Composite support

Abstract

A composite support comprising, a housing, a plurality of fittings, and a composite tube. The composite tube is provided with an outer diameter and includes a first fiber layer including a resin and glass fibers that have been wound around a mandrel, a second fiber layer including glass fibers that have been wound around the first fiber layer, and an outermost fiber layer including glass fibers that is located around the second fiber layer. The housing is at least in part spirally shaped and located around at least a portion of the composite tube. At least one of the fittings includes an aluminum and an anchoring surface. The anchoring surface is located, at least in part, radially around the composite tube, includes a diameter that is smaller than the outer diameter of the composite tube, and secures, at least in part, the fitting to the composite tube, so that, after assembly, the fitting and the composite tube are generally coaxial.

1 . A composite support comprising 
 a) a composite tube that is provided with a first end and a second end and includes 
 i) a first fiber layer including a resin and glass fibers that have been wound around a mandrel;  
 ii) a second fiber layer including glass fibers that have been wound around the first fiber layer;  
 iii) an outermost fiber layer including glass fibers that is located around the second fiber layer;  
   b) a housing that is at least in part spirally shaped and located around at least a portion of the composite tube;    c) the first end of the composite tube is provided with a first outer diameter and the second end of the composite tube is provided with a second outer diameter;    d) a first fitting that includes an aluminum and is located at least in part radially around the first end of the composite rube;    e) a second fitting includes an anchoring surface that is located, at least in part, radially around the second end of the composite tube and that includes a diameter that is smaller than the second outer diameter of the composite tube; and    f) the anchoring surface secures, at least in part, the second fitting to the second end of the composite tube, so that, after assembly, the second fitting and the composite tube are generally coaxial.    
   
   
       2 . A composite support comprising: 
 a) a composite tube that is provided with an outer diameter and includes 
 i) a first fiber layer including a resin and glass fibers that have been wound round a mandrel;  
 ii) a second fiber layer including glass fibers that have been wound around the first fiber layer;  
 iii) an outermost fiber layer including glass fibers that is located around the second fiber layer;  
   b) a housing that is at least in part spirally shaped and located around at least a portion of the composite tube;    c) a plurality of fittings, wherein at least one of the fittings includes an aluminum and an anchoring surface that secures, at least in part, the fitting to the composite tube, so that, after assembly, the fitting and the composite tube are generally coaxial; and    d) the anchoring surface is provided with a first diameter and a second diameter; wherein the outer dieter of the composite tube is larger than at least one of the diameters.    
   
   
       3 . The composite support according to  claim 2 , wherein the outer diameter of the composite tube is larger than the first diameter of the anchoring surface and smaller than the second diameter of the anchoring surface.  
   
   
       4 . The composite support according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 a) the housing includes a silicone and is spirally wrapped in one piece over the glass fibers;    b) at least one of the layers is oriented at an angle with respect to an axis of the composite tube that ranges from +30° to +60°; and    c) at least one of the layers is oriented at an angle with respect to an axis of the composite tube that ranges from −30° to −60°.    
   
   
       5 . The composite support according to  claim 4 , wherein at least one of the layers is oriented at an angle with respect to an axis of the composite tube that ranges from −15° to +15°.  
   
   
       6 . The composite support according to  claim 4 , wherein at least one of the fittings and the composite tube form a joint and the housing seals at least in part the joint.  
   
   
       7 . The composite support according to  claim 2 , wherein: 
 d) the housing includes a silicone and is spirally wrapped in one piece over the glass fibers;    e) at least one of the layers is oriented at an angle with respect to an axis of the composite tube that ranges from +30° to +60°; and    f) at least one of the layers is oriented at an angle with respect to an axis of the composite tube that ranges from −30° to −60°.    
   
   
       8 . The composite support according to  claim 7 , wherein at least one of the layers is oriented at an angle with respect to an axis of the composite tube that ranges from −15° to +15°.  
   
   
       9 . The composite support according to  claim 7 , wherein at least one of the fittings and the composite tube form a joint and the housing seals at least in part the joint.  
   
   
       10 . A composite support comprising: 
 a) a composite tube that is provided with an end having an outer diameter, the composite tube includes 
 i) a first fiber layer including a resin and glass fibers that have been wound around a mandrel;  
 ii) a second fiber layer including glass fibs that have been wound around the first fiber layer;  
 iii) an outermost fiber layer including glass fibers that is located around the second fiber layer;  
   b) a housing that is at least in part spirally shaped and located around at least a portion of the composite tube;    c) a plurality of fittings, wherein at least one of the fitting includes an aluminum and an anchoring surface that secures, at least in part, the fitting to the composite tube;    d) the outer diameter of the composite tube is larger than at least a portion of the anchoring surface; and    e) the anchoring surface, at least in par; is located radially around the end of the composite tube.    
   
   
       11 . The composite support according to  claim 10 , wherein the anchoring surface is provided with a first diameter and a second diameter and the outer diameter of the composite tube is larger than at least one of the diameters.  
   
   
       12 . The composite support according to  claim 10 , wherein: 
 g) the housing includes a silicone and is spiral wrapped in one piece over the glass fibers;    h) at least one of the layers is oriented at an angle with respect to an axis of the composite tube that ranges from +30° to +60°; and    i) at least one of the layers is oriented at an angle with respect to an axis of the composite tube that ranges from −30° to −60°.    
   
   
       13 . The composite support according to  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the layers is oriented at an angle with respect to an axis of the composite tube that ranges from −15° to +15°.  
   
   
       14 . The composite support according to  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the fittings and the composite tube form a joint and the housing seals at least in part the joint.