Connector for a tubular composite shaft

摘要

A load transmitting connector 13 for composite tube 11 and a method of attachment of said connector 13 to the tube 11, the connector 13 comprising a screw threaded nut 14 having an outer surface 18 shaped to receive the composite, an annular collar 15, a screw threaded end fitting 16 for engaging the screw thread within the nut 14, and a load means 17, wherein the nut 14 is incorporated within said one end of the tube during tube manufacture, the tube 11 being cured with the nut 14 in situ, the annular collar 15 is placed over said one end of the tube, the end fitting 16 is screwed into the nut, and the load means 17 in use axially moving the end-fitting 16 relative to the collar 15 to exert a clamping load on the composite tube.

主权项

1. A composite tubular shaft having a connector fitted to at least one end portion thereof, the connector for connecting the composite tubular shaft to another component and comprising a screw threaded nut incorporating within said one end portion of the tubular shaft and having an external surface of which is shaped to receive in use composite material applied around the nut in a green state during shaft manufacture, wherein the external surface of the nut comprises two back to back frustoconical surfaces wherein one of the frustoconical surfaces is tapered from the midpoint of the nut to a first end of the nut and the other of the two frustoconical surfaces is tapered from the midpoint of the nut to an opposite end of the nut, so that the tubular shaft is flared outwards and inwards around the nut to securely trap the nut within said one end portion of the tubular shaft when cured, an annular collar for placement over the nut and composite material, a screw threaded end fitting which engages the screw thread within the nut, and a load means in use axially moving the collar relative to the end fitting to exert a clamping load onto the composite material surrounding the nut.