Patent ID: 11933381
Assignee: AUTOMOTIVE INSIGHT, LLC
Field: Other special machines (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC F  B | IPC B  F

Claim 10:
11. A method of making a composite leaf spring, the method comprising:
supporting a first bushing tube and a second bushing tube a selected distance apart;
wrapping a ribbon of base material around the first and second bushing tubes;
supporting a length of at least one layer of the base material between the first and second bushing tubes while wrapping the ribbon of base material around the first and second bushing tubes;
wrapping a plurality of layers of a ribbon of tension material around the base material;
placing the first bushing tube, the second bushing tube, the wrapped ribbon of base material and the wrapped ribbon of tension material into a mold;
establishing a shape of the composite leaf spring in the mold with the first and second bushing tubes molded into the composite leaf spring; and
wrapping a plurality of layers of a ribbon of intermediate material around the base material before wrapping the tension material around the base material, wherein the intermediate material has a plurality of warp strands aligned with a length of the composite leaf spring and a plurality of weft strands that are at an oblique angle relative to the warp strands.