Method of forming a composite material tube connection and a connection device comprising application thereof

DETAILED DESCRIPTION I claim: 1.
A method of forming a composite material tube connection, wherein a conduit part of said tube having end pieces selected from the group consisting of male end and female end pieces, is fabricated by a succession of general winding operations on the whole of the tube, and a particular winding operation at the ends for the members of a female end piece snap fitting on a male end piece, comprising the following steps: (a) a rubber skin (1), which will be vulcanized simultaneously with the polymerization of the composite, is formed on a mandrel by winding steps, (b) a composite material insert (4) adapted for the formation of a male end piece and an insert (2) adapted for the formation of a female end piece are wound circumferentially on the rubber skin respectively at each end, (c) fibers (5) are wound longitudinally continuously over the whole length of the tube and at the ends above the inserts (2) and (4), (d) fibers (5') are wound circumferentially over the conduit part of the tube, (e) an external sleeve (6) previously formed separately on a mandrel by circumferential winding of fibers is introduced on the conduit part of the tube, (f) the formation of the female piece is finished by binding above its insert (2) a new circumferential winding of strips (7) previously formed by winding fibers and longitudinal cutting, (g) formation of the male end piece is finished by forming a stop heel (10) in the vicinity of its inserts and an extra thick portion is formed by the circumferential winding of fibers, (h) the whole is polymerized, (i) complementary machining of a groove for receiving annular seals is accomplished.
2.
The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the insert (2) of the female end piece has a conical profile whose base (3) extends from the end of the tube.
3.
The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the insert (4) of the male end piece is formed in the edge portion of the end of the tube and has a trapezoidal profile.
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