Rohr Industries, Inc.

Structural Composite Industries, Inc.

Other

Cargill Inc.

Structural Composites Industries, Inc.

Oscar Weingart

Gerald A Lunde

Clark D Taylor

Robert T Gordon

Harry A King

James V Springrose

Edgar E Morris

A filament winding payoff unit and process for applying strands of adhesive impregnated filament material arranged into a gap-free band to a rotating mandrel. A plurality of side-by-side slightly overlapped impregnated filament strands are passed over bars between tines of combs for positioning when leaving the payoff head. The payoff head is positionable toward and away from the rotating mandrel to allow for mandrel longitudinal dimension changes while maintaining the payoff head roller in contact with the mandrel at a predetermined pressure thereagainst. The payoff head is also freely pivotable horizontally to maintain a proper angle of filament application to any changing mandrel longitudinal configuration.

Filament winding process

A filament winding payoff head unit and process for applying strands of adhesive impregnated filament material arranged into a gap-free band to a rotating mandrel. A plurality of side-by-side slightly overlapped impregnated filament strands are passed over bars between tines of combs for positioning when leaving the payoff head. The payoff head is positionable toward and away from the rotating mandrel to allow for mandrel longitudinal dimension changes while maintaining the payoff head roller in contact with the mandrel at a predetermined pressure thereagainst. The payoff head is also freely pivotable horizontally to maintain a proper angle of filament application to any changing mandrel longitudinal configuration.

Filament winding mechanism for forming and winding a shingled gap free

An improved elongated blade or blade spar comprises successive low-pitch circumferentially wrapped convolutions of a synthetic resin impregnated tape having elongated cut glass and substantially parallel and equal length filaments wherein successive convolutions are overlapped approximately 50% and wherein the axis of the elongated strands lie at an angle of less than 30.degree. from the elongated spar axis. Preferably, resin impregnated filamentary strands are circumferentially wrapped around the mandrel substantially parallel with the direction of the tape wrap between selected tape layers. The improved blade spar mandrel wrapping apparatus includes a split ring support for the mandrel and through which the mandrel extends. The support ring halves may be separated, moved and rejoined during the mandrel wrapping process.

Method for the production of elongated resin impregnated filament

Blade or spar

Hollow filament wound spar structure is provided adapted for rotational hub mounting under centrifugal and bending loads. The structure comprises an integrally wound, filament and resin composite spar of a predetermined wall thickness, a fitting integrally wound therein, the fitting defining rotational hub fastening means and comprising a plug having a mechanical engagement groove circumferentially of its longitudinal axis into which the opposing spar wall portion is deflected responsive to winding fabrication of the spar wall on the fitting. Belt means additionally are provided opposite the groove locally peripherally confining the deflected spar wall portion in mechanical engagement reinforcing relation, against relative dislodgement of the spar wall portion from the plug groove in the mounted condition of the spar structure, under centrifugal and bending loads.

Composite spar structure having integral fitting for rotational hub

A railroad car has an elongated cylindrical car body formed of thin cylindrical longitudinal walls and closed at each end by a respective end wall, a coupler at each end of the car body for coupling the car to other cars, a truck at each end of the car body, and a supporting structure mounted on each of the trucks for supporting the car body on the respective truck for transport on rails. As described, the end walls are conical and truncated, the longitudinal and end walls comprising continuously wound filaments impregnated with resin with the filaments lying in the longitudinal walls at an angle of less than 30.degree. to the longitudinal direction and extending in the end walls to the region of the truncation. Each of the supporting structures connects a coupler to beam columns at a respective end of the cylindrical walls for transmitting forces substantially horizontally from the coupler to the car body, and is connected to the respective end wall for transmitting forces substantially vertically from a truck to the end wall to support the car body, the car body being substantially self-supporting between supporting structures.

Growing community of inventors

Riverside, CA, United States of America

Oscar Weingart