US 12,140,182 B2
Layup of tail rotor drive shaft tubes
Scott David Poster, Arlington, TX (US); and Steven Kirk Spears, Hurst, TX (US)
Assigned to TEXTRON INNOVATIONS INC., Providence, RI (US)
Filed by TEXTRON INNOVATIONS INC., Providence, RI (US)
Filed on Nov. 25, 2019, as Appl. No. 16/694,638.
Prior Publication US 2021/0156415 A1, May 27, 2021
Int. Cl. F16C 3/02 (2006.01); B29C 70/86 (2006.01); B29C 65/00 (2006.01); B29C 70/44 (2006.01); B29L 23/00 (2006.01); B29L 31/00 (2006.01); B32B 5/26 (2006.01)
CPC F16C 3/026 (2013.01) [B29C 70/86 (2013.01); F16C 3/02 (2013.01); B29C 66/721 (2013.01); B29C 70/446 (2013.01); B29L 2023/22 (2013.01); B29L 2031/75 (2013.01); B32B 5/26 (2013.01); B32B 2260/046 (2013.01); B32B 2262/101 (2013.01); B32B 2262/106 (2013.01); F16C 2326/06 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A composite shaft consisting of:
a first composite layer comprising a first fibrous material having a first fiber orientation comprising a combination of fibers that are generally perpendicular (+/−3 degrees) to each other and a longitudinal axis of the composite shaft;
a second composite layer comprising a second fibrous material surrounding the first composite layer and having generally parallel fibers disposed at a first angle ranging between +/−25 to +/−45 degrees (+/−3 degrees) from the fibers in the first composite layer;
three or more third composite layers surrounding the second composite layer, each third composite layer comprising a transition layer of the second fibrous material having generally parallel fibers disposed at a second angle ranging between +/−7 to +/−13 degrees (+/−3 degrees) from the fibers in the second composite layer and each subsequent transition layer;
a fourth composite layer comprising the second fibrous material surrounding the third composite layer(s) having generally parallel fibers disposed at a third angle ranging between +/−25 to +/−45 degrees (+/−3 degrees) from the fibers in the third composite layer(s); and
a fifth composite layer comprising the first fibrous material surrounding the fourth composite layer and having a second fiber orientation that is a combination of fibers that are generally perpendicular (+/−3 degrees) to each other and the longitudinal axis of the composite shaft.