The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 26, 2003
Filed:
Sep. 11, 2001
Christopher W. Gabrys, Reno, NV (US);
Toray Composites (America), Inc., Tacoma, WA (US);
Abstract
An in-situ curing filament winding process for making high quality flywheel rims at low cost, and the rims made by the process, and also an apparatus for performing the process, continuously cures resin during the filament winding process. A lower winding process temperature is used along with a lower cure temperature and inherently higher toughness epoxy resin system allows for the rim to be wound continuously, using a conservative radial deposition rate of approximately ¼-½ inch per hour. Multiple types of fibers can be used in a rim where they best serve the strength and stiffness requirements of the structure. The winding temperature can be kept at approximately 55° C.-80° C., providing low thermal residual stresses. Aliphatic amine or ether amine curing agents with epoxy resin generally work well to reduce the winding temperature and allow low viscosity, but other resin systems that provide similar characteristics can be used.