초록 ▼

An apparatus is disclosed for forming elongate structures of composite materials. The apparatus includes a plurality of forming dies for preheating, heating and then cooling an elongate portion of composite material while shaping the material within an internal passage. A pulling device is utilized

An apparatus is disclosed for forming elongate structures of composite materials. The apparatus includes a plurality of forming dies for preheating, heating and then cooling an elongate portion of composite material while shaping the material within an internal passage. A pulling device is utilized to continuously draw elongate strips of composite material through the forming dies. The pulling device includes two opposed endless track devices. One of the endless track devices serves to mount a plurality of engagement dogs, each having a substantially flat surface for engagement of the elongate portion of composite material. The other endless track device serves to mount a plurality of pivoting engagement dogs, each having a curvilinear surface wherein increased resistance by said elongate strip of composite material will pivot the curved surface into closer alignment with a corresponding flat surface, thereby tightening the grip of the pulling device on the elongate strip of composite material.

대표청구항 ▼

An apparatus for forming elongate structures composed of composite materials comprising: a plurality of forming dies for forming and curing an elongate portion of composite material, each of said plurality of forming dies having a shaping passage therein, each of said shaping passages being longitud

An apparatus for forming elongate structures composed of composite materials comprising: a plurality of forming dies for forming and curing an elongate portion of composite material, each of said plurality of forming dies having a shaping passage therein, each of said shaping passages being longitudinally aligned; and puller means adapted to engage said formed and cured elongate portion of composite material and pull said portion of composite material through said plurality of forming dies, said puller means including : a pair of endless track devices, the composite material passing between the track devices, each endless track device having an endless track for traveling along a path, a portion of the endless track path of each endless track device being disposed adjacent and parallel to the elongate direction of the composite material; means for driving the endless track on each device so that the parallel portions travel in the same direction and at the same speed; at least one first engagement dog mounted to a first of said endless tracks, said first engagement dog having a substantially flat surface adapted to engage one surface of said formed and cured elongate portion of composite material; and at least one second engagement dog pivotally mounted to a second of said endless tracks, said second engagement dog having a curvilinear surface which increases in radius in the direction of movement of the composite material, said curvilinear surface adapted to engage a second surface of said formed and cured elongate portion of composite material, the first and second engagement dogs being paired, the surface of the associated pair facing each other during the portion of the paths of the endless tracks adjacent and parallel to the composite material, said second engagement dog pivoting so that the radius between the pivot axis and the portion of the curvilinear surface contacting the second surface of the formed and cured elongate portion of composite material increases as the resistance to movement of the composite material through the dies increases to more firmly engage the formed and cured elongate portion of cmposite material between the facing surfaces of the dogs, the length of the flat surface on the first engagement dog being sufficiently long in the direction of movement of the composite material so that the composite material is continuously supported by the flat surface normal to the point of application of the force exerted by the curvilinear surface on the second surface of said formed and cured elongate portion of composite material.