Patent ID: 9718248
Date: 2017-08-01
CPC Classifications: B29C,B32B,D04C

Claim:
1. A method of manufacturing a thermoplastic composite tubular structure embedded with a first load fitting, the method comprising: braiding a first plurality of inner layers of thermoplastic composite material around a mandrel, the mandrel comprising a soluble, expandable material and comprising a mandrel cross-section defining a first closed geometric shape; placing a first load fitting on the first plurality of inner layers of thermoplastic composite material, wherein the first load fitting comprises a main body and a clevis that extends from a central portion of the main body, the first load fitting treated with an adhesion promoter prior to placing the loading fitting on the first plurality of inner layers; and overbraiding a second plurality of outer layers of thermoplastic composite material around the main body of the first load fitting and the mandrel so as to form an overbraided mandrel embedded with the first load fitting.