Abstract:
An apparatus used to form a three-dimensional composite structure is disclosed having an initially rigid heat-softenable layer of ABS plastic wherein uncured portions of the composite structure are first assembled between the layer of ABS plastic and a hard mold surface. Prior to curing of the composite structure, pressure and heat are applied to the ABS layer to soften the layer and thereafter compact the uncured portions of the structure against the hard mold surface. The ability to pre-shape the ABS layer allows stiffening beams to be incorporated into the structure so as to yield a lightweight, strong composite structure that can be used as a pressure vessel in an aerospace vehicle.
Abstract:
A container of hardened, fiber-reinforced synthetic resin and high stability is manufactured by forming a wound-up structure on a shaping core born on the shaft of a winding machine together with fittings for the two open container ends, of different size, and being clamped against the two core ends by means of fixing members held in position on the winding shaft during winding. One of the fittings is provided with an annular groove for anchoring the wound-up structure therein. The fixing members and fittings are of such shape that the winding affords a wound-up structure having end openings of equal size so that a geodetic depositing of the wrapped layers is possible. After the structure is hardened, the portion thereof extending beyond the fitting having an opening of larger diameter than that closed by the other fitting is cut off, so that a container closed by the first fitting and open through the second fitting is obtained. Between the fittings and the wound-up fiber-reinforced structure inserts of elastic, temperature-resistant material can be provided which prevents detachment of the fittings from the structure, so that the resulting container is leak-free.
Abstract:
An apparatus and method is disclosed for the fabrication of cylindrical structures (26) by filament winding of resin impregnated filaments around a novel cylindrical mandrel assembly (10) whereby the mandrel assembly (10) and fabricated cylindrical structure (26) are easily separated after curing of the resin impregnated materials.The invention utilizes an inner, hollow cylindrical mandrel member (11) onto which a metal cable (12) is wound over afterwhich segmented outer mandrel sections (13) are connected to the inner mandrel member by fastener devices (20) installed from the inner side of the inner mandrel member (14). The resin impregnated filament is then wound over the outer mandrel segments (13) and cured in a conventional manner. After curing, the fasteners (20) are removed from the inner side of the inner mandrel (11), and the cable (12) is removed by pulling it from one end of the mandrel assembly (10). With the cable (12) removed, clearance is provided so that the inner mandrel (11) can be removed from the outer segmented mandrel (13), and once the inner mandrel (11) is removed, the outer, segmented mandrel (13) is disassembled and removed inwardly from contact with the cured filament wound cylinder (26).
Abstract:
Stranding apparatus for fabricating open-weave structures includes a base frame supporting a pair of spaced apart plates, both of which plates includes a plurality of movable pins on which resin impregnated, continuous filament strands are placed. The pins retract into the plates after the resin has cured to allow the stranded product to be removed from the frame. The apparatus rotates about a central axis to provide a plurality of stations at which a specific process or step is accomplished.
Abstract:
A reusable cylindrically shaped, pivotally collapsible, foam mandrel used for the manufacture of hollow resin impregnated fiber tubes. The mandrel includes a substantially rigid foam cylindrical member, an extractable bar, and a means on the outer surface of the foam member for aiding in collapsing the cylindrical member, such as a groove. In one embodiment a hinge member is employed to further aid in the pivotal collapsibility of the foam cylindrical member.
Abstract:
There is disclosed an article of manufacture having a hollow structure with a noncircular cross sectional shape and comprising a plurality of layers of continuously wound filaments of a fibrous reinforcing material. The windings of filaments in any layer are substantially parallel and the filaments in adjacent layers lie along traversing directions. The filaments and layers of filament windings are cemented into a single unitary structure by a bonding resin. The aforedescribed structure is formed in a modified, continuous-filament winding process employing a winding mandrel formed by mounting circular end plates on shaft means, placing an elastic container between the opposed faces of the end plates, and securing flexible sheet material about the periphery of the end plates and extending therebetween to define the mandrel. A positive differential fluid pressure is established in the mandrel and the latter is rotated while a continuous filament of fibrous reinforcement material is wrapped about the mandrel in circular and/or helical paths by guiding the filament in a mandrel end-to-end traversing path to apply a plurality of layers of circumferentially and/or helically wound filament thereon. The filaments are embedded in a bonding resin and the mandrel is collapsed to release the continuous-filament wrapping as a flexible sheath. The flexible sheath is placed in a mold cavity bearing die faces with an intaglio form of the exterior surface of the article of manufacture and fluid pressure is applied to the elastic container to expand the sheath into a surfaceconforming contact with the die faces of the mold and the bonding resin is then cured to cement the sheath into the desired hollow structure which is removed from the mold as the article of manufacture.