Abstract: A winding apparatus for and method of manufacturing structures (116) includes a rotating faceplate (74) upon which are mounted a forming station for forming a supply of strip material before it is wound into a desired structure and a plurality of inner supports in the form of rollers (110) mounted for rotation about an axis and with said faceplate and a plurality of outer driven rollers (92) provided on an outer faceplate (118). The inner rollers (110) are mounted for radial movement relative to the inner faceplate (74). In operation, the inner rollers (110) act to support an inner portion S1 of strip material wound thereon whilst allowing it to be supplied from an inner diameter thereof to said forming station and the outer rollers (92) act to support an outer portion S2 of said strip.

Abstract: An apparatus (50) for and method of manufacturing structures (116) includes coaxial rotating faceplates (74, 89, 97), capable of rotation at different angular speeds. A plurality of forming rollers (76) and diameter defining rollers (78) are mounted on the inner faceplate (74, 89), which, in operation, cause a strip material (80) to be plastically deformed into a helical winding which may be lain down in abutting or self-overlapping relationship to form said tubular structure (116). A plurality of support rollers are mounted in a circle on the inner faceplate (74, 89) at a distance from the axis exceeding that of the outermost forming roller and serve to support the stock of strip material.

Abstract: A winding apparatus for and method of manufacturing helically wound structures (116) includes a rotating faceplate (74) upon which are mounted a forming station for forming a supply of strip material before it is wound into a desired structure, a plurality of inner supports in the form of rollers (110) mounted for rotation about an axis and with said faceplate and a plurality of outer driven rollers (92) provided on an outer faceplate (118). In operation, the inner rollers act to support an inner portion S1 of strip material wound thereon whilst allowing it to be supplied from an inner diameter thereof to said forming station and the outer rollers (92) act to support an outer portion S2 of said strip. Said outer rollers are driven as and when necessary to transfer material to the inner portion S1.