Method for in-process forming of complexly shaped rigid composite tubing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10471649-B2
Application number	US-201715629922-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 22, 2017
Priority date	Jun 22, 2017
Publication date	Nov 12, 2019
Grant date	Nov 12, 2019

Abstract

A method for forming a composite tube includes the steps of: braiding a plurality of strips to form a workpiece tube; bending the workpiece tube to form a bend; and extending the length of the workpiece tube by continuing the braiding step.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for forming a composite tube, the method comprising the steps of:
providing an apparatus for forming a tube that includes a braiding machine and a bender that includes a sizing ring, a heater, a first arm, an anvil, and a second arm;
braiding a plurality of strips to form a workpiece tube;
bending the workpiece tube to form a bend; and
extending the length of the workpiece tube by continuing the braiding step.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the strips are braided around a polymeric tube to form the workpiece tube.

3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the polymeric tube is inflated.

4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the polymeric tube is fed into a braiding machine.

5. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the strips include fibers.

6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the fibers are embedded in a polymeric matrix to form a pre-preg layer.

7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the strips include a thermoplastic layer that is adjacent to the pre-preg layer.

8. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of rotating the workpiece tube to form another bend.

9. The method according to claim 8 , further comprising the step of additionally extending the length of the workpiece tube.

10. The method according to claim 9 , further comprising the step of passing the workpiece tube through a sizing ring.

11. A method for forming a composite tube, the method comprising the steps of:
providing an apparatus for forming a tube that includes a braiding machine and a bender that includes a sizing ring, a heater, a first arm, an anvil, and a second arm;
braiding a plurality of strips around an inflated polymeric tube to form a workpiece tube;
bending the workpiece tube to form a bend; and
extending the length of the workpiece tube.

12. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the polymeric tube is fed into the braiding machine.

13. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the strips include fibers.

14. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the fibers are embedded in a polymeric matrix to form a pre-preg layer.

15. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the strips include a thermoplastic layer that is adjacent to the pre-preg layer.

16. The method according to claim 11 , further comprising the step of rotating the workpiece tube to form another bend.

17. The method according to claim 16 , further comprising the step of additionally extending the length of the workpiece tube.

18. The method according to claim 17 , further comprising the step of passing the workpiece tube through a sizing ring.

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Gordin Kevin Daniel
• Lin Wendy Wen-Ling

Classifications

• B32B1/08

  Tubular products · CPC title

• B29C63/18 Primary

  using tubular layers or sheathings (B29C63/26 {and B29C63/38} take precedence; {placing tubular labels around rigid containers B65C3/065}) · CPC title

• B29C63/06

  around tubular articles · CPC title

• B29C53/82

  Cores or mandrels · CPC title

• B29K2105/0872

  Prepregs · CPC title