Patent ID: 8105511

Claim:
A method of manufacturing a carbon-carbon brake disc, the method comprising: placing a brake disc preform in a restraint fixture, wherein the restraint fixture includes: a band comprising first and second spaced edges, wherein the band defines a width between the first and second spaced edges and a substantially constant thickness, wherein the band comprises a central portion that defines a closed circular region, wherein the central portion comprises a first end and a second end in contact with the first end, wherein the first edge between the first and second ends lies entirely in a first plane, wherein the band comprises a first finger extending from the first end at a first angle and having a first planar contact surface, wherein the band comprises a second finger extending from the second end at a second angle and having a second planar contact surface in contact with the first planar contact surface, and a connector connecting the first finger to the second finger; carbonizing the preform within the restraint fixture at a temperature that causes both the preform and the restraint fixture to expand; cooling the carbonized preform within the restraint fixture, wherein the first finger and the second finger of the restraint fixture form an expansion region during cooling that limits contraction of the restraint fixture during cooling to limit a force applied b the restraint fixture to the carbonized preform during cooling.