Inventors:
Steven Stenard - Cincinnati OH, US
Assignee:
A&P Technology, Inc. - Cincinnati OH
International Classification:
A61F 13/15
B27N 3/00
B32B 17/00
B32B 37/00
B29C 65/00
B29C 33/56
B31B 1/60
B28B 7/30
B29D 28/00
D02G 1/20
D02J 1/22
US Classification:
156 622, 156 60, 2491141, 264313, 264103
Abstract:
A mandrel and method of making a mandrel for use as a substrate in the manufacture of woven or braided articles. The mandrel may have an inner core of foam; at least a first layer of carbon fiber-reinforced resin, and an outer layer of glass fiber-reinforced resin. The foam core may be a high density, closed cell polyurethane foam that is formed of a desired size and shape. The fibers in the first layer and outer layer may be, for example, chopped fibers, continuous longitudinally aligned fibers, circumferentially wound fibers, obliquely aligned fibers, or the fibers may have a woven or braided pattern. Multiple mandrels may be joined together to form complex mandrel shapes such as curves, ovals, and circles.