Patent ID: 6036904
Filing Date: 2000-03-14
Classification: B29C,F16C

Abstract:
A method for manufacturing an elongated connecting rod made of composite material and having a central body (3) respectively extended at its two extremities by a connecting-rod big end (C) and a connecting-rod small end (D), the method comprising the steps of:a) producing a reinforcement sheet (P) comprising superposed plies of crossed straight filling yarns, some of said filling yarns extending parallel to a first direction and some of said filling yarns extending parallel to other directions, the filling yarns extending parallel to the first direction constituting at least twice the volume percentage of the filling yarns extending in each of said other directions, and binding yarns passing through said superposed plies, said reinforcement sheet (P) having:at least one thickened region (L1) obtained by laying down additional filling yarns (5A) when making said superposed plies, andadditional filling yarns (4A) of said first direction going around said connecting-rod small end (D), said additional filling yarns (4A) being laid down when said superposed plies are made;b) cutting out at least one connecting-rod preform from said reinforcement sheet (P), the longitudinal extension (X-X) of said preform corresponding to said first direction and at least one connecting-rod end (C, D) of said preform corresponding to said at least one thickened region (L1);c) stitching strengthening yarns (I) into said preform, said strengthening yarns (I) going around said connecting-rod small end (D);d) impregnating said preform with a polymerizable synthetic material;e) curing said preform impregnated with said synthetic material; andf) machining said cured preform into the final state of said connecting-rod.