IP Library Granted Patent US 10,105,910
Granted Patent B2
US 10,105,910 · App. 15/130,412 · Granted Oct 23, 2018

Method for continuously manufacturing composite hollow structure

Inventor: Kenneth Lyle Tyler (Coeur D'Alene, ID)
Assignee: CC3D LLC
B29C70/38B29C35/0261B29C35/0805B29C47/0035B29C47/026B29C47/1045B29C47/122B29C47/268B29C70/00B29C70/205B29C70/222B29C70/523B29C70/545B29C70/521B29C70/526B29C2035/0827
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,105,910
App. No.
15/130,412
Granted
Oct 23, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

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.

Claims (35)

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.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jul 16, 2019
From: CC3D LLC
To: CONTINUOUS COMPOSITES INC.
Reel/Frame 049772/0013 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 15, 2016
From: TYLER, KENNETH LYLE
To: CC3D LLC
Reel/Frame 038295/0687 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20170297053A1 · Oct 19, 2017