1. A device comprising:
a. A first elongate element, the first elongate element comprising a first solid cylindrical body having a first anchor end and a first striking end; and
b. A second elongate element, the second elongate element comprising a second solid cylindrical body having a second anchor end and a second striking end, wherein the first elongate element and the second elongate element are coupled in at least one location between the anchor ends and the striking ends, wherein the device has a first state wherein the first anchor end and the second anchor end are substantively parallel along an elongate axis, and the device further has a second state wherein the first anchor end and the second anchor end are splayed and angle away from the elongate axis.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein each striking end presents a distal striking point, wherein each distal striking point is co-planar within a striking plane that is normal to the elongate axis.
3. The device of claim 1, wherein the elongate elements are coupled in at least two locations between the anchor ends and the striking ends.
4. The device of claim 1, wherein the elongate elements comprise a metal and the elongate elements are coupled by a weld or a press fitting.
5. The device of claim 1, wherein the elongate elements are coupled at a point proximate to the anchor ends.
6. The device of claim 5, wherein the elongate elements are coupled in at least an additional location between the anchor ends and the striking ends.
7. The device of claim 5, wherein the elongate elements comprise a metal and the elongate elements are coupled by a weld.
8. The device of claim 5, wherein each striking end presents a distal striking point that are co-planar along a striking plane that is positioned normal to the elongate axis.
9. The device of claim 1, wherein the elongate element striking ends are coupled to an enclosing collar.
10. The device of claim 9, wherein each striking end presents a distal striking point that is co-planar with a striking side of the collar along a striking plane that is positioned normal to the elongate axis.
11. The device of claim 9, further comprising a coupling point located proximate to the collar.
12. The device of claim 9, wherein the elongate elements comprise metal and are welded with the collar.
13. The device of claim 12, wherein the collar comprises metal and is welded to at least one elongate element.
14. A device comprising:
a. A plurality of at least three elongate elements, each elongate element having a solid cylindrical body comprising a length, a striking end and an anchor end; and
b. At least one coupling feature, wherein each elongate element is coupled at a location outside of the elongate element anchor ends, wherein the lengths of the plurality of elongate elements are parallel to an elongate axis, and wherein the device has a first state wherein the anchor ends are substantively parallel along the elongate axis, and the device further has a second state wherein the anchor ends are splayed and angle away from the elongate axis.
15. The device of claim 14, wherein each elongate element comprises metal.
16. The device of claim 15, wherein the coupling feature is a weld or a press fitting.
17. The device of claim 14, wherein each elongate element comprises rebar.
18. An anchoring device for a plant protection arm, the anchoring device comprising:
a. Two equal lengths of rebar welded at a top weld point and at a lower weld point;
b. Each length of rebar having a tine extending from the lower weld point, wherein the anchoring device has a first state wherein the tines are substantively parallel along an elongate axis, and the device further has a second state wherein the tines are splayed and angle away from the elongate axis; and
c. Each length of rebar presents a distal striking point located within a striking plane that is normal to the elongate axis.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
That which is claimed:
1. A core crush resistant prepreg for use in making a fiber reinforced composite structure, comprising:
a woven fabric consisting essentially of carbon fiber tow strands impregnated with a hardenable polymeric resin composition;
said fabric having an areal weight of from about 150 to about 400 grams per square meter;
said resin composition having an average epoxy functionality of greater than 2.0, and a tan of between about 1.0 and about 2.0 at 70 C., between about 0.7 and about 2.0 at 100 C., and between about 0.5 and about 2.0 at 140 C. or the highest temperature of minimum resin viscosity; and
said prepreg having an average fiber tow aspect ratio of less than about 15.5.
2. The prepreg of claim 1, wherein said prepreg has a prepreg openness of at least about 1.0%
3. The prepreg of claim 1, wherein said fabric has an areal weight of from about 150 to about 250 grams per square meter.
4. The prepreg of claim 1, wherein said prepreg has an average fiber tow aspect ratio of less than about 14.0.
5. The prepreg of claim 1, wherein said prepreg has an average fiber tow aspect ratio of less than about 12.5.
6. The prepreg of claim 1, wherein said prepreg has a prepreg thickness of at least about 0.250 mm.
7. The prepreg of claim 1, wherein said prepreg has a prepreg thickness of at least about 0.270 mm.
8. The prepreg of claim 1, wherein said fabric has a plain weave pattern.
9. The prepreg of claim 1, wherein said fabric has a satin weave pattern.
10. The prepreg of claim 1, wherein each of said fiber tow strands has a total filament count of from about 1,000 to about 12,000.
11. The prepreg of claim 1, wherein each of said fiber tow strands has a total filament count of about 3,000.
12. The prepreg of claim 1, wherein said fiber tow strands are untwisted tow strands.
13. A core crush resistant prepreg for use in making a fiber reinforced composite structure, comprising:
a woven fabric consisting essentially of carbon fiber tow strands impregnated with a hardenable polymeric resin composition;
said fabric having an areal weight of from about 150 to about 400 grams per square meter;
said resin composition having an average epoxy functionality of greater than 2.0, and a tan of between about 1.0 and about 2.0 at 70 C., between about 0.7 and about 2.0 at 100 C., and between about 0.5 and about 2.0 at 140 C. or the highest temperature of minimum resin viscosity; and
said prepreg having a prepreg openness of at least about 1.0% and a prepreg thickness of at least about 0.245 mm.
14. A core crush resistant prepreg for use in making a fiber reinforced composite structure, comprising:
a woven fabric having a plain weave pattern consisting essentially of carbon fiber tow strands impregnated with a hardenable polymeric resin composition comprising an epoxy resin;
said fabric having an areal weight of from about 180 to about 205 grams per square meter;
each of said tow strands having a total filament count of about 3,000;
said resin composition having an average epoxy functionality of greater than 2.0, and a tan of from about 0.5 to about 2.0 throughout the elevated temperature range of from about 70 to about 140 C.; and
said prepreg having an average fiber tow aspect ratio of less than about 13.0, and a prepreg openness of from about 1.5% to about 10.0%.
15. A core crush resistant prepreg for use in making a fiber reinforced composite structure, comprising:
a woven fabric having a plain weave pattern consisting essentially of carbon fiber tow strands impregnated with a hardenable polymeric resin composition comprising an epoxy resin;
said fabric having an areal weight of from about 180 to about 205 grams per square meter;
each of said tow strands having a total filament count of about 3,000;
said resin composition having an average epoxy functionality of greater than 2.0, and a tan of from about 0.5 to about 2.0 throughout the elevated temperature range of from about 70 to about 140 C.; and
said prepreg having an average fiber tow aspect ratio of less than about 13.0, a prepreg thickness of at least about 0.260 mm, and a prepreg openness of from about 1.0% to about 10%.
16. A core crush resistant prepreg for use in making a fiber reinforced composite structure, comprising:
a woven fabric consisting essentially of carbon fiber tow strands impregnated with a hardenable polymeric resin composition;
said fabric having an areal weight of from about 150 to about 250 grams per square meter;
said tow strands having a total filament count of from about 1,000 to less than about 3,000; and
said prepreg having an average fiber tow aspect ratio of less than about 15.5, an average thickness of at least about 0.220 mm, and an openness of from about 1.0 percent to about 6.0 percent.
17. The prepreg of claim 16, wherein said resin has an average epoxy functionality of greater than 2.0, and a tan of from about 0.5 to about 2.0 throughout the elevated temperature range of from about 70 to about 140 C.
18. The prepreg of claim 16, wherein said prepreg has an average fiber tow aspect ratio of less than about 12.5.
19. The prepreg of claim 16, wherein said prepreg has a prepreg thickness of at least about 0.240 mm.
20. A core crush resistant prepreg for use in making a fiber reinforced composite panel structure, comprising:
a woven fabric consisting essentially of carbon fiber tow strands impregnated with a hardenable polymeric resin composition;
said fabric having an areal weight of from about 150 to about 400 grams per square meter;
said tow strands having a total filament count of greater than about 3,000 but no greater than about 18,000; and
said prepreg having an average thickness of at least about 0.260 mm and an openness of at least about 1.5 percent.
21. The prepreg of claim 20, wherein said resin composition comprises an epoxy resin having an average epoxy functionality of greater than 2.0 and a tan of from about 0.5 to about 2.0 throughout the elevated temperature range of from about 70 to about 140 C.
22. The prepreg of claim 20, wherein said fabric has an areal weight of from about 150 to about 250 grams per square meter.
23. The prepreg of claim 20, wherein said prepreg has a prepreg thickness of at least about 0.280 mm.
24. The prepreg of claim 20, wherein said prepreg has a prepreg openness of from about 3.0 percent to about 10.0 percent.
25. A core crush resistant prepreg for use in making a fiber reinforced composite panel structure, comprising:
a woven fabric impregnated with a hardenable polymeric resin composition;
said woven fabric having an areal weight of from about 150 to about 400 grams per square meter and consisting essentially of a plurality of carbon fiber tow strands in a first direction interweaving with a plurality of carbon fiber tow strands in a second direction, said tow strands in said first direction having a different tow construction from said tow strands in said second direction;
wherein said prepreg has a tow aspect ratio of no greater than about 13.0 in said first direction and a tow aspect ratio of at least 13.5 in said second direction, and a prepreg openness of no greater than 5.0%.
26. The prepreg of claim 25, wherein said prepreg has a prepreg thickness of from about 0.240 mm to about 0.280 mm.
27. The core crush resistant prepreg of claim 25, wherein said tow aspect ratio in said first direction is no greater than about 11.0.
28. The core crush resistant prepreg of claim 25, wherein said tow aspect ratio in said second direction is at least about 15.5.
29. The core crush resistant prepreg of claim 25, wherein said prepreg has an openness of no greater than about 3.0%.
30. The core crush resistant prepreg of claim 25, wherein said tow strands in said first direction and said tow strands in said second direction have a fiber filament count of about 3,000.
31. The core crush resistant prepreg of claim 25, wherein said tow strands in said first direction have a fiber counts of about 3,000 and said tow strands in said second direction have a fiber filament count of about 6,000.
32. The core crush resistant prepreg of claim 25, wherein said tow strands in said first direction are twisted tows and said tow strands in said second direction are never twisted.
33. The core crush resistant prepreg of claim 25, wherein said tow strands in said first direction are untwisted tows and said tow strands in said second direction are never twisted.
34. The core crush resistant prepreg of claim 25, wherein said woven fabric has an areal weight of from about 150 to about 250 grams per square meter.
35. The core crush resistant prepreg of claim 25, wherein said resin composition comprises an epoxy resin.
36. The core crush resistant prepreg of claim 25, said resin composition has an average epoxy functionality of greater than 2.0, and a tan of from about 0.5 to about 2.0 throughout the elevated temperature range of from about 70 to about 140 C.
37. A core crush resistant prepreg for use in making a fiber reinforced composite structure, comprising:
a woven fabric impregnated with a hardenable liquid epoxy resin composition,
said woven fabric having an areal weight of from about 185 to about 205 grams per square meter and consisting essentially of a plurality of carbon fiber tow strands in a first direction interweaving with a plurality of carbon fiber tow strands in a second direction, said tow strands in said first direction having a different tow construction from said tow strands in said second direction,
wherein said prepreg has a tow aspect ratio of no greater than about 11.0 in said first direction and a tow aspect ratio of at least 15.5 in said second direction, a prepreg openness of no greater than 3.0%, and a prepreg thickness of from about 0.250 mm to about 0.280 mm.
38. A core crush resistant prepreg for use in making a fiber reinforced composite structure, comprising:
a woven fabric consisting essentially of carbon fiber tow strands impregnated with a hardenable polymeric resin composition, said tow strands having a predetermined substantially stable non-round cross sectional shape;
said fabric having an areal weight of from about 150 to about 400 grams per square meter;
said prepreg having an average tow aspect ratio of from about 8 to about 18, and a prepreg openness of no greater than about 5.0%.
39. The prepreg of claim 38, said average tow aspect ratio is from about 12.0 to about 14.5.
40. The prepreg of claim 38, wherein said prepreg has a prepreg average thickness of from about 0.240 mm to about 0.300 mm.
41. The prepreg of claim 38, wherein said cross sectional shape is a diamond shape.
42. The prepreg of claim 38, wherein said cross sectional shape is a spear shape having two pointed ends.
43. The prepreg of claim 38, wherein each of said tow strands has a total fiber filament count of from about 1,000 to about 18,000.
44. The prepreg of claim 38, wherein each of said tow strands has a total fiber filament count of about 3,000.
45. The prepreg of claim 38, wherein said fabric has an areal weight of from about 150 to about 250 grams per square meter.
46. The prepreg of claim 38, wherein said fabric has a plain weave pattern.
47. The prepreg of claim 38, wherein said fabric has a satin weave pattern.
48. The prepreg of claim 38, wherein said resin composition comprises a multifunctional epoxy resin having an average epoxy functionality of greater than 2.0, and a tan of from about 0.5 to about 2.0 throughout the elevated temperature range of from about 70 to about 140 C.
49. A core crush resistant prepreg for use in making a fiber reinforced composite structure, comprising:
a woven fabric consisting essentially of carbon fiber tow strands impregnated with a hardenable polymeric resin composition comprising an epoxy resin, said tow strands having a predetermined substantially stable non-round cross sectional shape and a filament count of about 3,000;
said fabric having an areal weight of from about 180 to about 205 grams per square meter;
said prepreg having an average tow aspect ratio of from about 12.5 to about 14.0, a prepreg openness of no greater than about 3.0%, and a prepreg thickness of from about 0.250 mm to about 0.280 mm.
50. A method for evaluating core crush resistance properties of a prepreg for use in a fiber reinforced composite structure comprising:
determining an average tow aspect ratio of the prepreg;
determining a prepreg thickness; and
comparing said average fiber tow aspect ratio and prepreg thickness to a set of predetermined values.
51. The method of claim 50, wherein said method further comprises:
determining a prepreg openness; and
comparing said prepreg openness to said predetermined values.
52. The method of claim 51, wherein said prepreg comprises a woven fabric consisting essentially a plurality of carbon fiber tow strands impregnated with a hardenable resin composition, said fabric having an areal weight of from about from about 150 to about 250 grams per square meter; and
wherein said predetermined values are 15.5 and 0.245 mm for average fiber tow aspect ratio and prepreg thickness respectively.
53. The method of claim 52, wherein each of said tow strands has a total filament count of from about 1,000 to about 12,000.
54. The method of claim 52, wherein each of said tow strands has a total filament count of about 3,000.
55. A method for evaluating core crush resistance properties of a prepreg for use in a fiber reinforced composite structure, said prepreg comprising a woven fabric consisting essentially of carbon fiber tow strands impregnated with a hardenable polymeric resin composition comprising an epoxy resin, said fabric having an areal weight of from about 180 to about 205 grams per square meter, each of said tow strands having a total filament count of about 3,000, said method comprising:
determining an average tow aspect ratio of the prepreg;
determining a prepreg thickness of the prepreg;
determining a prepreg openness of the prepreg; and
comparing said average fiber tow aspect ratio, prepreg thickness, and prepreg openness to a set of predetermined values.
56. A fiber reinforced composite structure, comprising:
a laminate adhered to a lightweight core, said laminate being formed from at least one core crush resistant prepreg, said prepreg comprising:
a woven fabric consisting essentially of carbon fiber tow strands impregnated with a hardenable polymeric resin composition,
said fabric having an areal weight of from about 150 to about 400 grams per square meter,
said resin composition having an average epoxy functionality of greater than 2.0, and a tan of between about 1.0 and about 2.0 at 70 C., between about 0.7 and about 2.0 at 100 C., and between about 0.5 and about 2.0 at 140 C. or the highest temperature of minimum resin viscosity; and
said prepreg having an average fiber tow aspect ratio of less than about 15.5, a prepreg thickness of at least about 0.245 mm, and a prepreg openness of from about 1.0% to about 10%.
57. The fiber reinforced composite structure of claim 56, wherein said prepreg has an average fiber tow aspect ratio of less than about 13.0.
58. The fiber reinforced composite structure of claim 56, wherein said prepreg has a prepreg thickness of at least about 0.260 mm.
59. A fiber reinforced composite structure, comprising:
a laminate adhered to a lightweight core, said laminate being formed from at least one core crush resistant prepreg, said prepreg comprising:
a woven fabric impregnated with a hardenable polymeric resin composition,
said woven fabric having an areal weight of from about 150 to about 400 grams per square meter and consisting essentially of a plurality of carbon fiber tow strands in a first direction interweaving with a plurality of carbon fiber tow strands in a second direction, said tow strands in said first direction having a different tow construction from said tow strands in said second direction,
wherein said prepreg has a tow aspect ratio of no greater than about 13.0 in said first direction and a tow aspect ratio of at least 13.5 in said second direction, and a prepreg openness of no greater than 4.0%.
60. The fiber reinforced composite structure of claim 59, wherein said tow strands in said first direction are twisted tows and said tow strands in said second direction are never twisted.
61. The fiber reinforced composite structure of claim 59, wherein said resin composition comprises an epoxy resin having an average epoxy functionality of greater than 2.0 and a tan of from about 0.5 to about 2.0 throughout the elevated temperature range of from about 70 to about 140 C.
62. A fiber reinforced composite structure, comprising:
a laminate adhered to a lightweight core, said laminate being formed from at least a core crush resistant prepreg, wherein said prepreg comprising:
a woven fabric consisting essentially of carbon fiber tow strands impregnated with a hardenable polymeric resin composition, said tow strands having a predetermined substantially stable non-round cross sectional shape,
said fabric having an areal weight of from about 150 to about 400 grams per square meter,
said prepreg having an average tow aspect ratio of from about 12.0 to about 14.5, and a prepreg openness of no greater than about 4.0%.
63. The prepreg of claim 62, wherein said cross sectional shape is a diamond shape.
64. The prepreg of claim 62, wherein said cross sectional shape is a spear shape having two pointed ends.
65. A core crush resistant prepreg for use in making a fiber reinforced composite structure, comprising:
a woven fabric consisting essentially of carbon fiber tow strands impregnated with a hardenable polymeric resin composition;
said fabric having a satin weave pattern and an areal weight of from about 150 to about 250 grams per square meter; and
said prepreg having an average fiber tow aspect ratio of less than about 15.4, a prepreg thickness of at least about 0.245 mm, and a prepreg openness of from about 1.2% to about 6%.
66. A core crush resistant prepreg for use in making a fiber reinforced composite structure, comprising:
a woven fabric consisting essentially of carbon fiber tow strands impregnated with a hardenable polymeric resin composition;
said fabric having a twill weave pattern and an areal weight of from about 150 to about 250 grams per square meter; and
said prepreg having an average fiber tow aspect ratio of less than about 15.4, a prepreg thickness of at least about 0.245 mm, and a prepreg openness of from about 1.2% to about 6%.