Nonmetalic Shaft Or Component Patents (Class 464/181)
  • Patent number: 11920653
    Abstract: Driveshaft dampers are provided for use in driveshafts to dampen or attenuate aspects of noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH). Systems and methods for making and using driveshaft dampers are further provided. The driveshaft dampers may be made using a helical-winding process and include attenuation strips with elongate protrusions. Various embodiments of helically-wound driveshaft dampers include a core and one or more attenuation strips helically wound around the core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: CARAUSTAR INDUSTRIAL AND CONSUMER PRODUCTS GROUP, INC.
    Inventor: Josh Wolfenbarger
  • Patent number: 11898600
    Abstract: A tube for a power transmission shaft is made of fiber-reinforced plastic, rotated to transmit power, and includes a main body in a shape of cylinder about an axis, wherein the main body has an outer diameter thereof gradually decreasing from a central portion thereof toward both ends thereof, and has a thickness thereof gradually decreasing from said both ends toward the central portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenichi Mori, Takahiro Nakayama, Kazuki Ohta
  • Patent number: 11873860
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: CROMPTON TECHNOLOGY GROUP LIMITED
    Inventor: Ioannis Giannakopoulos
  • Patent number: 11859665
    Abstract: A drive shaft has a tubular member extending between axial ends and being hollow. The tubular member is formed of a thermoplastic matrix with embedded fibers. At least one ring member is positioned radially of the tubular member. A method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Mark R. Gurvich, Brayton Reed, Joyel M. Schaefer, Michael King, Kevin Thomas Gryk
  • Patent number: 11846319
    Abstract: A shaft assembly includes a composite tube and an impact shield. The composite tube has a longitudinal centerline axis and the impact shield may be disposed around the composite tube and may extend along a length of the composite tube. A gap may be defined between the composite tube and the impact shield. Generally, shaft assembly is configured to inhibit impact damage to the composite tube and/or facilitate visual detection of damage from impacts. The shaft assembly may further include a shock absorbing sleeve disposed in the gap between the composite tube and the impact shield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: GOODRICH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Bradley William Baird, James William Bernard
  • Patent number: 11826067
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a medical shaver including: a shaver body (10) having a hollow portion therein; a shaft (20) having one end rotatably attached inside the shaver body and having a motor attachment part provided on the other end that is exposed outside the shaver body; a suction tube (30) rotatably attached to the hollow portion of the shaver body and having one end detachably coupled to the shaft so as to be rotated together with the shaft; a first seating groove (27) provided on an inner circumferential surface of the shaft; a second seating groove (33) provided on an outer circumferential surface of the suction tube; and a spring (s) located in the first and second seating grooves and coupling the shaft and the suction tube, in which the spring (s) has a structure in which both ends of a coil spring are connected to form a ring shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: IMEDICOM CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Don Soo Ju
  • Patent number: 11795993
    Abstract: A composite shaft includes a shaft body formed from a plurality of polymer impregnated fiber-reinforced material layers having an annular outer surface and an annular inner surface defining a passage. A plurality of internal support members extend along the passage. Each of the plurality of internal support members includes a support body formed from molded plastic having an outer surface that abuts the annular inner surface of the support body, a first end, an opposing second end, and a circular end wall arranged at one of the first end and the opposing second end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mark R. Gurvich, Georgios S. Zafiris, Brayton Reed, Joyel M. Schaefer, Michael King
  • Patent number: 11767876
    Abstract: A power transmission shaft includes a metal shaft member, and a resin shaft member connected to the metal shaft member in an axial direction of the power transmission shaft. The resin shaft member is made of fiber reinforced plastic. The metal shaft member and the resin shaft member are joined to each other through a close-contact fitting portion between a male spline, which is formed in an outer surface of the metal shaft member, and a female spline formed by press-fitting the male spline into the resin shaft member. An edge is formed at a radially outer edge portion of a press-fitting-start end surface of the male spline of the metal shaft member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Taku Itagaki, Minoru Ishijima
  • Patent number: 11698100
    Abstract: A motor vehicle drive shaft has a receptacle tube component with a receptacle internal diameter and a push-fit component with a push-fit external diameter. The push-fit external diameter is smaller than or equal to the receptacle internal diameter. The receptacle tube component and the push-fit component can be rotated about a common drive shaft rotational axis and extend along the latter in a longitudinal direction. The receptacle tube component and the push-fit component are connected to one another for the transmission of torque. A connecting component is provided, wherein the connecting component is connected in a torque-conducting manner to the receptacle tube component by way of a receptacle connection. The connecting component is connected to the push-fit component by way of a push-fit connection. At least one of the two connections is configured as a combined frictionally locking and positively locking shaft/hub connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Marek Cina, Anton Mangold, Wolfgang Streinz, Torsten Wingeleit
  • Patent number: 11692585
    Abstract: A drive shaft has a central tubular portion formed of a polymer composite with imbedded fibers. It extends between a first end and a second end. The central tubular portion has an outer peripheral surface. There is at least one ring on the outer peripheral surface of the central tubular portion. A method of repairing a composite material tube includes the steps of (a) identifying a damaged area on a composite tube, and (b) placing a patch on a surface of the tube and over the damaged area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Goodrich Corporation
    Inventors: Brayton Reed, Joyel M. Schaefer, Michael King, Mark R. Gurvich
  • Patent number: 11576699
    Abstract: An arthroscopic or other surgical cutter has features which facilitate fabrication by ceramic molding. The arthroscopic cutter includes a cutter body having a longitudinal axis and a window, an interior channel, and a plurality of cutting edges extending radially outwardly from an outer surface thereof. The features include non-helical, longitudinally aligned cutting edges, controlled thicknesses of the cutting edges, controlled heights of the cutting edges, controlled areas of the windows, controlled diameters of the internal channels, controlled rake angles of the cutting edges, and other parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Relign Corporation
    Inventors: Aaron Germain, Kyle Klein, Jan Echeverry
  • Patent number: 11525529
    Abstract: A composite tubular structure includes an elongate composite member having an inwardly tapered section at an end and an embedded nut retained in the end inwardly tapered section for forming a connection with another component. The inwardly tapered section has an inner surface which follows a tapered outer surface of the embedded nut, the inwardly tapered section narrowing the composite member in a longitudinal direction towards the end so as to provide a constriction which retains the embedded nut within the inwardly tapered section. The embedded nut comprises a multipart nut, comprising an internal nut and an internal support member, and wherein the internal nut is arranged to slide within the internal support member in a direction away from the end of, and into, the elongate composite member when the composite tubular structure is under conditions of excessive axial compressive load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: CROMPTON TECHNOLOGY GROUP LIMITED
    Inventors: Thomas Beale, James Bernard
  • Patent number: 11408464
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: CROMPTON TECHNOLOGY GROUP LIMITED
    Inventor: Ioannis Giannakopoulos
  • Patent number: 10987836
    Abstract: A method for overmolding a thermoplastic tip onto a hollow profile member made of thermosetting composite and to an assembly including a thermosetting profile member and a thermoplastic tip, wherein it includes machining the shape of the profile member made of thermosetting composite on the injection region; positioning a cap in the profile member; thermally conditioning the profile assembly and the cap; and injecting the tip with thermoplastic composite in order to create the junction of the profile member, the cap and the tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignees: EPSILON COMPOSITE, SOMOCAP
    Inventors: Stéphane Lull, Ambroise Latron, Fabrice Sorhouet, Jérôme Nadeau, Thomas Clerc
  • Patent number: 10736412
    Abstract: A flexible composite torsion shaft for attachment to a drive shaft includes an elongated core element having a circular cross section. A reinforcement comprising at least one polymer layer and multiple layers of reinforcing-fiber wound around the core element inside the at least one polymer layer. Each reinforcing-fiber layer is wound around the core element at a winding angle in a range of 40° to the hoop winding angle, depending on a width of a reinforcing-fiber being wound, relative to a longitudinal direction of the core element. At least one reinforcing-fiber-layer is wound at an opposite angle from another reinforcing-fiber layer inside the at least one polymer layer. The winding angle increases as an average layer diameter of reinforcing-fiber insider the at least one polymer layer increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: BIERKÜHL OY
    Inventor: Pentti Hiltunen
  • Patent number: 10422371
    Abstract: A hybrid propeller shaft may include a CFRP tube layer in which high-strength CFRP or high-elasticity CFRP, the high-strength CFRP, and the high-elasticity CFRP are laminated to form at least two layers while having different wrapping angles by a prepreg wrapping process method; and a protective layer which is formed on an outermost layer of the CFRP tube layer to protect the CFRP tube layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Sang Jae Yoon, Sung Su Yoo, Chi Hoon Choi, Sang Yoon Park, Dong Jun Lee, Jeong Min Cho
  • Patent number: 10294982
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus are disclosed for transferring a rotational force. Apparatus include a shaft member that has a first end configured to receive a rotational force from a first mechanical component, and configured to receive a torsional load in response to receiving the rotational force. The shaft member also includes a second end configured to provide the rotational force to a second mechanical component. Apparatus also include a support member that includes a plurality of lobes coupled to the shaft member and configured to transmit the torsional load of the shaft member, where the plurality of lobes is coupled to each other along a central coupling and extend radially from the central coupling, where the plurality of lobes has a spiral geometry along a length of the support member such that an orientation of the plurality of lobes rotates along the length of the support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Jonathan W. Gabrys, Dinesh J. Trivedi
  • Patent number: 10280969
    Abstract: A hybrid metal-composite drive shaft unit, which comprises at least one metal drive shaft connector that is at least partly embedded into a composite drive shaft, the composite drive shaft comprising a thermoplastic polymer and being connected to the at least one metal drive shaft connector by means of a welded connection that defines a first load path for transmission of loads between the at least one metal drive shaft connector and the composite drive shaft, the at least one metal drive shaft connector and the composite drive shaft comprising, in the region of the welded connection, at least partly a polygonal cross-sectional shape for forming a form-fit connection that defines a second load path for transmission of loads between the composite drive shaft and the at least one metal drive shaft connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignees: Airbus Helicopters Deutchland GmbH, Airbus Defence and Space GmbH
    Inventors: Niklas Remer, Laurent Bortolotto, Michael Juergens, Stefan Ehard
  • Patent number: 9909624
    Abstract: A composite driveshaft includes a body having a first end, a second end, and an intermediate portion defining a driveshaft axis (DSA). The first end defines a first coupling region and the second end defines a second coupling region. At least one of the first and second coupling regions defines a virtual hinge configured to accommodate both bending moments and axial changes of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: ROHR, INC.
    Inventors: Sreenivas Narayanan Nampy, Matthew J. Smelcer
  • Patent number: 9718248
    Abstract: Manufacturing a thermoplastic composite tubular structure embedded with a first load fitting comprising the steps of braiding a first plurality of inner layers of thermoplastic composite material around a soluble, expandable mandrel. A first load fitting is positioned on the first plurality of inner layers of thermoplastic composite material. A second plurality of outer layers of thermoplastic composite material is braided around the first load fitting and the mandrel so as to form an overbraided mandrel embedded with the first load fitting. The overbraided mandrel is installed into a matched tooling assembly and heated at a specified heating profile in order to consolidate the first plurality of inner layers of thermoplastic composite material and the second plurality of outer layers of thermoplastic composite material with the first load fitting so as to form a thermoplastic composite tubular structure embedded with the first load fitting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Jeffery Lee Marcoe, Marc Rollo Matsen, Waeil M. Ashmawi, Jaime C. Garcia, Sahrudine Apdalhaliem, John B. Moser, Brett I. Lyons, Moushumi Shome, Kay Y. Blohowiak
  • Patent number: 9605701
    Abstract: In a front sheet fixing structure configured to attach a front sheet to a housing having an opening for a display device or control panel, the front sheet is attached to an inner bottom surface of the housing so as to close the opening of the housing by means of a front metal plate having an opening corresponding to the opening of the housing and having a thermal expansion coefficient substantially equal to that of the front sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideki Okamura, Kazuyuki Sasaki
  • Patent number: 9303682
    Abstract: A shaft arrangement for transmitting torques from a hub of a wind power plant to a generator has connecting elements at both ends for a mechanical connection. The connecting elements are each overlapped by end regions of a connecting shaft tube, wherein the shaft tube consists of a fibre composite material having a plurality of bundles of fibre. In the region overlapped by the shaft tube, the connecting elements have a plurality of protruding retaining pins about which and between which the bundles of fibre are placed and extend.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Schäfer MWN GmbH
    Inventor: Carsten Sohl
  • Patent number: 9233591
    Abstract: A fiber composite component, in particular a torsion-bar stabilizer for a motor vehicle, having an elongate main body which has a plurality of tubular layers which are each formed from fibrous threads and casting resin, wherein the tubular layers are arranged in one another in the radial direction of the main body, and wherein the fibrous threads f the different layers are each oriented at different angles relative to a longitudinal direction of the main body, wherein the fibrous threads are braided together in order to form the different layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.g. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Eric Begenau, Boris Schmidt, Gustav Rapp
  • Patent number: 9116025
    Abstract: A cam-locking dissimilar material sleeve installed on an outer surface of an expansion shaft of an inspection robot inserted into a heat transfer tube of a steam generator for generating nuclear power to inspect the heat transfer tube, the cam-locking dissimilar material sleeve includes: a tension part formed of steel and including a plurality of upwardly opened slits and a plurality of downwardly opened slits alternately formed in zigzags and legs formed between the upwardly opened slits and the downwardly opened slits; a plurality of upper contact parts formed of a synthetic resin through injection-molding to surround an upper end of the tension part and surround parts located between the upwardly opened slits; and a plurality of lower contact parts formed of a synthetic resin through injection-molding to surround a lower end of the tension part and surround parts located between the downwardly opened slits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: KOREA ATOMIC ENERGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Yong Chil Seo, Kyung Min Jeong, Ho Cheol Shin
  • Patent number: 9108366
    Abstract: In this invention a method of manufacturing and structure of prestressed composite reinforcements for cylindrical liners is presented. The method relies on creating deep precompression in the liner compensated by according pretension in the reinforcement. This method allows efficient use of mechanical properties of material of the liner and reinforcement and can provide a substantial mass reduction of the overall component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Inventor: Andrey Pulnikov
  • Publication number: 20150126293
    Abstract: The present invention relates in particular to a drive shaft assembly, e.g. as part of a rail adjustment system for a vehicle seat, with a flexible drive shaft for transferring an adjustment force, wherein the drive shaft has central part extending between the two shaft ends of the drive shaft, and the drive shaft is located with its central part at least partially in an elongate guide of the drive shaft assembly. At the central part of the drive shaft several sections arranged in the guide are provided with directly applied flock fibers, in a flocking process on a lateral surface of the drive shaft, which are spaced from each other along a shaft axis of the drive shaft and at which an outer diameter of the drive shaft is enlarged locally with regard to sections abutting these.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2014
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventor: David Becker
  • Publication number: 20150107037
    Abstract: An autonomous coverage robot includes a cleaning assembly having forward roller and rearward rollers counter-rotating with respect to each other. The rollers are arranged to substantially maintain a cross sectional area between the two rollers yet permitting collapsing therebetween as large debris is passed. Each roller includes a resilient elastomer outer tube and a partially air-occupied inner resilient core configured to bias the outer tube to rebound. The core includes a hub and resilient spokes extending between the inner surface of the outer tube and the hub. The spokes suspend the outer tube to float about the hub and transfer torque from the hub to the outer tube while allowing the outer tube to momentarily deform or move offset from the hub during impact with debris larger than the cross sectional area between the two rollers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Applicant: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Duane Leigh Gilbert, JR., Faruk Halil Bursal, Richard Joseph Therrien, Russell Walter Morin
  • Publication number: 20150105165
    Abstract: A hybrid shaft is provided, particularly a hybrid shaft for a vehicle, for transmitting a torque. The hybrid shaft includes a hollow shaft made of metal, wherein the hollow shaft has at least one reinforcement layer made of fiber-reinforced plastic on an outer surface of the hollow shaft in at least one reinforcement section. The hollow shaft has an external diameter varying in a longitudinal direction of the hollow shaft inside the at least one reinforcement section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventors: Franz SCHNEIDER, Johannes MINTZLAFF, Wolfgang STREINZ, Josef HOFSTETTER
  • Publication number: 20150060594
    Abstract: A shaft assembly includes one or more axially-arranged plies having a plurality of bundles of strands. Each strand is formed of a ultra-high modulus carbon fiber material. One or more strands of glass fiber are wrapped around each bundle of the plurality of bundles. A volume of resin injected into the one or more axially-arranged plies and the assembly is cured via a resin transfer molding process. A method of forming a shaft assembly includes arranging a plurality of strands of ultra-high modulus carbon fiber material into a plurality of bundles. Each bundle of the plurality of bundles is wrapped with one or more strands of glass fiber material. The plurality of bundles are arranged into one or more axially-extending plies at a mandrel. A volume of resin is injected into the plurality of bundles and is cured to form the shaft assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation
    Inventors: Dean Nguyen, Geoffrey Clive Robert Davis
  • Patent number: 8956487
    Abstract: A rotor blade of a turbine engine comprising a body made of composite material consisting of a fiber-reinforced thermosetting resin and a connecting yoke designed to be attached to a fastener of a rotor disc of the said turbine engine, the said blade characterized in that the connecting yoke comprises a metal reinforcement and a casing made of composite material encasing the said reinforcement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventor: Francois Gallet
  • Patent number: 8944924
    Abstract: A cable adapted to transmit torque in rigging or furling a sail of a boat includes a core having at least one termination end and a bight, and at least one layer of fiber wound around the core, wherein a fiber in a portion of the fiber layer disposed over a center portion of the bight has a first pitch angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the core and wherein a fiber in a portion of the fiber layer disposed over the at least one termination end has a second pitch angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the core. The fiber layer includes a transition zone disposed between the at least one termination end and the center portion, wherein a fiber in the transition zone has an orientation that transitions from the first pitch angle to the second pitch angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Inventor: Chris S. Funke, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8926439
    Abstract: A suction tube arrangement includes a suction tube having a suction tube opening and an actuating shaft which is received in the suction tube. The actuating shaft has a base body made of a first material and an actuating shaft body made of a second material and at least partially applied on the base body. The base body or the actuating shaft body forms at least one cover element to open or close the suction tube opening as a function of a rotation of the actuating shaft. An actuating element is at least partially enclosed by the actuating shaft body for actuating the actuating shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Audi AG
    Inventor: Rene Daschner
  • Patent number: 8876614
    Abstract: An FRP drive shaft is formed by joining metal end-joints to each end of an FRP cylinder, wherein each of the metal end-joints includes a press-fitting joint having a serrated portion which is press-fitted into the FRP cylinder, and a cylindrical outer collar which is fixed to an outer periphery of the FRP cylinder, and non-circular engaging portions which are engaged with each other to transfer rotation are formed on the press-fitting joint and the cylindrical outer collar, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Fujikura Rubber Ltd.
    Inventors: Takato Nakamura, Naoki Kimoto
  • Publication number: 20140302939
    Abstract: An energy-absorbing deformable tube having a first end, a second end, and a reduced portion there between, a proximate tube portion between the reduced portion and the first end and a distal tube portion between the reduced portion and the second end, where a first cross section dimension in the reduced portion is smaller than a corresponding second cross section dimension in the proximal tube portion, distal tube portion, or both, and a cover spanning the reduced portion connected to the proximal tube portion and the distal tube portion, the cover provided over at least a portion of the reduced portion, the distal tube portion or the proximal tube portion or both moves relative to the cover after the deformable tube receives an axial force exceeding a predetermined threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Inventor: David J. Kehrl
  • Patent number: 8808488
    Abstract: A method for producing a connecting part (30), such as a connecting rod for an aircraft, made from a composite material, the connecting part including at least one hollow body (32) and at least one yoke (34) at each of the ends (36) of the body (32), is characterized in that the body (32) and the yokes (34) of the connecting part (30) are produced from a single section (P, P1, P2) made from a composite material and obtained using a continuous production process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Epsilon Composite
    Inventors: Dominique Nogues, Frederic Louart, Jean-Pierre Maumus
  • Publication number: 20140221110
    Abstract: A composite tube made from a combination fiber and epoxy is disclosed. The tube may be made by filament winding although other materials and processes are suitable. In one example, the tube laminate is a mix of axial and helical fibers tailored to meet the stiffness and strength requirements of the particular application. Fibers having a different modulus may also be mixed to meet axial and torsional stiffness requirements. For example, high modulus fibers may be used in a helical pattern to handle high torque loads while lower modulus fibers may be used for the remaining portion of the tube laminate. The composite tube may be used for load and/or torque bearing applications and can include a support tube pressed fit into an end of the tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: CCDI COMPOSITES INC.
    Inventors: Jack A. Shippy, Bruce Blank
  • Patent number: 8777761
    Abstract: A composite tubeshaft comprising a composite substrate defined by a first surface and a second surface; and a metallic substrate having at least two teeth. The teeth of the metallic substrate engage the composite substrate such that at least one tooth is positioned over the first surface and at least one tooth is positioned over the second surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: GKN Driveline North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Genway-Hayden, Leonard R Elias, Craig A Campbell, Arthur Ball
  • Publication number: 20140141894
    Abstract: A radial shaft of a gas-turbine engine which is made up of +/?45° layers, zero layers and +/?30° layers of carbon fiber composite and connected to load-input end pieces via sinusoidal connecting areas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2013
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG
    Inventors: Andreas FREUND, Mirko FILLER, Ole RENNER, Alexander PABST, Ruediger OESSENICH
  • Patent number: 8690692
    Abstract: A transmission shaft for transmitting rotational movements including a tubular body having at least one tubular composite assembly including a plastic matrix and strengthening elements, at least one insert positioned at one end of the body and which is secured to the body in an interface area between the insert and the composite assembly, and at least one slug passing radially through the insert and the body for keeping the strengthening elements in place. The at least one insert has at least one recess receiving a part of the strengthening elements to maintain the strengthening elements in the interface area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: SKF Aerospace France
    Inventor: Jean-Michel Buchin
  • Publication number: 20140051524
    Abstract: A composite tubeshaft comprising a composite substrate defined by a first surface and a second surface; and a metallic substrate having at least two teeth. The teeth of the metallic substrate engage the composite substrate such that at least one tooth is positioned over the first surface and at least one tooth is positioned over the second surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2013
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Inventors: Robert Genway-Hayden, Leonard R. Elias, Craig A. Campbell, Arthur Ball
  • Patent number: 8622844
    Abstract: A component of a disc drive has a coating of a predetermined length on its surface, the coating having at least two separate tapered regions applied in independent steps, the at least two separate tapered regions each having a length that is less than the predetermined length of the component surface. When the component is a shaft of a spindle motor, the ends of the shaft are masked before the tapered regions of coating are applied, and the thickness of the masks covering the shaft ends is varied to control a taper of tapered regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Mohammad M. Ameen, Jerry Weingord, Thaveesinn Vasavakul, Kenneth Cornyn
  • Patent number: 8597131
    Abstract: A driveshaft mechanism tiding a driveshaft insert and a driveshaft are provided. The driveshaft insert is coupled to the driveshaft. The driveshaft insert is configured to couple with a component such that the driveshaft and the component rotate together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Machine Service, Inc.
    Inventor: Bernhard Pisinger
  • Publication number: 20130294824
    Abstract: A driveshaft mechanism including a driveshaft insert and a driveshaft are provided. The driveshaft insert is coupled to the driveshaft. The driveshaft insert is configured to couple with a component such that the driveshaft and the component rotate together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2012
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Inventor: Bernhard Pisinger
  • Patent number: 8556739
    Abstract: A main shaft for a transmission or a countershaft for a transmission shall be constructed in an especially light-weight manner. The transmission of high torques, such as is the case for the main shaft or countershaft for a transmission, is problematic when the base body of the shaft consists of a fiber composite material. A metal element (20, 22) is now laminated into the base body, and a gearwheel (28, 30) can then be connected to this metal element (20, 22) in a force-fit manner, so that high torques can be transmitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Andreas Kopf, Alexander Weidler
  • Publication number: 20130252749
    Abstract: Propshafts and propshaft assemblies for transferring torque in motor vehicles, and methods for fabricating such propshafts are provided. In one example, a propshaft comprises a fiber reinforced composite tube having a channel. The propshaft comprises a fiber reinforced composite tube and a splined female insert. The fiber reinforced composite tube has a channel and comprises a composite wall that is disposed around the channel. The splined female insert comprises a buried wall portion that is disposed in the channel operatively coupled to the composite wall. The buried wall portion has an inner surface and a plurality of internal splines formed along the inner surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: STEVEN W. CREEK, EDRALIN S. DIAZ, MICHAEL A. BRIDE
  • Patent number: 8529361
    Abstract: A drive shaft, in particular a radial shaft for a gas-turbine engine, includes a metallic and hollow shaft shank 1 with load transfer elements 2, 10, 11 integrally formed onto its ends. The shaft shank 1 includes a metal tube 3, 9 prefabricated as a semi-finished part, designed only for transmission of torsional loads and having a constant wall thickness. An outer or inner reinforcement 5, 8 intended only for ensuring the necessary bending stiffness is provided on the outer and/or inner circumferential surface of the metal tube 3, 9 and made from a fiber-composite layer 13, 13? with fibers oriented in the longitudinal direction of the drive shaft. The inner fiber-composite layer 13 acting as outer reinforcement 5 is sheathed with an outer fiber-composite layer 14 made from fibers oriented at an angle of 60° to 90° relative to the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG
    Inventors: Gerald Hechler-Stabbert, Alexander Pabst
  • Patent number: 8430759
    Abstract: A torque tube includes a composite body and an end fitting. The composite tube includes a body having a body interior diameter, a wall thickness, an end having an edge, and a set of helically-shaped grooves. Each helically-shaped groove may pass through the wall thickness. Each helically-shaped groove may begin at the edge and end in the body. The end fitting may include a sleeve configured to mate with the body interior diameter and a set of ribs configured to mate with the set of helically-shaped groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Steven P. Wanthal
  • Patent number: 8419887
    Abstract: A composite structural member is provided. The structural member includes a tubular shaft having a mating region of stiffness, and possibly thickness, greater than another region of said shaft. The shaft defines a lumen, and a fitting is disposed in the lumen. The fitting has a coupling region that defines at least one recessed portion bounded by one or more non-recessed portions, and the mating region mates with the coupling region of said fitting. As such, the shaft and fitting are mechanically restrained from at least some relative movement due to interference of the shaft and the fitting. A sleeve may be coupled to said shaft, for example, by including a tubular inner surface that proximately surrounds at least part of said shaft and mating region, for discouraging expansion of the mating region of said shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Dennis K. Kennedy
  • Publication number: 20130068187
    Abstract: A shaft assembly includes a shaft, a spacer and a cover. The body of the shaft includes a sealing portion, a balancing portion and a hollow portion which may collectively define a generally cylindrical space. The spacer substantially encloses the hollow portion of the body. The cover encapsulates the shaft body and the spacer to provide a substantially continuous cylindrical surface in sealing engagement with the sealing portion. The shaft assembly may be rotatably installed in an engine such that the balancing portion may be partially submerged in an oil bath in the engine and such that the substantially continuous cylindrical surface of the cover minimizes turbulence and aeration of the oil bath when the shaft assembly is rotated. The shaft may be configured for rotation in synchrony with a crankshaft. A method for encapsulating the shaft includes forming a continuous cylindrical surface in sealing engagement with the shaft body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2011
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Glenn E. Clever, Charles K. Buehler
  • Patent number: 8262825
    Abstract: Composite tubes may be fabricated by filament winding a layer of resin impregnated carbon fiber with a near-axial fiber orientation over a mandrel and over end-fittings. Bands of resin-impregnated fibers are then wound circumferentially around this near-axial layer in a position that coincides with a circumferential groove in the underlying end-fittings. The ends of the near-axial layer are folded back over the bands, resulting in a double layer of intact near-axial fibers locked into the groove on the end-fittings by the bands of intact circumferential fibers. Testing has shown this arrangement to be effective for introducing very high axial loads onto the composite tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Parker Hannifin GmbH
    Inventors: Mark James Fahey, Carsten Mueller