Abstract: A system and method for winding fibers onto an article is disclosed. The system includes a winding station having a controllable speed of rotation. The winding station has at least one fiber bobbin mounted on it. A rotation sensor is rotationally coupled to the winding station. The system includes a conveyor having a controllable speed and which is adapted to move the article axially through the winding station. A speed sensor, adapted to measure an axial speed of motion of the article through the winding station is positioned near the winding station. The system includes a controller adapted to operate the winding station at a rotational speed corresponding to the axial speed of motion, so as to apply the fibers to the article in a predetermined helical pattern. In one example, the helical pattern is held to a lay angle having a tolerance within one-half degree.

Abstract: A fiber reinforced plastic article is disclosed which include a liner, at least one single material fiber layer wound on the liner, and at least one composite fiber layer wound on the single material fiber layer. The at least one single material fiber layer and the at least one hybrid fiber layer are impregnated with resin.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a connection for composite tubing is disclosed. The method includes maintaining tension on the composite fibers while “winding in” the connector to the composite tubing. The tension on the fibers results in the fibers bridging across traps of the connector as they are being wound. The bridging results in improved load bearing characteristics of the connection.

Abstract: A connector for joining a segment of composite pipe is disclosed. The connector includes an end connector having at least one fiber trap on its outer surface thereof. The end connector is attached to a liner portion of the segment of composite pipe. Fibers forming an outer surface of the segment of composite pipe are wound around the at least one trap under tension. The connector includes a binder which impregnates the fibers. The tension is maintained on the fibers in the trap during cure of the binder.

Abstract: A plastically radially expansible conduit connection including a first sealing surface disposed proximal to an end of a pin member of the connection and a second sealing surface disposed proximal to an end of a box member of the connection. The first and the second sealing surfaces substantially opposite each other upon connection of the box member and pin member. The connection also includes a first clearance surface proximal to the first sealing surface on the pin member and a second clearance surface proximal to the second sealing surface on the box member. The first and second sealing surfaces include an anti-rotation device. The first and second clearance surfaces and the first and second sealing surfaces each have a diameter such that prior to plastic radial expansion of the box member and the pin member, the clearance surfaces are proximal to each other and do not contact each other and the anti-rotation device is not engaged.

Abstract: A method for making a composite lined tube is disclosed, wherein the tube has end couplings on it. The method includes pressing a resin impregnated fiber preform progressively along an inner wall of the tube. In one embodiment, the method includes inserting an inflatable bladder into the tube. The bladder is adapted to inflate along a length thereof on application of increasing pressure to the interior of the bladder. The bladder has disposed on its exterior surface the fiber preform impregnated with resin which is adapted to fit within the tube. One end of the preform is secured to one end of the tube. The bladder is then inflated along its length by applying increasing pressure to the bladder. The preform is clamped to a shoulder of one of the couplings at another end of the tube, and the end of the preform is trimmed to conform to the shoulder. Pressure is maintained in the bladder while curing the resin. In one particular embodiment, the bladder is inflated from its center outwardly to its ends.

Abstract: A fiber reinforced plastic article is disclosed which include a liner, at least one single material fiber layer wound on the liner, and at least one composite fiber layer wound on the single material fiber layer. The at least one single material fiber layer and the at least one hybrid fiber layer are impregnated with resin.

Abstract: A method for making a composite lined tube is disclosed, wherein the tube has end couplings on it. The method includes pressing a resin impregnated fiber preform progressively along an inner wall of the tube. In one embodiment, the method includes inserting an inflatable bladder into the tube. The bladder is adapted to inflate along a length thereof on application of increasing pressure to the interior of the bladder. The bladder has disposed on its exterior surface the fiber preform impregnated with resin which is adapted to fit within the tube. One end of the preform is secured to one end of the tube. The bladder is then inflated along its length by applying increasing pressure to the bladder. The preform is clamped to a shoulder of one of the couplings at another end of the tube, and the end of the preform is trimmed to conform to the shoulder. Pressure is maintained in the bladder while curing the resin. In one particular embodiment, the bladder is inflated from its center outwardly to its ends.

Abstract: Resin impregnation of fiber bundles for use in making a composite material is described. The impregnated fiber bundles are suitable for use as a prepreg tape or for inline use in extrusion, pultrusion and filament winding operations. The improvements of the disclosed method and impregnation head enable high fiber take-off speeds without excessive damage or fraying of the fiber bundles. Encapsulated air or voids in the impregnated product are consistently less than 1% by volume of the impregnated product and decrease with increased take-off speed. These improvements are achieved by passing the fiber bundles through a multi-chambered impregnation head in which the resin is injected into a downstream chamber. The cross sectional area of the fiber bundles, the velocity of the fibers bundles, the size of the openings to the chamber, the viscosity of the resin and the pressure at which the resin is pumped into the downstream chamber all control the pressure within the downstream chamber.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for coupling a stub end flanged connector to a fiber reinforced plastic pipe. The method includes tapering an end of the fiber reinforced plastic pipe on the outside surface of its fiber overwrap. An inside surface of a stub end connector is correspondingly tapered. The stub end connector is then bonded to the fiber reinforced plastic pipe. A liner of the plastic pipe is then flared to correspond to a flared end of the stub end connector. Then at least one stiffness transition layer is bonded over the plastic pipe and the stub end connection, over an axial span at least including a termination of the taper in the stub end connector.