Inventors:
Robert C. Webber - Marietta GA
Assignee:
Lockheed Corporation - Burbank CA
International Classification:
B65H 8100
B41B 1100
Abstract:
An apparatus and method is disclosed for the fabrication of cylindrical structures (26) by filament winding of resin impregnated filaments around a novel cylindrical mandrel assembly (10) whereby the mandrel assembly (10) and fabricated cylindrical structure (26) are easily separated after curing of the resin impregnated materials. The invention utilizes an inner, hollow cylindrical mandrel member (11) onto which a metal cable (12) is wound over afterwhich segmented outer mandrel sections (13) are connected to the inner mandrel member by fastener devices (20) installed from the inner side of the inner mandrel member (14). The resin impregnated filament is then wound over the outer mandrel segments (13) and cured in a conventional manner. After curing, the fasteners (20) are removed from the inner side of the inner mandrel (11), and the cable (12) is removed by pulling it from one end of the mandrel assembly (10). With the cable (12) removed, clearance is provided so that the inner mandrel (11) can be removed from the outer segmented mandrel (13), and once the inner mandrel (11) is removed, the outer, segmented mandrel (13) is disassembled and removed inwardly from contact with the cured filament wound cylinder (26).
