HOLLOW PROFILE MEMBER SUCH AS A TUBE MADE OF THERMOSETTING COMPOSITE MATERIALS AND CORRESPONDING METHOD

Abstract

Some embodiments are directed to 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.

Claims

1. A method for overmolding a thermoplastic end-fitting on a hollow profile made of thermosetting composite, including: machining a shape of the profile made of thermosetting composite on an injection zone; positioning a plug in the profile member; thermally conditioning the assembly of the profile member, and of the plug; and injecting the end-fitting with thermoplastic composite to create a junction of the profile member, the plug, and the end-fitting.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein it includes a step of chemical treatment of the profile member in the injection zone.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, further including a step of laser treatment of the profile member in the injection zone.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the positioning of the plug is done directly on the profile member.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the positioning of the plug is done by positioning it in an injection tool, then by installing the profile member in the injection tool.

6. An assembly comprising a hollow profile member made of thermosetting composite of internal diameter D.sub.1 and of external diameter D.sub.2 and a thermoplastic end-fitting wherein it includes a plug arranged inside the profile member and the profile member includes a machined part at an end of the profile member.

7. The assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein the machined part of the profile member is pierced.

8. The assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein the machined part of the profile member has received a laser treatment.

9. The assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein the plug has an external diameter D.sub.1 smaller than the internal diameter D.sub.1 of the profile member over a portion of its length.

10. The assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein the plug has a peripheral edge of diameter d.sub.2 greater than the external diameter d.sub.2 of the profile member.

11. The method as claimed in claim 2, further including a step of laser treatment of the profile member in the injection zone.

12. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the positioning of the plug is done directly on the profile member.

13. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the positioning of the plug is done directly on the profile member.

14. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the positioning of the plug is done by positioning it in an injection tool, then by installing the profile member in the injection tool.

15. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the positioning of the plug is done by positioning it in an injection tool, then by installing the profile member in the injection tool.

16. The assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein the plug has a peripheral edge of diameter d.sub.2 greater than the external diameter d.sub.2 of the profile member.

17. The assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein the plug has a peripheral edge of diameter d.sub.2 greater than the external diameter d.sub.2 of the profile member.

18. The assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein the plug has a peripheral edge of diameter d.sub.2 greater than the external diameter d.sub.2 of the profile member.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] Other features will also emerge to the person of ordinary skill in the art on reading the examples hereinbelow, illustrated by the attached figures, given by way of example:

[0026] FIG. 1 is a first example of a profile member according to some embodiments,

[0027] FIG. 2 represents a second example of a profile member according to some embodiments,

[0028] FIG. 3 is a third example of a profile member according to some embodiments,

[0029] FIG. 4 is a cross section of an embodiment of the assembly before injection according to some embodiments,

[0030] FIG. 5 is a cross section of another embodiment of the assembly before injection according to some embodiments,

[0031] FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view of the assembly of FIG. 4 after injection,

[0032] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of an assembly after injection.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0033] The profile member 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 is a hollow tube made of thermosetting composite material, for example thermosetting carbon, produced or not by pultrusion, with an end machined with holes 10. These holes 10 will allow the passage of the thermoplastic material into the profile member 1.

[0034] In FIG. 2, the profile member 1 has an end with furrows 11. The length 1 of the part with furrows will possibly have substantially the same length as the thermoplastic material injection zone 13.

[0035] In FIG. 3, the profile member 1 has an end with asperities 12, and they will be able to be produced by machining or by laser. The area of the asperities will possibly be substantially of the same length 1 as the thermoplastic material injection zone 13. Other forms of surfaces are also possible.

[0036] FIG. 4 shows a cross section of a profile member made of thermosetting composite material with a first type of plug 2 made of thermoplastic material or metal material or a combination of the two materials, inserted into the profile member 1 under the injection zone 13 corresponding to the part of the profile member 1 including the machined end or with furrows or asperities. The plug 2 includes an end 20 whose diameter d.sub.0 is substantially equal to the internal diameter D1 of the profile member 1 in order to ensure the seal-tightness of the profile member 1 to the thermoplastic material which will be injected by plugging the opening. Here, the plug 2 will be held by the injection tool in the profile member 1, for example by an internal threading (not represented). There remains a space 15 between the profile member 1 and the plug 2.

[0037] In FIG. 5, this is a cross section of a tube made of thermosetting composite material with a second type of plug 3 made of thermoplastic material or of metal material or a combination of the two materials, with an end 30 of diameter d.sub.0 substantially equal to the internal diameter D.sub.1 of the profile member 1 and a peripheral edge 31 of diameter d.sub.2 greater than the external diameter D.sub.2 of the profile member 1 and bearing on its end 14. It is the peripheral edge 31 which holds the plug 3 at the end of the profile member 1. There remains a space 15 between the profile member 1 and the plug 3.

[0038] FIG. 6 shows the partial cross section of the profile member 1 of FIG. 1 with a plug 2 of the first type after injection of the thermoplastic material forming the end-fitting 4. The thermoplastic material is entered into the holes 10 to fill the space 15 which allows a better adhesion of the end-fitting 4 on the profile member 1.

[0039] FIG. 7 is a cross section of a profile member of FIG. 1 with a plug 3 of the second type after the injection of the end-fitting 5. The thermoplastic material forming the end-fitting 5 has been molded around the profile member 1 in the machined part.

[0040] The implementation of the method according to some embodiments takes place as follows: starting from a profile member 1, machining is performed such as that of FIGS. 1 to 3, then a plug 2 is inserted into the injection tool, for example by screwing onto an element of the tool, then the profile member is inserted into the injection tool as in FIG. 4, or, the plug 3 is placed in the profile member 1 as in FIG. 5 to then place it in the injection tool, the assembly of the profile member 1 and of the plug 2 or 3 is then thermally conditioned in the injection tool, then the thermoplastic material is injected into a mold in the shape of the end-fitting 4 or 5. Depending on the form of the machining of the profile member, the thermoplastic material will enter into the holes 10, or the furrows 11, or between the asperities 12.

[0041] Obviously, an end-fitting will be produced at each end of the profile member 1 to produce a connecting rod.