Abstract:
An article (12) for assembly with the application of heat to a selected temperature range to activate a thermoresponsive constituent, wherein the article avoids deterioration due to heating above the selected temperature range by including a thermochromatic material visibly disposed on the article. The thermochromatic material provides a visual indication in response to the thermoresponsive constituent being heated to the selected temperature range.
Abstract:
An axially extending tubular composite member (100) having a plurality of plies and extending along a longitudinal axis has at least three plies (116, 118, 120) with selectively structured fiber components in each ply. Typically an inner ply (116) has at least one biaxial fiber component, an intermediate ply (118) has at least an axial fiber component that typically is combined with two further fibers to form a triaxial fiber component. Another ply (120) typically has a woven fiber component. A further ply having a biaxial component either replaces the ply of woven fiber or is disposed beneath it over the intermediate ply. A surface veil (122) having fiber and an excess of resin material typically covers at least the innermost or outermost surface of the composite member. An internal web member (112, 114) can be provided, and typically also employs fibers and the matrix material.
Abstract:
A spoolable composite tube (10) capable of being spooled onto a reel for storage and for use in oil field applications. The spoolable tube exhibits unique anistropic characteristics that provide improved burst and collapse pressures, increased tensile strength, compression strength, and load carrying capacity, while still remaining sufficiently bendable to be spooled onto a reel in an open bore configuration. The spoolable composite tube can include an inner liner (12), an interface layer, fiber composite layers, a pressure barrier layer, and an outer protective layer. The fiber composite layers can have a unique triaxial braid structure.
Abstract:
The invention provides a tubular composite member (10) which has a plurality of plies and a generally elongate and selectively curved axis (20). The plies can include helically oriented fiber components, a matrix material, and thermoplastic tubes. An intermediate layer preferably has two tri-axially braided plies (24, 24') arranged at selective angles relative to the member's axis (20), and as a function of the curvature of the member. Interior and exterior plies (22, 26) of circumferential windings can be part of the member such that the intermediate ply is contiguous and between the interior and exterior ply. In one practice, the member can be formed into a selective shape and then cured. Alternatively, the member is formed between a thermoplastic core and a thermoplastic sheath to facilitate a secondary process of heating and bending the member into a selective axially-curved shape.