Abstract:
a reinforced elongate element (12) comprises a core (22) of elongate shape covered by at least one layer (33) of composite material comprising a plurality of tapes (32) wound at a settable winding angle around said core (22), each of the tapes (32) being made using glass or carbon threads or fibers (35) embedded in a matrix (34) of thermoplastic resin. The elongate element may be in the form of very long tubes suitable for use off-shore.
Abstract:
A method of winding fibers on a mandrel, the wound fibers being in tension, includes providing a source of fibers, imposing a torque on the source that resists dispensing the fibers from the source to exert a tension on the fibers, adding ultra-violet sensitive material that is polymerized by exposure to ultra-violet light to a resin matrix, impregnating dispensed fibers with the additive containing resin matrix, rotating a mandrel to wind the impregnated fibers on the mandrel, the rotation of the mandrel acting to overcome the torque on the source and putting the fibers in tension, and in situ, quasi instantaneously polymerizing the additive containing resin matrix on the mandrel by means of exposing the additive containing resin matrix to ultra-violet light for a selected period of time, such polymerization acting to lock in the tension in the fibers at the time of polymerization. A rail gun fabricated by means of the above method is further included.
Abstract:
A pressure container manufacturing method for manufacturing a pressure container by forming an outer shell made of a fiber reinforced composite material on a periphery of a liner, by: preparing a first fiber bundle which has a large diameter fiber bundle unimpregnated with a resin, and a second fiber bundle which has a small diameter fiber bundle and a thermoplastic resin covering the small diameter fiber bundle; forming a body on the periphery of the liner by braiding the first fiber bundle and the second fiber bundle with a braider; impregnating the first fiber bundle with the thermoplastic resin in the second fiber bundle which is heated and melted; and curing the thermoplastic resin to form the outer shell, wherein tension applied to the first fiber bundle is larger than tension applied to the second fiber bundle when forming the body and/or impregnating the thermoplastic resin.
Abstract:
Armouring tape (102) for wrapping around a hose (300) during its fabrication by a hose-wrapping machine (200; 400). The tape (102) is coiled into a roll (100) having a hollow core (109) from which the tape (102) is unwound to be wrapped onto the hose (300). The hose-wrapping machine (200; 400) rotatably mounts the roll (100) with the hose (300) passing through the roll core (109), the roll axis (108) being skewed to the hose axis (304) by the helix angle at which the tape (102) is to be wrapped onto and along the hose (300). The hose (300) is moved longitudinally through the longitudinally static roll (100) and at the same time, the roll (100) is rotated around the longitudinal axis (304) of the non-rotating hose (300). The armouring tape (102) unwinds from the inside (109) of the roll onto and along the hose (300) so as to wrap the hose (300) with a uniform helix of armouring tape (102). The use of a tape (102) containing an elastomer-embedded array of armouring cables (104) enables armouring wires and elastomer layers to be applied without a stabilising layer of fabric, and greatly simplifies setting-up of machinery for hose fabrication. The use of a tape roll (100) which can be unwound from its inside (109) enables hoses to be wrapped without having to orbit rolls that are very large and heavy.
Abstract:
A one-piece, unitary, elongate, tubular light pole. The elongate light pole defines a central axis and is constructed from a filament-wound composite of fiber-reinforced bonding agent and has a wall thickness of less than ¾ inch, and preferably ⅜ inch. The pole is configured and adapted to support a lighting structure thereon without failure of the composite, such that a twenty-foot section of the pole is capable of withstanding a lateral load transverse of the axis of at least 300 pounds without failure of the composite.
Abstract:
A pressure container manufacturing method for manufacturing a pressure container by forming an outer shell made of a fiber reinforced composite material on a periphery of a liner, has: preparing a first fiber bundle which has a large diameter fiber bundle unimpregnated with a resin, and a second fiber bundle which has a small diameter resin bundle and a thermoplastic resin covering the small diameter resin bundle; forming a body on the periphery of the liner by braiding the first fiber bundle and the second fiber bundle with a braider; impregnating the first fiber bundle with the thermoplastic resin in the second fiber bundle which is heated and melted; and curing the thermoplastic resin to form the outer shell, wherein a tension applied to the first fiber bundle is larger than a tension applied to the second fiber bundle when forming the body and/or impregnating the thermoplastic resin.
Abstract:
A method of manufacturing a tubular multilayer structure made from a continuous fiber pre-impregnated with a thermoplastic resin includes feeding the material to a shaping station before the material is wound around the mandrel. The material is heated over a shaped hot plate while in the shaping station to lightly melt the material. The material is tensioned to at least 15,000 psi before the material is wound around the mandrel to ensure good bonding of the wound layers.
Abstract:
An in-situ curing filament winding process for making high quality flywheel rims at low cost, and the rims made by the process, and also an apparatus for performing the process, continuously cures resin during the filament winding process. A lower winding process temperature is used along with a lower cure temperature and inherently higher toughness epoxy resin system allows for the rim to be wound continuously, using a conservative radial deposition rate of approximately null-null inch per hour. Multiple types of fibers can be used in a rim where they best serve the strength and stiffness requirements of the structure. The winding temperature can be kept at approximately 55null C.-80null C., providing low thermal residual stresses. Aliphatic amine or ether amine curing agents with epoxy resin generally work well to reduce the winding temperature and allow low viscosity, but other resin systems that provide similar characteristics can be used.
Abstract:
A tubular composite container includes a paperboard body ply wrapped into a tubular shape, and a polymer film liner ply wrapped into a tubular shape and adhered to the inner surface of the body ply. The liner strip includes a heat seal layer facing the body ply that is formed of a heat-sealable material, and the inner surface of the liner ply that contacts the mandrel is formed of a hard polymer material whose melting temperature is substantially higher than the sealing temperature at which the heat-sealable material softens and seals to itself. One edge portion of the liner ply is folded inward toward the mandrel, the liner ply is wrapped onto the mandrel such that the folded edge portion overlaps an opposite edge portion of the liner ply, and the heat seal layer on the folded edge portion is heat sealed to the opposite edge portion.