Transmission shaft

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2019128317-A1
Application number	US-201816167802-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 23, 2018
Priority date	Nov 1, 2017
Publication date	May 2, 2019
Grant date	—

Abstract

A composite transmission shaft includes a shaft portion, and a flanged end fitting. The flanged end fitting comprises a flared sleeve comprising a tubular portion and a flared portion, and a reinforcement portion fixed to the flared portion of the sleeve. The flanged end fitting and shaft portion have been resin transfer moulded together to form the transmission shaft.

First claim

1 . A composite transmission shaft, comprising a shaft portion, and a flanged end fitting;
wherein the flanged end fitting comprises a flared sleeve comprising a tubular portion and a flared portion, and a reinforcement portion fixed to the flared portion of the sleeve; and wherein the flanged end fitting and shaft portion have been resin transfer moulded together to form the transmission shaft.

2 . A transmission shaft as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement portion is a first reinforcement portion and the flanged end fitting comprises a second reinforcement portion fixed to the flared portion of the sleeve and disposed on an opposite side of the flared portion to the first reinforcement portion, optionally wherein the first and second reinforcement portions are annular.

3 . A transmission shaft as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement portion comprises fibres oriented circumferentially and radially.

4 . A transmission shaft as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the flared portion of the sleeve comprises a plurality of holes punched through it, each one of which is delimited by a plurality of fibre ends;
wherein the reinforcement portion comprises a plurality of holes formed in it, which holes are delimited by portions of continuous fibres; and wherein the holes in the flared portion and the holes in the reinforcement portion are aligned so that holes are formed in the flange of the flanged end fitting.

5 . A transmission shaft as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement portion has been fixed to the flared portion of the sleeve by stitching prior to resin transfer moulding.

6 . A method of manufacturing a composite transmission shaft comprising a shaft portion, and a flanged end fitting, the method comprising:
providing a sleeve which is substantially tubular; deforming an end of the sleeve to form a flared portion; fixing a reinforcement portion to the flared portion of the sleeve to form a preform of the flanged end fitting comprising a tubular portion and a flange; positioning the tubular portion of the flanged end fitting in contact with the shaft portion; and resin transfer moulding the shaft portion and the flanged end fitting together to form the transmission shaft.

7 . A method as claimed in claim 6 , comprising punching a plurality of holes in the flared portion of the sleeve prior to fixing the reinforcement portion thereto.

8 . A method as claimed in claim 7 , comprising forming the reinforcement portion with a plurality of holes therein.

9 . A method as claimed in claim 8 , comprising aligning the holes in the reinforcement portion with the holes in the flared portion of the sleeve before stitching the reinforcement portion to the flared portion.

Assignees

• Crompton Technology Group Ltd

Inventors

• Giannakopoulos Ioannis

Classifications

• B29C70/48

  and impregnating the reinforcements in the closed mould, e.g. resin transfer moulding [RTM] {, e.g. by vacuum} · CPC title

• F16C3/023

  made of several parts, e.g. by welding · CPC title

• F16C2226/30

  Material joints · CPC title

• B29C70/86

  Incorporated in coherent impregnated reinforcing layers, {e.g. by winding} · CPC title

• F16C3/026 Primary

  Shafts made of fibre reinforced resin · CPC title