments of the sleeve and extend parallel to the lateral edges of the sleeve and the second high tensile strength filaments to comprise approximately 10% of all of the filaments of the sleeve;
- wrapping the sleeves around the cylindrical support column from one end of the cylindrical support column to the other such that the sleeves cover substantially the entire cylindrical support column;
- and
- fixing the sleeves to the cylindrical support column with adhesive.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.