Fabricating elongate reinforced elements

摘要

There are disclosed an elongate reinforced element 12 and a method and an apparatus for manufacturing the same. The element 12 comprises a core 22 of elongate shape covered by at least one layer 33 of composite material comprising a plurality of tapes 32 wound at a settable winding angle around said core 22, each of the tapes 32 being made using glass or carbon threads or fibers (35) embedded in a matrix (34) (figure 6 - not shown) of thermoplastic resin. The elongate element may be in the form of very long tubes suitable for use off-shore (figure 8 - not shown). The core 22 is supported by a support element 20 having displacement means to enable the core to be moved in translation T. The tapes are stored in cassettes 30, which are set into rotation by rotary drive means 36. The latter together with turntable 38 and rotation speed of the cassettes 38 allow winding angle for each tape around the core to be adjusted. A synchronization means 61 allows displacement of the core 22 and the setting into rotation of the cassettes 30 to be synchronized. At least one heater device 50 heats the matrix (34) above its melting temperature for a period to ensure complete melting and bonding of the layer 33 on core 22 or on the preceding layer. A control means 60 synchronizes control over means 61, support element 20 for displacing the core 22 and drive means 36. The control means 60 is designed to unwind the tapes from the cassettes so as to form at least one layer of plural tapes round the core or perform plural passes in translation of the core 22. The elongate element may be formed in the shape of a wind turbine blade (figure 11 - not shown).