Composite strut and method of making same
First Claim
1. A load bearing strut formed primarily of a reinforced plastic composite and reacting tension and compression loading as well as minimizing effects of edge bearing and shear loading, said strut comprising:
- a) an elongate section comprised of a reinforced composite material;
b) at least one terminal end section on an end of said elongate section; and
c) a load transfer insert in said end section formed of a quasi-isotropic material surrounded by a fiber reinforcing strip and having a portion therein for conducting load transference, such that the laminate reacts compression loads and the fiber reinforcing strip reacts tension loads reducing the prospect of failure by edge bearing and shear.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A filament wound strut as well as a method of making the strut. The filament wound strut has a cylindrical section merging into ends through tapered end sections and which ends may be forked or otherwise arranged to receive a lug fitting. The flat ends are provided with a specially designed pre-form having a generally oval shape, and which is formed by filament reinforcement in a racetrack format surrounding a quasi-isotropic laminate. In accordance with this construction, the wound structure will react to tension loads and the inner laminate reacts to compression loads, while improving the load transfer through edge bearing and shear. A method of producing the strut is also provided in which filament materials are wound about a mandrel which is disassemblable and removable from the strut body formed thereon.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A load bearing strut formed primarily of a reinforced plastic composite and reacting tension and compression loading as well as minimizing effects of edge bearing and shear loading, said strut comprising:
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a) an elongate section comprised of a reinforced composite material;
b) at least one terminal end section on an end of said elongate section; and
c) a load transfer insert in said end section formed of a quasi-isotropic material surrounded by a fiber reinforcing strip and having a portion therein for conducting load transference, such that the laminate reacts compression loads and the fiber reinforcing strip reacts tension loads reducing the prospect of failure by edge bearing and shear. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9)
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7. A load bearing strut formed primarily of a reinforced plastic composite material and capable of reacting tension and compression loads while minimizing the effects of edge bearing and shear loading, said strut comprising:
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a) an elongate section having a rounded portion thereon and being comprised of at least a reinforced composite material;
b) at least one terminal end section on said elongate section and having a portion which merges into the rounded shape of said elongate section and also a relatively flat plate-like section thereon and which plate-like section has flat opposed surfaces; and
c) a load transfer insert in said terminal end section and having an insert core section surrounded by fiber reinforcing material, said load transfer insert also having a portion therein adjacent one end portion thereof for conducting load transference, such that the laminate reacts compression loads and the fiber reinforcing strip reacts tension loads while reducing loads which would result in edge bearing and shear. - View Dependent Claims (8, 10)
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11. A process for producing a load bearing strut capable of reacting to tension and compression loads while minimizing shear and edge bearing loads, said process comprising:
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a) wrapping a peripheral edge of a preformed member with a filamentary reinforcing material to produce a load transfer insert;
b) locating a load transfer point in an end of an elongate member and with the elongate member and load transfer insert having the overall shape of the strut to be produced;
c) inserting the load transfer insert in proximity to one end of said elongate member; and
d) wrapping filament reinforcing material about said elongate member and said end of the elongate member having the load transfer insert therein to provide a load bearing strut. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A process for forming a composite body on a mandrel in such manner that the mandrel can be removed from the body without any destructive effect on the body, said method comprising:
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a) providing components necessary to render a removable mandrel;
b) arranging such components to constitute a mandrel having a shape and size approximating that of the composite body to be formed;
c) applying a resin impregnated composite material to said mandrel and allowing for curing of the resin to provide a hardened composite body; and
d) physically causing removal of said mandrel from said body as formed without any destructive effect on the body. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. An assembly for forming a mandrel upon which a composite body having an elongate body section and end section on said elongate body, said assembly comprising:
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a) a first mandrel component;
b) a second mandrel component assemblable with said first mandrel component to form a mandrel upon which resin impregnated composite material can be applied;
c) said first and second mandrel components being formed of a material upon which a curing of the resin can take place; and
d) at least said first mandrel component having a transverse end capable of being physically engaged and pulled out of the composite body as formed. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification