IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,568,041
Granted Patent B2
US 9,568,041 · App. 14/434,491 · Granted Feb 14, 2017

One-piece connecting rod and production method thereof

Inventors: Benoît Boveroux (Rocourt, BE); Daniel Dardenne (Heure-le-Romain, BE)
Assignee: BD Invent SA
F16C7/026B29C70/30B29C70/86B29K2063/00B29K2105/0872B29K2307/04B29L2031/748Y10T74/2152
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,568,041
App. No.
14/434,491
Granted
Feb 14, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a connecting rod ( 1 ) by filament winding, said method comprising in particular: creating an internal body ( 5 ) by manufacturing a first component ( 6 ) by winding pre-impregnated fibers ( 17 ) around a mandrel ( 8 ) and removing the mandrel; manufacturing a second part ( 7 ); providing a shoulder ( 12 ) in the second part ( 7 ); assembling the first component with the second component ( 7, 22 ); creating an external body ( 14 ) by winding pre-impregnated fibers ( 17 ), identical to those used in the manufacture of the first component ( 6 ), around said internal body ( 5 ); creating a one-piece body ( 18 ) by polymerizing the assembly formed of the internal body and of the external body; and machining a fastening ( 19 ) at one end of the one-piece body; wherein the one-piece body ( 18 ) and the first fastening element ( 19 ) are made up of a one and same composite material.

Claims (55)

1. A method for manufacturing a connecting rod ( 1 ) by filament winding, said method comprising the following steps:

providing a mandrel ( 8 );

making an inner body ( 5 ) by:

manufacturing a first part ( 6 ) by winding preimpregnated fibers ( 17 ) around said mandrel ( 8 );

removing the mandrel ( 8 );

manufacturing a second part ( 7 );

providing a shoulder ( 12 ) in the second part ( 7 );

assembling the first part ( 6 ) with the second part ( 7 , 22 );

making an outer body ( 14 ) by winding preimpregnated fibers ( 17 ) around said inner body ( 5 ), said preimpregnated fibers ( 17 ) being identical to those used during the manufacture of the first part ( 6 );

making a one-piece body ( 18 ) by polymerization of the assembly formed by the inner body ( 5 ) and the outer body ( 14 );

machining a first fastening element ( 19 ) at one end of the one-piece body ( 18 );

wherein the one-piece body ( 18 ) and the first fastening element ( 19 ) are made up of a one and same composite material.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the second part ( 7 ) is also made by winding preimpregnated fibers ( 17 ) around said mandrel ( 8 ), said preimpregnated fibers ( 17 ) being identical to those used during the manufacture of the first part ( 6 ) and the outer body ( 14 ).

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the shoulder ( 12 ) serves as a bearing surface that abuts the first part ( 6 ) during the assembly of the first part ( 6 ) with second part ( 7 ).

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein at least the first part ( 6 ) is partially polymerized before assembly.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein additional layers ( 21 ) of preimpregnated fibers ( 17 ) are wound on one end or both ends of the inner body ( 5 ) during the making of the outer body ( 14 ).

6. The method according to claim 1 , comprising a step of machining a second fastening element ( 19 ) at the other end of the one-piece body ( 18 ).

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the second part is an end piece ( 22 ), the shoulder ( 12 ) of the end piece ( 22 ) serving as a bearing surface that abuts the first part ( 6 ) during the assembly of the first part ( 6 ) with the end piece ( 22 ).

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the filament winding angle is variable along the inner body ( 5 ) during the making of the outer body ( 14 ).

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the mandrel ( 8 ) comprises a cylindrical portion ( 9 ) connected to a part with a rectangular section ( 11 ) by a connecting part ( 10 ).

10. The method of claim 6 , wherein the one-piece body ( 18 ) and the first and second fastening elements ( 19 ) are made up of a one and same composite material.

11. The method of claim 1 , including the step of providing a second fastening element ( 19 ) at the other end of the one-piece body ( 18 ), wherein the second fastening element ( 19 ) is made from metal, carbon or plastic material.

12. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of manufacturing the first part ( 6 ) includes providing the first part ( 6 ) with a first part cylindrical portion having a first length;

the step of manufacturing the second part ( 7 ) includes providing the second part ( 7 ) with a second part cylindrical portion having a second length; and

wherein the first length is greater than the second length.

13. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of manufacturing the first part ( 6 ) includes providing the first part ( 6 ) with a first part cylindrical portion having a first length;

the step of manufacturing the second part ( 7 ) includes providing the second part ( 7 ) with a second part cylindrical portion having a second length; and

wherein the second length is greater than the first length.

14. A method for manufacturing a connecting rod ( 1 ) by filament winding, said method comprising the following steps:

providing a mandrel ( 8 );

making an inner body ( 5 ) by;

manufacturing a first part ( 6 ) by winding preimpregnated fibers ( 17 ) around said mandrel ( 8 );

removing the mandrel ( 8 );

manufacturing a second part ( 7 ),

providing a shoulder ( 12 ) in the second part ( 7 );

assembling the first part ( 6 ) with the second part ( 7 , 22 );

making an outer body ( 14 ) by winding preimpregnated fibers ( 17 ) around said inner body ( 5 ), said preimpregnated fibers ( 17 ) being identical to those used during the manufacture of the first part ( 6 );

making a one-piece body ( 18 ) by polymerization of the assembly formed by the inner body ( 5 ) and the outer body ( 14 );

machining a fastening element ( 19 ) at one end of the one-piece body ( 18 );

wherein the shoulder ( 12 ) serves as a bearing surface that abuts the first part ( 6 ) during the assembly of the first part ( 6 ) with second part ( 7 ); and

wherein a tube ( 13 ) is inserted into the second part ( 7 ) to form the shoulder ( 12 ), said tube ( 13 ) being manufactured via the filament winding method using preimpregnated fibers ( 17 ) identical to those used for the inner body ( 5 ) and the outer body ( 14 ).

15. A method for manufacturing a connecting rod ( 1 ) by filament winding said method comprising the following steps:

providing a mandrel ( 8 );

making an inner body ( 5 ) by;

manufacturing a first part ( 6 ) by winding preimpregnated fibers ( 17 ) around said mandrel ( 8 );

removing the mandrel ( 8 );

manufacturing a second part ( 7 );

providing a shoulder ( 12 ) in the second part ( 7 );

assembling the first part ( 6 ) with the second part ( 7 , 22 );

making an outer body ( 14 ) by winding preimpregnated fibers ( 17 ) around said inner body ( 5 ), said preimpregnated fibers ( 17 ) being identical to those used during the manufacture of the first part ( 6 );

making a one-piece body ( 18 ) by polymerization of the assembly formed by the inner body ( 5 ) and the outer body ( 14 );

machining a fastening element ( 19 ) at one end of the one-piece body ( 18 );

wherein the shoulder ( 12 ) serves as a bearing surface that abuts the first part ( 6 ) during the assembly of the first part ( 6 ) with second part ( 7 );

wherein a tube ( 13 ) is inserted into the second part ( 7 ) to form the shoulder ( 12 ), said tube ( 13 ) being manufactured via the filament winding method using preimpregnated fibers ( 17 ) identical to those used for the inner body ( 5 ) and the outer body ( 14 ); and

wherein the tube ( 13 ) is coated with a layer of resin before insertion into the second part ( 7 ), said resin being identical to that of the preimpregnated fibers used during the making of the inner ( 5 ) and outer ( 14 ) bodies.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 18, 2026
From: BD INVENT, S.A.
To: ALBANY ENGINEERED COMPOSITES, INC.
Reel/Frame 074679/0677 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 20, 2015
From: BOVEROUX, BENOÎT; DARDENNE, DANIEL
To: BD INVENT SA
Reel/Frame 035677/0355 →
Priority Claims (1)
BE 2012/0688 · Oct 11, 2012 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20150267739A1 · Sep 24, 2015