Metal composite joints for composite rods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12036749-B2
Application number	US-202117167659-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 4, 2021
Priority date	Feb 4, 2021
Publication date	Jul 16, 2024
Grant date	Jul 16, 2024

Abstract

A method for joining composite rods with tubular shape includes internal and external collars applied to the ends of the composite rod and deformed via unidirectional compressive load applied by a clamp in the radial direction of the composite rod cross-section. The resulting plastic deformation of the metal collars and composite rod interlock those components to support both compressive and tensile loads.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for securing joint components to a composite rod comprising:
inserting an internal collar into an end of the composite rod;
placing an external collar over the end of the composite rod;
placing a clamp device around the end of the composite rod over the external collar; and
plastically deforming the internal collar, the external collar, and the end of the composite rod via applying unidirectional compressive load in a radial direction to the clamp device.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
heating the end of the composite rod to a predetermined deformation temperature before deformation; and
cooling the end of the composite rod after deformation,
wherein the composite rod comprises a thermoplastic composite.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
partially curing the end of the composite rod before deformation; and
curing the end of the composite rod after deformation.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising machining a deformed portion of the external collar and internal collar to facilitate interconnection to external parts or structures.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the clamp device defines a deformation profile.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the deformation profile defines a stepped profile.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the deformation profile defines a constant radius curve.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
inserting a second internal collar into an end of a second composite rod;
placing the external collar over the end of the second composite rod;
placing the clamp device around the end of the second composite rod over the external collar; and
deforming the second internal collar, the external collar, and the end of the second composite rod via applying unidirectional compressive load in the radial direction to the clamp device,
wherein the external collar is configured to receive the composite rod in a first end and the second composite rod in a second end.

Assignees

• Be Aerospace Inc

Inventors

• Gurvich Mark R

Classifications

• B29C66/5344

  said single elements being substantially annular, i.e. of finite length, e.g. joining flanges to tube ends (B29C66/5346 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B29C66/5221

  for forming coaxial connections, i.e. the tubular articles to be joined forming a zero angle relative to each other · CPC title

• B29C65/64

  Joining a non-plastics element to a plastics element, e.g. by force (B29C65/44 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B29C65/568

  using a swaging operation, i.e. totally deforming the edge or the rim of a first part to be joined to clamp a second part to be joined · CPC title

• B21D39/048

  using presses for radially crimping tubular elements · CPC title