Patent ID: 6155450
Filing Date: 2000-12-05
Classification: B29C,B29L,B64C,Y02T,Y10T

Abstract:
A composite shell structure shaped as a body of revolution, comprising:a load-bearing framework having a wall made of layers of crossing spiral and annular strips of predetermined width each formed of unidirectional fibers bound by a polymer binder, the spiral strips being wrapped spirally about an axis of the load-bearing framework along a plurality of spiral paths spaced apart along the load-bearing framework and the annular strips being wrapped annularly about the axis of the load-bearing framework along a plurality of annular paths spaced apart along the load-bearing framework and crossing the spiral paths so as to form cross nodes where the spiral and annular strips cross one another and spiral and annular stiffening ribs extending between the cross nodes, each stiffening rib having a width at an outer surface of the load-bearing framework which is defined by the width of the strips forming said rib;spiral and annular bearing flanges bound to the outer surfaces of the spiral and annular stiffening ribs, respectively, the bearing flanges being formed of layers of fine-cellular spiral and annular strips having predetermined widths exceeding the widths of the stiffening ribs, the fine-cellular spiral and annular strips being wrapped along the spiral and annular paths of the stiffening ribs so as to cross one another at the cross nodes, the fine-cellular strips being formed of at least one of unidirectional fibers and woven strips; andan outer load-bearing shell bound by a polymer binder to outer surfaces of the bearing flanges.