A system for constructing a composite structure includes a braiding machine, a winding tool and a forming machine. The composite structure is constructed of a wound tubular braiding. The wound tubular braiding is constructed of a biaxial or triaxial tubular braid of unidirectional tape.

An improved core for mounting on one or more core engaging elements such as a pair of chucks and a method of making an improved core are provided. The core is adapted to wind and unwind material thereon. The core may comprise a high coefficient of friction coating disposed on the inner surface of the core to improve the core-chuck interaction. The inner surface may be mechanically or chemically treated to improve core-chuck interaction.

The invention relates to a method and a device for manufacturing a pipe shell from an insulating material by means of which the cycle times can be further reduced while the quality of the pipe shell is simultaneously improved, by at least one web (29) of the insulating material which is provided with a binding agent being wound around a core (19) by means of at least two opposing belts (12, 13) which wrap around the core (19) partially. The method steps are characterized in that the at least one wound-up web (32) of insulating material is removed in a radial direction of the core (19) which is, however, not opposite to the direction in which the at least one web (29) of insulating material was fed by the one belt (12), especially by the wound-up web (32) being discharged through the same belt (12).

A method for manufacturing a high pressure tank includes a step of forming a reinforcing pipe portion including a straight pipe portion and reduced-diameter portions, a step of forming reinforcing dome portions, a step of forming a joined body by joining the reinforcing pipe portion and the reinforcing dome portions, and a step of forming an outer helical layer on an outer face of the joined body. The reinforcing dome portions are disposed with opening ends of the reinforcing dome portions positioned on outer faces of the reduced-diameter portions of the reinforcing pipe portion.

A filament winding assembly includes a rotating mandrel coupled to a shaft that rotates the rotating mandrel. The rotating mandrel includes a first perforated sleeve that defines holes and includes a winding surface. The rotating mandrel also includes a second perforated sleeve disposed inside the first perforated sleeve. The second perforated sleeve defines an interior volume and holes configured to form fluid pathways with the holes of the first perforated sleeve. The fluid pathways extend from the interior volume to the winding surface of the first perforated sleeve. The filament winding assembly includes a filament that is wound, under tension, around the winding surface of the first perforated sleeve. The filament winding assembly also includes a fluid source fluidically coupled to the interior volume of the second perforated sleeve. The fluid source exhausts fluid, through the fluid pathways, from the wound filament to reduce manufacturing defects of the wound filament.

A machine and a process for bending filiform thermoplastic material, such as a tube, by using a machine for bending tubes provided with a heating apparatus governed by a programmable control unit with a core body positionable inside the portion of the tube to be bent, suitable for being heated in a sector-by-sector basis, said sectors being independent of each other and heatable independently of each other.

A process for post curing a composite product made from a filament winding process comprises the steps of: surrounding the composite product, that is disposed about a rotatable mandrel, with an outer jacket; and simultaneously rotating and heating the mandrel resulting in post curing of the composite product according to a process that can be referred to as being a combo-semi-centrifugal post curing process.

A tool for forming a composite structure may include two or more segments formed from a polymer material. The tool may further include a crush insert disposed between the two or more segments. The tool may also include a support shaft coupled between the two or more segments. A method of forming a mandrel may include forming segments of the mandrel through an additive manufacturing process. The method may further include assembling the segments relative to one another. The method may also include positioning a crush insert between each of the segments. A method of fabricating a composite structure is also disclosed.

A system and method for forming a strut. A strut comprises a laminated composite tube having a substantially hollow interior and a pair of longitudinal stiffeners attached to opposite sides of the laminated composite tube.

An improved core for mounting on one or more core engaging elements such as a pair of chucks and a method of making an improved core are provided. The core is adapted to wind and unwind material thereon. The core may comprise a high coefficient of friction coating disposed on the inner surface of the core to improve the core-chuck interaction. The inner surface may be mechanically or chemically treated to improve core-chuck interaction.