Patent ID: 9545762
Date: 2017-01-17
CPC Classifications: B29C,B29K,B29L,F16L

Claim:
1. A method of fabricating a coupling, the method comprising: shaping a first preform on a mandrel, the first preform including a radial portion and a cylindrical portion; shaping a second preform on said first preform, the second preform being larger than the first preform and including a radial portion and a cylindrical portion, said first and second preforms having no fiber in common; densifying said first and second preforms with a common polymer matrix to form said coupling having a first portion and a second portion corresponding to the first preform and the second preform, respectively; and machining the first portion having the first preform, wherein the first portion of said coupling is machined so as to present a first machining exterior surface with fibers which have been cut, there is no intersection between the first machining exterior surface and fibers of said second preform, and wherein the second portion having the second preform is not machined.