Method for continuously manufacturing composite hollow structure
A method is disclosed for continuously manufacturing a composite hollow structure. The method may include continuously coating fibers with a matrix, and revolving matrix-coated fibers about a non-fiber axis. The method may also include diverting the matrix-coated fibers radially outward away from the non-fiber axis, and curing the matrix-coated fibers.
1. A method of continuously manufacturing a composite hollow structure, comprising:
continuously coating fibers with a matrix to form matrix-coated fibers;
revolving the matrix-coated fibers about a non-fiber axis;
diverting the matrix-coated fibers radially outward away from the non-fiber axis;
dynamically adjusting a trajectory of the non-fiber axis of the composite hollow structure; and
curing the matrix-coated fibers to maintain the adjusted trajectory of the composite hollow structure.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein revolving matrix-coated fibers includes:
revolving a first subset of the matrix-coated fibers in a first direction; and
revolving a second subset of the matrix-coated fibers in a second direction opposite the first direction.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein revolving the first and second subsets of matrix-coated fibers includes synchronously oscillating between the first and second directions.
4. The method of claim 2 , wherein revolving the first and second subsets of matrix-coated fibers includes revolving the first and second subsets of matrix-coated fibers through a range of up to 180°.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein revolving the first and second subsets of matrix-coated fibers includes revolving the first and second subsets of matrix-coated fibers through a range of about 15° to about 30°.
6. The method of claim 2 , wherein revolving the first and second subsets of the matrix-coated fibers includes revolving the first subset of the matrix-coated fibers through a range different than a revolving range of the second subset of the matrix-coated fibers.
7. The method of claim 2 , wherein revolving the first and second subsets of the matrix-coated fibers includes continuously revolving the first subset of the matrix-coated fibers in the first direction and selectively revolving the second subset of the matrix coated fibers in the first direction.
8. The method of claim 2 , wherein revolving the first and second subsets of the matrix-coated fibers includes revolving the first subset of the matrix-coated fibers at a first rate and revolving the second subset of the matrix-coated fibers at a second rate.
9. The method of claim 8 , further including dynamically adjusting the first and second rates during manufacturing of the composite hollow structure.
10. The method of claim 2 , further including dynamically adjusting a pattern of weave created by revolving the first and second subsets of matrix-coated fibers during manufacturing of the composite hollow structure.
11. The method of claim 2 , further including pressing the first subset of the matrix-coated fibers against the second subset of the matrix-coated fibers.
12. The method of claim 11 , further including varying the pressing to thereby adjust a wall thickness of the composite hollow structure.
13. The method of claim 2 , wherein the first subset of the matrix-coated fibers has at least one of a different diameter and a different material type than the second subset of the matrix-coated fibers.
14. The method of claim 2 , wherein the first subset of the matrix-coated fibers has a different type of matrix than the second subset of the matrix-coated fibers.
15. The method of claim 1 , wherein curing the matrix-coated fibers includes curing the matrix-coated fibers from inside the composite hollow structure.
16. The method of claim 1 , wherein curing the matrix-coated fibers includes directing at least one of UV light and ultrasonic vibrations toward the matrix-coated fibers.
17. The method of claim 16 , further including controlling an environment of the matrix-coated fibers for a period of time during and after the at least one of the UV light and the ultrasonic vibrations are directed toward the matrix-coated fibers.
18. The method of claim 1 , further including mechanically pinching the matrix-coated fibers prior to curing the matrix-coated fibers in order to fix a length of the composite hollow structure.
19. The method of claim 1 , further including filling an interior of the composite hollow structure as the hollow structure is curing.
20. A method of continuously manufacturing a composite hollow structure, comprising:
continuously coating fibers with a matrix to form matrix-coated fibers;
revolving a first subset of the matrix-coated fibers in a first direction; and
revolving a second subset of the matrix-coated fibers in a second direction opposite the first;
diverting the first and second subsets of the matrix-coated fibers radially outward away from a non-fiber axis;
pressing the first subset of the matrix-coated fibers against the second subset of the matrix-coated fibers;
dynamically adjusting revolving of the first and second subsets of the matrix-coated fibers during manufacturing of the composite hollow structure;
curing the first and second subsets of the matrix-coated fibers to retain the adjusted first and second subsets of the matrix coated fibers; and
mechanically pinching the first and second subsets of the matrix-coated fibers prior to curing the first and second subsets of the matrix-coated fibers in order to fix a length of the composite hollow structure.