Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
125 words
A tubular fiber reinforced composite shaft comprising: a shaft body comprising a plurality of integrally bonded plies of solidified fiber reinforced resinous material; a metal sleeve mounted in at least one end of said shaft body; a plurality of pins extending through at least one of said plies and said sleeve, to create a torsion-transmitting connection between said shaft body and said sleeve; and said pins being mounted on arch-shaped plates, said plates being arranged such that circumferential ends of said plates are disposed in substantially end-to-end relationship so as to form a substantially continuous circumferential surface; an additional ply of solidified fiber reinforced resinous material extending around the said circumferential surface of said plates exteriorly of previously applied fibrous material to retain said pins.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
125 words
A tubular fiber reinforced composite shaft comprising: a shaft body comprising a plurality of integrally bonded plies of solidified fiber reinforced resinous material; a metal sleeve mounted in at least one end of said shaft body; a plurality of pins extending through at least one of said plies and said sleeve, to create a torsion-transmitting connection between said shaft body and said sleeve; and said pins being mounted on arch-shaped plates, said plates being arranged such that circumferential ends of said plates are disposed in substantially end-to-end relationship so as to form a substantially continuous circumferential surface; an additional ply of solidified fiber reinforced resinous material extending around the said circumferential surface of said plates exteriorly of previously applied fibrous material to retain said pins.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
A shaft according to claim 1, wherein said pins comprise sharpened spikes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
A shaft according to claim 1, wherein each plate carries a plurality of said spikes arranged in a longitudinally extending row.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
A shaft according to claim 1, wherein said pins extend radially inwardly beyond radially inner ends of said apertures.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
115 words
A method of forming a tubular fiber reinforced composite shaft comprising the steps of: positioning a metal sleeve upon a segment of a mandrel; applying fibrous material bearing a non-solidified resinous material upon said mandrel and the outer periphery of said sleeve; inserting pins inwardly through said previously applied fibrous material and into said sleeve; applying additional fibrous material bearing a non-solidified resinous material around the outer ends of said pins exteriorly of said previously applied fibrous material to retain said pins; and solidifying said resinous material with said pins disposed in said fibrous material and said sleeve to create a torsion-transmitting connection between said metal sleeve and said fibrous material; and removing said mandrel.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
115 words
A method of forming a tubular fiber reinforced composite shaft comprising the steps of: positioning a metal sleeve upon a segment of a mandrel; applying fibrous material bearing a non-solidified resinous material upon said mandrel and the outer periphery of said sleeve; inserting pins inwardly through said previously applied fibrous material and into said sleeve; applying additional fibrous material bearing a non-solidified resinous material around the outer ends of said pins exteriorly of said previously applied fibrous material to retain said pins; and solidifying said resinous material with said pins disposed in said fibrous material and said sleeve to create a torsion-transmitting connection between said metal sleeve and said fibrous material; and removing said mandrel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
88 words
A method according to claim 5, wherein said positioning step comprises positioning a metal sleeve having a plurality of apertures therein, and aligning said apertures with openings in said mandrel, which openings are open at their longitudinal outer ends, said inserting step comprises inserting said pins into said apertures whereby radially inner ends of said pins project into said openings, and said removing step comprises longitudinally separating said shaft from said mandrel whereby said pins leave said mandrel by way of said longitudinally open ends of said openings.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method according to claim 5, wherein said inserting step comprises inserting pins affixed to concave surfaces of arc-shaped plates, and arranging circumferential ends of said plates in substantially end-to-end relation.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 7, wherein said inserting step further comprises inserting pins arranged in a longitudinally extending row on each said plate.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
136 words
A method of forming a tubular fiber reinforced composite shaft comprising the steps of: positioning a metal sleeve having a plurality of apertures therein upon a segment of a mandrel; applying fibrous material bearing a non-solidified resinous material upon said mandrel and over said apertures in said sleeve; inserting pins inwardly through said fibrous material and into said apertures such that enlarged arc-shaped plates affixed to outer ends of said pins abut said fibrous material with circumferential ends of said plates disposed substantially in end-to-end relationship so that said plates form a substantially continuous circumferential surface, and applying a retainer means around said plates to retain said pins, solidifying said resinous material with said pins disposed in said apertures to create a torsion-transmitting connection between said shaft body and said sleeve; and removing said mandrel .
Claim 12
Independent Claim
136 words
A method of forming a tubular fiber reinforced composite shaft comprising the steps of: positioning a metal sleeve having a plurality of apertures therein upon a segment of a mandrel; applying fibrous material bearing a non-solidified resinous material upon said mandrel and over said apertures in said sleeve; inserting pins inwardly through said fibrous material and into said apertures such that enlarged arc-shaped plates affixed to outer ends of said pins abut said fibrous material with circumferential ends of said plates disposed substantially in end-to-end relationship so that said plates form a substantially continuous circumferential surface, and applying a retainer means around said plates to retain said pins, solidifying said resinous material with said pins disposed in said apertures to create a torsion-transmitting connection between said shaft body and said sleeve; and removing said mandrel .
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 9, wherein said last-named applying step comprises applying additional fibrous material bearing said non-solidified resinous material around said plates.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method according to claim 9, wherein said sleeve is positioned such that said apertures are aligned with openings in said mandrel which are open at their longitudinally outer ends, said inserting step being performed such that said pins extend beyond said apertures and into said openings.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 9, wherein said inserting step further comprises inserting pins arranged in a longitudinally extending row on each said plate.