Granted Patent B1

US 8,066,838 · App. 12/118,188 · Granted Nov 29, 2011

Abstract

Claims (28)

1. A method of fabricating a composite tube comprising the steps of:

providing a mandrel having a central longitudinal axis;

providing a plurality of layers having a leading edge;

providing at least one release layer for preventing adhesion between said plurality of layers;

wrapping said plurality of layers around said mandrel wherein a line approximating the leading edge of said layers is oriented at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of said mandrel; and

wrapping said at least one release layer around said mandrel between two of said plurality of layers.

2. A method of fabricating a composite tube as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first angle is less than ninety degrees.

3. A method of fabricating a composite tube as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first and second angles are complementary.

4. A method of fabricating a composite tube as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first and second angles are oblique with respect to the longitudinal axis of said mandrel.

5. A method of fabricating a composite tube as claimed in claim 4 wherein each of said plurality of layers is sized to permit the leading edge thereof to abut a trailing edge thereof when wrapped around said mandrel.

6. A method of fabricating a composite tube as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of layers is sized to permit the leading edge thereof to abut a trailing edge thereof when wrapped around said mandrel.

7. A method of fabricating a composite tube as claimed in claim 1 wherein said layers are generally parallelogram shaped prior to the step of wrapping said layers.

8. A method of fabricating a composite tube comprising:

providing a mandrel having a longitudinal axis;

providing a conveying sheet adjacent to a portion of an outer surface of said mandrel;

positioning a plurality of layers on said conveying sheet so that alternate layers have their longitudinal axes at first and second angles respectively to the longitudinal axis of said mandrel;

positioning at least one release layer between two of said plurality of layers on said conveying sheet; and

pulling said conveying sheet along a portion of the outer surface of said mandrel whereby the plurality of layers and at least one release layer are sequentially wrapped around said mandrel.

9. The method of fabricating a composite tube as claimed in claim 8 wherein the first and second angles to the longitudinal axis of said mandrel are oblique angles.

10. The method of fabricating a composite tube as claimed in claim 8 wherein the first and second angles to the longitudinal axis of said mandrel are complementary angles.

11. A method of fabricating a composite tube comprising:

providing a mandrel having a longitudinal axis and an outer surface;

providing a conveying sheet adjacent to a portion of the outer surface of said mandrel;

positioning a plurality of composite fiber layers on said conveying sheet so that alternate layers have their fiber directions at first and second angles respectively to the longitudinal axis of said mandrel;

positioning at least one release layer between two of said plurality of composite fiber layers on said conveying sheet; and

pulling said conveying sheet along a portion of the outer surface of said mandrel whereby the plurality of composite fiber layers and at least one release layer are sequentially wrapped around said mandrel.

12. A method of fabricating a composite tube as claimed in claim 11 wherein the first and second angles to the longitudinal axis of said mandrel are oblique angles.

13. A method of fabricating a composite tube as claimed in claim 11 wherein the first and second angles to the longitudinal axis of said mandrel are complementary angles.

Assignments (11)