Abstract: A threaded shaft for a ball screw comprising: a shaft of fibre-reinforced polymer material; and a helical ridge formed on an outer surface of said shaft, said helical ridge being formed from a fibre-reinforced polymer material comprising a plurality of helical fibres wound around the shaft in the same sense and grouped together to form the ridge. The helical ridge formed from grouped helical fibres all wound with the same sense provides excellent axial load carrying capability as the fibres run continuously from end to end of the shaft and can thus transmit load from end to end. This adds much greater strength than a shaft formed from plastics only. The load carrying capability of the fibre wound helical ridge can indeed approach that of existing metal threads while still being much lighter in weight.

Abstract: A threaded shaft for a ball screw comprising: a shaft of fibre-reinforced polymer material; and a helical ridge formed on an outer surface of said shaft, said helical ridge being formed from a fibre-reinforced polymer material comprising a plurality of helical fibres wound around the shaft in the same sense and grouped together to form the ridge. The helical ridge formed from grouped helical fibres all wound with the same sense provides excellent axial load carrying capability as the fibres run continuously from end to end of the shaft and can thus transmit load from end to end. This adds much greater strength than a shaft formed from plastics only. The load carrying capability of the fibre wound helical ridge can indeed approach that of existing metal threads while still being much lighter in weight.

Abstract: A fluid transfer conduit comprising: an electrically conductive tube of fibre reinforced polymer composite material which has an electrically conductive outer surface and an electrically conductive inner surface; and on at least one axial end of said conduit, a non-electrically-conductive band formed on either the outer surface or the inner surface of the electrically conductive tube. Forming a non-electrically conductive band on the end of the conduit electrically isolates the electrically conductive outer surface of the conduit from the electrically conductive metal socket into which it is to be inserted.

Abstract: A composite filament-wound shaft with an end fitting mounted on an interface region on at least one end of said shaft, wherein in said interface region filaments of the filament-wound shaft are angled with respect to the shaft axis such that they follow a path with a radial component and have been cut so as to expose the ends of said filaments in said interface region; and wherein said end fitting comprises a helical thread engaging with said interface region. The helical threaded engagement provides excellent load transmission of axial forces and is therefore well suited to tension and compression elements. The joint provides a low cost and low weight interface.

Abstract: A threaded shaft for a ball screw comprising: a shaft of fibre-reinforced polymer material; and a helical ridge formed on an outer surface of said shaft, said helical ridge being formed from a fibre-reinforced polymer material comprising a plurality of helical fibres wound around the shaft in the same sense and grouped together to form the ridge. The helical ridge formed from grouped helical fibres all wound with the same sense provides excellent axial load carrying capability as the fibres run continuously from end to end of the shaft and can thus transmit load from end to end. This adds much greater strength than a shaft formed from plastics only. The load carrying capability of the fibre wound helical ridge can indeed approach that of existing metal threads while still being much lighter in weight.

Abstract: A fluid transfer conduit comprising: an electrically conductive tube of fibre reinforced polymer composite material which has an electrically conductive outer surface and an electrically conductive inner surface; and on at least one axial end of said conduit, a non-electrically-conductive band formed on either the outer surface or the inner surface of the electrically conductive tube. Forming a non-electrically conductive band on the end of the conduit electrically isolates the electrically conductive outer surface of the conduit from the electrically conductive metal socket into which it is to be inserted.

Abstract: A composite fibre-reinforced polymer shaft having a hollow cylindrical portion and a shaped end portion, the shaped end portion being moulded from a hollow cylindrical shape prior to curing. By moulding the end portion from a hollow cylindrical shape, the shaped end portion can be formed into a desired shape easily and quickly from a shape that is easy and efficient to produce by normal winding techniques. The cylindrical shape is preferably an extension of the hollow cylindrical portion that forms the rest of the shaft such that the fibres that form the main cylindrical shaft extend across from the main cylindrical shaft into the end portion, thus providing excellent load transmission properties along the shaft.

Abstract: A composite filament-wound shaft with an end fitting mounted on an interface region on at least one end of said shaft, wherein in said interface region filaments of the filament-wound shaft are angled with respect to the shaft axis such that they follow a path with a radial component and have been cut so as to expose the ends of said filaments in said interface region; and wherein said end fitting comprises a helical thread engaging with said interface region. The helical threaded engagement provides excellent load transmission of axial forces and is therefore well suited to tension and compression elements. The joint provides a low cost and low weight interface.