US3638455A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Filament-wound resin torsion tubes with molded end splines
Assignee: UNIROYAL PLASTICS COMPANY Inc WORLD HEADQUARTERS MIDDLEBURY CT 06749 A CORP OF
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Filing: 1970-07-08
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Granted: 1972-02-01
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Expires: 1990-07-08
Abstract
Abstract A cylindrical, open-ended, filament-wound resin tube capable of use as a torsion bar or spring, a drive shaft, etc., and having in at least one end region thereof a set of integral molded splines designed to provide for a positive connection of the tube to a cooperatively splined adjunct of the structural members to be interconnected, is disclosed. The splines, which are formed without machining by applying radially directed pressure to the respective end region of the tube, before the final curing thereof, to shape the same against an appropriately contoured mold, are contoured in width along at least a part of their length in the direction away from the proximate open tube end, to provide for a gradual stress transfer to the splines over the entire effective lengths thereof. Added support for the splines may be provided by means of a backup sleeve of metal or filamentwound resin secured to the back surface of the splined end region of the tube. The foregoing abstract is not to be taken either as a complete exposition or as a limitation of the present invention, and in order to understand the full nature and extent of the technical disclosure of this application, reference must be had to the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings as well as to the claims.
Inventors
- 👤 Edgar Francois
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 13:20
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16C; F16C3/00; F16C3/02; F16C3/026; F16D; F16D3/00; F16D3/02; F16D3/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
133 words
A torque-sustaining device, comprising an open-ended continuous filament-wound resin tube which is cylindrical in shape over the major portion of its body, said tube at at least one end region thereof being provided with a plurality of cross sectionally substantially sinusoidal, circumferentially spaced, axially extending splines which are constituted by appropriately molded portions of the filament-wound resin structure and have the filament continuity maintained over their entire expanse, said splines being of constant height for a predetermined axial distance in from the proximate tube end and tapering in width gradually over at least the axially inwardmost part of that distance while the widths of the intermediate valleys increase correspondingly, and said splines thereafter tapering gradually in width and height until they disappear and merge smoothly into the cylindrical contours of the tube body.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
133 words
A torque-sustaining device, comprising an open-ended continuous filament-wound resin tube which is cylindrical in shape over the major portion of its body, said tube at at least one end region thereof being provided with a plurality of cross sectionally substantially sinusoidal, circumferentially spaced, axially extending splines which are constituted by appropriately molded portions of the filament-wound resin structure and have the filament continuity maintained over their entire expanse, said splines being of constant height for a predetermined axial distance in from the proximate tube end and tapering in width gradually over at least the axially inwardmost part of that distance while the widths of the intermediate valleys increase correspondingly, and said splines thereafter tapering gradually in width and height until they disappear and merge smoothly into the cylindrical contours of the tube body.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
A torque-sustaining device according to claim 1, wherein said splines taper in width over said entire axial distance.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
86 words
A torque-sustaining device according to claim 2, wherein the taper of each said splines is curvilinear in accordance with the relation roo (roomax/2L) z2, ro being the outer diameter of said tube, 0 being the angle of twist of any point on the outer surface of said tube, omax being the unit rotation of the cylindrical body portion of said tube, L being said predetermined axial distance, and z being the distance of any point in said end region from the proximate end of said tube.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
A torque-sustaining device according to claim 1, wherein all of said splines taper in width codirectionally from one side only.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
A torque-sustaining device according to claim 1, wherein all of said splines taper in width from both sides.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
A torque-sustaining device according to claim 1, wherein each of said splines is of constant width for a first part of said predetermined axial distance starting at the proximate end of said tube, and then tapers gradually and rectilinearly for the remainder of said distance.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
A torque-sustaining device according to claim 6, wherein all of said splines taper in width codirectionally from one side only.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
A torque-sustaining device according to claim 6, wherein all of said splines taper in width from both sides.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
111 words
A torque-sustaining device according to claim 6, wherein each of said splines in the constant height/constant width section thereof is somewhat flattened at its apex and is characterized by separate but equal radii of curvature for its flanks while each of the adjacent valleys is characterized by a single radius of curvature, and wherein each of said splines at the axially inwardmost end of the constant height/tapering width section thereof has so changed as to be characterized by a single radius Of curvature at its apex while each of the adjacent valleys is somewhat flattened at its bottom and is characterized by separate but equal radii of curvature for its flanks.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
A torque-sustaining device according to claim 1, wherein said splines project exteriorly from said tube.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
A torque-sustaining device according to claim 1, wherein said splines project interiorly from said tube.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
52 words
A torque-sustaining device according to claim 1, further comprising a cylindrical backup sleeve secured by a resin bond circumferentially to the back surface of the splined end region of said tube, said sleeve extending from the proximate open end of said tube for a distance somewhat greater than said predetermined axial distance.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
A torque-sustaining device according to claim 12, wherein said backup sleeve is a filament-wound resin structure.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
42 words
A torque-sustaining device according to claim 12, wherein said backup sleeve is a metallic structure, and a thin layer of elastomeric material is cemented to that surface of said sleeve which faces said back surface of said end region of said tube.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
A torque-sustaining device according to claim 12, wherein said splines project exteriorly from said tube, and said backup sleeve is secured to the interior surface of said end region of said tube.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
A torque-sustaining device according to claim 12, wherein said splines project interiorly from said tube, and said backup sleeve is secured to the exterior surface of said end region of said tube.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
A torque-sustaining device according to claim 1, wherein the filament component of said tube is glass fiber, and the resin component is epoxy.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
A torque-sustaining device according to claim 1, wherein said tube is provided at both end regions thereof with identical sets of said splines.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
37 words
A torque-sustaining device according to claim 1, wherein said end region of said tube is further reinforced by at least one layer of filament windings in excess of the number constituting said body portion of said tube.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
143 words
A torque-sustaining device, comprising an open-ended continuous filament-wound resin tube which is cylindrical in shape over the major portion of its body, said tube at both of the opposite end regions thereof being provided with respective sets of external, cross-sectionally substantially sinusoidal, circumferentially spaced, axially extending splines which are constituted by appropriately molded portions of the filament-wound resin structure and have the filament continuity maintained over their entire expanse, said splines of each set being of constant height and width for a predetermined axial distance in from the proximate tube end and tapering in width gradually over at least the axially inwardmost part of that distance while the widths of the respective intermediate valleys increase correspondingly, and said splines of each set thereafter tapering gradually in width and height until they disappear and merge smoothly into the cylindrical contours of the tube body.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
143 words
A torque-sustaining device, comprising an open-ended continuous filament-wound resin tube which is cylindrical in shape over the major portion of its body, said tube at both of the opposite end regions thereof being provided with respective sets of external, cross-sectionally substantially sinusoidal, circumferentially spaced, axially extending splines which are constituted by appropriately molded portions of the filament-wound resin structure and have the filament continuity maintained over their entire expanse, said splines of each set being of constant height and width for a predetermined axial distance in from the proximate tube end and tapering in width gradually over at least the axially inwardmost part of that distance while the widths of the respective intermediate valleys increase correspondingly, and said splines of each set thereafter tapering gradually in width and height until they disappear and merge smoothly into the cylindrical contours of the tube body.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
157 words
A torque-sustaining device, comprising an open-ended continuous filament-wound resin tube which is cylindrical in shape over the major portion of its body, said tube at each of the opposite end regions thereof being provided with respective sets of external, cross-sectionally substantially sinusoidal, circumferentially spaced, axially extending splines which are constituted by approximately molded portions of the filament-wound resin structure and have the filament continuity maintained over their entire expanse, said splines of each set being of constant height and width for a predetermined axial distance in from the proximate tube end, said splines of each set thereafter for a further predetermined axial distance from said proximate tube end remaining of the same height but tapering in width gradually and rectilinearly while the widths of the respective intermediate valleys increase correspondingly, and said splines of each set thereafter tapering gradually in width and height until they dIsappear and merge smoothly into the cylindrical contours of the tube body.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
157 words
A torque-sustaining device, comprising an open-ended continuous filament-wound resin tube which is cylindrical in shape over the major portion of its body, said tube at each of the opposite end regions thereof being provided with respective sets of external, cross-sectionally substantially sinusoidal, circumferentially spaced, axially extending splines which are constituted by approximately molded portions of the filament-wound resin structure and have the filament continuity maintained over their entire expanse, said splines of each set being of constant height and width for a predetermined axial distance in from the proximate tube end, said splines of each set thereafter for a further predetermined axial distance from said proximate tube end remaining of the same height but tapering in width gradually and rectilinearly while the widths of the respective intermediate valleys increase correspondingly, and said splines of each set thereafter tapering gradually in width and height until they dIsappear and merge smoothly into the cylindrical contours of the tube body.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
111 words
A torque-sustaining device according to claim 1, wherein each of said splines in the constant height/constant width section thereof is somewhat flattened at its apex and is characterized by separate but equal radii of curvature for its flanks while each of the adjacent valleys is characterized by a single radius of curvature, and wherein each of said splines at the axially inwardmost end of the constant height/tapering width section thereof has so changed as to be characterized by a single radius of curvature at its apex while each of the adjacent valleys is somewhat flattened at its bottom and is characterized by separate but equal radii of curvature for its flanks.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
60 words
A torque-sustaining device according to claim 22, further comprising a cylindrical backup sleeve of filament-wound resin secured by a resin bond circumferentially to the interior surface of each splined end region of said tube, each sleeve extending from the respective proximate open end of said tube for distance somewhat greater than the axial length of the respective set of splines.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3400558A
Cited
US3367142A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-01-31 | 1975-08-02 | 1976-02-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-01-31 | 1979-08-02 | 1980-02-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-01-31 | 1983-08-02 | 1984-02-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |