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US 9,803,672 B2Granted
Split end tube connector
AssigneeAllred & Associates Inc.
InventorsJimmie B. Allred, III, Michael D. Griswold, Timothy Braun
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A split end tube connector connects fiber reinforced composite tubes, and in particular carbon fiber tubes. The tube connector end inserted into the carbon fiber tube is split lengthwise to alleviate peel stresses caused by thermal contraction of the connector as a result of temperature changes. In a preferred embodiment, the split end tube connector is made from a metal, such as aluminum, steel, or titanium.
Claims20
A split end tube connector system comprising:
- a) at least one split end tube connector comprising:
- i) a first hollow internal end;
- and
- ii) an external end,
- wherein the first hollow internal end includes two or more longitudinal slots and at least one ridge, the at least one ridge comprising a bottom wall substantially parallel to the slots and two side walls substantially perpendicular to the slots;
- and
- b) at least one first carbon fiber tube having a first end and a second end, wherein the first hollow internal end of the split end tube connector is fastened to the first carbon fiber tube by adhesively bonding the first hollow internal end of the split end tube connector into the first end of the first carbon fiber tube,
- wherein the first hollow internal end is hollow, immediately radially inwardly adjacent any point the split end tube connector is adhesively bonded into the first end of the first carbon fiber tube.
5 more elements
A split end tube connector system comprising:
- a) at least one split end tube connector comprising:
- i) a first hollow internal end;
- ii) an external end;
- and
- iii) an outer portion inclusively between the first hollow internal end and the external end;
- iii) a first plurality of ridges on the outer portion, each ridge of the first plurality of ridges having a bottom wall substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the split end tube connector and two side walls substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the split end tube connector, the first plurality of ridges covering a first longitudinal length of the outer portion of the split end tube connector, the first longitudinal length extending less than an entire longitudinal length of the split end tube connector,
- wherein the first internal end comprises two or more longitudinal slots;
- and
- b) at least one first carbon fiber tube having a first end and a second end, wherein the first internal end of the split end tube connector is adhesively bonded into the first end of the first carbon fiber tube,
- wherein the longitudinal slots locally weaken the tube connector in the radial direction.
7 more elements
A split end tube connector system comprising:
- a) at least one split end tube connector including:
- i) a first hollow internal end;
- ii) an external end;
- iii) an outer portion inclusively between the first hollow internal end and the external end;
- iii) at least one ridge on the outer portion, the at least one ridge having a bottom wall substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the split end tube connector and two side walls substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the split end tube connector;
- and
- v) two or more longitudinal slots extending through the at least one ridge, each slot extending through the at least one ridge further extending only through the first hollow internal end,
- and
- b) at least one first carbon fiber tube having a first end and a second end, wherein the first internal end of the split end tube connector is adhesively bonded into the first end of the first carbon fiber tube.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.