Carbon fiber tubular pole and method of manufacture
View Patent ↗A carbon fiber tubular pole and method of construction thereof. The pole includes a left in place lightweight mandrel, preferably formed of tubular polyvinylchloride or cardboard, which substantially reduces cost of manufacture. A socket is formed in the carbon fiber tubular pole for receiving an adjacent carbon fiber tubular pole.
1. A method of making a carbon fiber tubular pole comprising:
a. sliding and stretching a carbon fiber sleeve over an elongated tubular mandrel and an enlarged bell mandrel;
b. sliding and stretching a fiber sleeve over said carbon fiber sleeve;
c. saturating said sleeves with a sufficient quantity of a curable resin through to said mandrel;
d. smoothing and further stretching the uncured resin saturated sleeves;
e. allowing said uncured resin to cure and monolithically permanently secure said tubular mandrel and said sleeves together
f. removing the enlarged bell mandrel to provide a socket.
2. A method of making a carbon fiber tubular pole comprising:
a. sanding an outer surface of an elongated tubular mandrel;
b. sliding and stretching a carbon fiber sleeve over a substantial length of said tubular mandrel and an enlarged bell mandrel;
c. sliding and stretching a fiber sleeve over a substantial length of said carbon fiber sleeve;
d. saturating said sleeves with a sufficient quantity of a curable resin through to said mandrel;
e. smoothing and further stretching the uncured resin saturated sleeves;
f. allowing said uncured resin to cure and permanently secure said tubular mandrel and sleeves monolithically together;
g. removing the enlarged bell mandrel to provide a socket for receiving an adjacent carbon fiber tubular pole.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
g. after step f, applying a mixture of colloidal silica and resin over the cured resin.
4. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
h. after step g, applying a mixture of colloidal silica and resin over the cured resin.