Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
96 words
A method of forming a densified filamentary reinforced monotape including the steps of: (a) providing a collimated filament preform; (b) forming an assembly by positioning said preform between layers of matrix material; (c) forming a length of said assembly between tool means including forming said length of said assembly into a first predetermined arcuate configuration while sealing opposite edges of said matrix material along said length to encapsulate the collimated filament preform between said layers of said matrix material; (d) consolidating said formed length of said assembly to form a length of densified filamentary reinforced monotape.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
96 words
A method of forming a densified filamentary reinforced monotape including the steps of: (a) providing a collimated filament preform; (b) forming an assembly by positioning said preform between layers of matrix material; (c) forming a length of said assembly between tool means including forming said length of said assembly into a first predetermined arcuate configuration while sealing opposite edges of said matrix material along said length to encapsulate the collimated filament preform between said layers of said matrix material; (d) consolidating said formed length of said assembly to form a length of densified filamentary reinforced monotape.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 1 wherein step (c) includes continuously passing said length between forming and sealing tool elements constituting said tool means so as to impart said first predetermined arcuate configuration to said length and to seal said edges between said tool elements as said length passes therebetween.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method as defined in claim 1 wherein said matrix material consists of metal sheets which are welded between the tool means along the lateral edges of said matrix material thereby sealing the assembly in the predetermined arcuate configuration.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said consolidating step comprises press diffusion bonding said length of said assembly using dies having a curvature approximating said first predetermined arcuate configuration.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 1 including the additional step of further imparting to said length a second arcuate configuration having a smaller radius than said predetermined arcuate configuration to form a coil of said length.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the step of consolidating comprises hot isostatic pressing of said coil.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 including the step of evacuating said encapsulated assembly prior to said consolidating step.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
86 words
A method of forming a densified filamentary reinforced monotape including the steps of: (a) providing a collimated filament preform; (b) forming an assembly by positioning said preform between layers of matrix material; (c) encasing said assembly in (b) between sheets of removable encapsulating material; (d) forming a length of said assembly between tool means including forming a length of said encased assembly to a predetermined arcuate configuration while sealing opposite edges of said removable encapsulating material along said length; (e) consolidating said length of encased assembly.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
86 words
A method of forming a densified filamentary reinforced monotape including the steps of: (a) providing a collimated filament preform; (b) forming an assembly by positioning said preform between layers of matrix material; (c) encasing said assembly in (b) between sheets of removable encapsulating material; (d) forming a length of said assembly between tool means including forming a length of said encased assembly to a predetermined arcuate configuration while sealing opposite edges of said removable encapsulating material along said length; (e) consolidating said length of encased assembly.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 8 wherein step (d) includes continuously passing said length between forming and sealing elements constituting said tool means so as to impart said first predetermined arcuate configuration to said length and to seal said edges between said elements as said length passes therebetween.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method as defined in claim 8 wherein said sheets comprises a weldable metal and the sealing step comprises welding along the length of the edges of said encapsulating material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 8 including the added step of forming the length having said predetermined arcuate configuration into a coil having a radius smaller than said predetermined arcuate configuration.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said consolidating step comprises press diffusion bonding said length of said assembly using dies having a curvature approximately the same as said predetermined arcuate configuration.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 11 including the step of consolidating said coil by the process of hot isostatic pressing.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 8 including the step of evacuating said encapsulated matrix encased preform prior to said consolidating step.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said sheets are removed from the matrix material enclosed preform after consolidating.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
86 words
A method of forming a filamentary reinforced assembly including the steps of: (a) providing a filament preform; (b) forming an assembly by positioning said preform between layers of matrix material; (c) forming said assembly into a first predetermined arcuate configuration while sealing edges of said matrix material to encapsulate the filament preform between said layers of said matrix material; (d) imparting to said formed assembly a second arcuate configuration having a smaller radius than said first predetermined arcuate configuration to form a coil of said assembly.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
86 words
A method of forming a filamentary reinforced assembly including the steps of: (a) providing a filament preform; (b) forming an assembly by positioning said preform between layers of matrix material; (c) forming said assembly into a first predetermined arcuate configuration while sealing edges of said matrix material to encapsulate the filament preform between said layers of said matrix material; (d) imparting to said formed assembly a second arcuate configuration having a smaller radius than said first predetermined arcuate configuration to form a coil of said assembly.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 16 including the additional step of consolidating the formed and sealed assembly after step (c) or the coil after step (d) to form a densified filamentary reinforced monotape.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
88 words
A method of forming a filamentary reinforced assembly including the steps of: (a) providing a filament preform; (b) forming an assembly by positioning said preform between layers of matrix material; (c) encasing said assembly in step (b) between sheets of removable encapsulating material; (d) forming said encased assembly to a predetermined arcuate configuration while sealing the edges of said removable encapsulating material; (e) forming said formed encapsulated assembly to another arcuate configuration having a smaller radius than said predetermined arcuate configuration to form a coil of said assembly.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
88 words
A method of forming a filamentary reinforced assembly including the steps of: (a) providing a filament preform; (b) forming an assembly by positioning said preform between layers of matrix material; (c) encasing said assembly in step (b) between sheets of removable encapsulating material; (d) forming said encased assembly to a predetermined arcuate configuration while sealing the edges of said removable encapsulating material; (e) forming said formed encapsulated assembly to another arcuate configuration having a smaller radius than said predetermined arcuate configuration to form a coil of said assembly.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 18 including the additional step of consolidating the formed and sealed assembly after step (d) or the coil after step (e) to form a densified assembly.