Toray Industries, Inc.

Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology

Hitachi, Ltd.

Yutaka Ochi

Yukitane Kimoto

Yasuyuki Kawanomoto

Minoru Nakamura

Nobuhiko Shimizu

Hiroshi Odani

Naofumi Hosokawa

Toshihiro Ito

Hiroshi Ohnishi

Hisao Ito

Shintaro Tanaka

Kousuke Yoshimura

Kazumasa Kato

Hirohisa Hagita

Shigekazu Kawauchi

Toru Kato

Atsushi Ochi

Kimio Mitani

Yasuyuki Toyoda

A joint structure is a joint structure between a first member having a pillared end part made of a fiber-reinforced plastic and a second member different from the first member. The end part of the first member is reversely tapered in an axial direction, while a joining member is disposed along a reversely tapered form of the end part. The second member is provided in contact with an end face of the first member and connected to the joining member. A plurality of fibers substantially extending in the axial direction of the end part of the first member are provided within the end part and disposed to form a larger angle with the axial direction of the end part of the first member as they are disposed to be closer to a surface constituting the reversely tapered form in a radial direction of the end part.

Joining structure

A sound-proof wall made of FRP in the form of a sound-proof wall panel that includes a core and skin members made of FRP positioned on both sides of the core and whose weight per nit area is within the range of 10-60 kg/m; and a method of producing the same. This sound-proof wall, though light in weight, has a superior sound insulation property and will never corrode because it is made of FRP. Further, it has a high degree of freedom of engineering design including sound-proof property, design, and shape, capable of producing a desired sound-proof wall with case. Further, since it has a high specific strength, it is possible to attain a drastic weight reduction while retaining the necessary strength, and facilitate working, shorten construction time, and reduce construction cost.

Sound-proof wall made of FRP, and method of producing the same

A shock absorbing tube comprising a cylindrical main body made of fiber-reinforced plastic and an end member formed internally at an end of the main body, the main body and the end member are capable of separating from each other at an interface therebetween upon the application of a predetermined maximum axial force (Fm) and is capable of moving axially by sequentially enlarging the main body at a predetermined successive axial force (Fs), wherein the main body comprises reinforcing fibers helically wound at an angle of &plusmn;5-30&deg; with respect to the axial direction of the main body and the end member is made of a metal or comprises reinforcing fibers hoop wound at an angle of &plusmn;70&tilde;90&deg; with respect to the axial direction of the end member. The shock absorbing tube is useful for human safety, in particular, for use of propeller shaft and collapsible handle of automobiles.

Shock absorbing tube

A panel for a truck having an FRP plate including a woven fabric of reinforcing fiber as a main rigid member, a cargo compartment for a truck using the panel and a truck equipped with the cargo compartment for a truck. The panel and the cargo compartment are light, have sufficient rigidity and strength and excellent in processing and fabricating properties.

Panel and cargo compartment for a truck

A propeller shaft for automobiles includes a cylindrical main body,made of FRP and joints,that are joined to the ends of this main body by press fitting, the main body,having a main layer,extending over the entire length thereof and including reinforcing fibers helically wound at an angle of &plusmn;5&tilde;30&deg; with respect to the axial dimension of the main body, and sub-layers,formed at the ends of the main body so as to be integral with and internally of the main layer,and including hooped reinforcing fibers. Each joint,has a slope,descending toward the joint surface between this joint and the main body,, an erect surface,having an outer diameter not larger than the outer diameter of the sub-layers,and abutting the end surface of the associated sub-layer,, or a wedge,the tip of which is opposed to the interface between the main layer,and the associated sub-layer,. When an axial compressive load is applied to the joints,, the slopes,, the erect surfaces,or the wedges,cause the main layer,and the sub-layers,to be separated from each other to cause rupture of the main body to proceed, thereby enabling the energy absorbing effect due to a crashable body structure to be realized.

Propeller shaft including compressive load transmitting section

Growing community of inventors

Nagoya, Japan

Yutaka Ochi