Composite Connecting Rod Yoke Reinforcement via Interleaved Pins

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing method for manufacturing composite connecting rods limits the mechanical strength of the yoke due to restricted additional thickness, which is difficult to achieve with multiple intermediate layers in the 2.5D fabric, resulting in insufficient mechanical resistance against longitudinal forces.

Innovation Solution

The method involves creating a mandrel with base layers of reinforcing fibers and additional interposed layers at the yoke regions, inserting pins through these layers, and injecting resin for polymerization, which enhances the mechanical resistance by reinforcing the connections between layers rather than solely increasing thickness.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If multiple intermediate layers are added to increase yoke thickness, then mechanical strength should improve, but the manufacturing complexity and difficulty increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemechanical strength of yokeVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The fabric is segmented into base layers and additional layers that can be independently added. The additional layers are inserted between base layers at specific locations (yoke regions) rather than requiring the entire fabric stack to be thickened, thereby increasing strength locally without proportionally increasing overall manufacturing complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by adding thickness only where mechanically necessary (at the yoke regions) rather than uniformly throughout the entire connecting rod. This is achieved by inserting additional layers between base layers at specific locations, optimizing strength where stress concentration occurs while maintaining simplicity elsewhere

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach significantly increases the mechanical strength of the yoke by improving the cohesion between layers, effectively resisting multidirectional stresses and delamination, thereby enhancing the overall mechanical resistance of the connecting rod.

Implementation Method 1

inject resin into the base layers and the interlayers and polymerize this resin

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPolymerization: Photopolymerisation

Implementation Method 2

inserting at the level of each fork wing of the barbs passing through the intermediate layers and the base layers

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical interlocking: Mechanical Fastener

Data Source

PatentEP2507040B1Method for making a connecting rod made of a composite material comprising a reinforced yoke
Publication Date: 2015.10.28 SAFRAN LANDING SYSTEMS
  • EP2507040B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2507040B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2507040B1 patent drawingFigure 5~7

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for making a connecting rod (6) made of a composite material and including a yoke (7) for receiving a mechanical axis, said yoke (7) including two parallel arms (7a, 7b) perpendicular to the mechanical axis, wherein the method comprises the steps of: making a mandrel (11) defining a single piece sufficiently rigid for receiving fiber layers (8a-8e, 9a-9d); applying onto said mandrel (11) base fiber layers (8a-8e) and additional layers (9a- 9d) interleaved between the base layers (8a-8e)at the yoke (7, 7a, 7b) in order to form an additional thickness thereon; inserting lugs (13a, 13b) extending through the intermediate layers (9a-9d) and the base layers (8a- 8e); injecting resin into the base layers (8a- 8e) and the intermediate layers (9a-9d) and polymerizing said resin.