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US 8,136,758 B2Granted
Hybrid strut comprising metal and composite portions
AssigneeHoneywell International Inc.
InventorsDouglas J. Steinke, Allen H. Simpson, Manuel G. Koucouthakis
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A strut (18, 50) includes a fiber-reinforced, elongate composite body (36, 54) and has first and second ends and a metal and/or tubular support (20, 52) at least partially embedded in the composite body (36, 54), where the composite body (36, 54) has first (40, 60) and second ends (42, 62) forming first and second load-bearing end portions of the strut (18, 50). Also a method forms such a strut using a mold (70).
Claims19
A strut comprising:
- a fiber-reinforced, elongate composite body comprising composite body first and second ends;
- and
- a metal support at least partially embedded in the composite body, wherein the metal support is tubular and comprises a wall comprising a plurality of through openings, and wherein the plurality of through openings are covered by the composite body,
- the composite body first and second ends forming first and second load-bearing end portions of the strut.
1 more element
An aircraft landing gear component comprising:
- a strut comprising a strut first end and a strut second end;
- and
- a wheel connected to the strut second end,
- the strut comprising:
- a tubular support comprising a longitudinal axis, a cylindrical wall comprising an inner surface, an outer surface and a plurality of through openings between the inner surface and the outer surface;
- a composite body covering the plurality of through at least partially covering the tubular support, and
- a plurality of reinforcing fibers located at least in a portion of the composite body overlying the outer surface.
4 more elements
A method of forming a strut, the method comprising:
- placing a tubular metal member in a strut-shaped mold, wherein the tubular metal member comprises a wall comprising a plurality of through openings;
- placing reinforcing fibers in the mold around the tubular metal member;
- filling the mold with a composite resin;
- allowing the composite resin to cure to at least partially embed the tubular metal member in the composite resin and to cover the plurality of through openings;
- and
- removing the cured composite resin and tubular metal member from the mold, wherein the cured composite resin defines a fiber-reinforced, elongate composite body comprising composite body first and second ends forming first and second load-bearing end portions of the strut.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.