Inflatable composite structural component and method

Abstract

An inflatable structural component having a longitudinal first braided material layer and a longitudinal second braided material layer each forming a panel having a width-wise dimension transverse to a length-wise direction of the component bounded by first and second longitudinal edges along the length-wise direction of the component, the first and second braided material layers enveloping at least a portion of an inflatable longitudinal bladder, the first and second braided material layers arranged such that the first longitudinal edges of the first and second braided material layers are approximately aligned and connected together along a first side of the bladder and the second longitudinal edges of the first and second braided material layers are approximately aligned and connected together along a second side of the bladder.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An inflatable structural component comprising
 a longitudinal first braided material layer and a longitudinal second braided material layer each forming a panel having a width-wise dimension transverse to a length-wise direction of the component bounded by first and second longitudinal edges along the length-wise direction of the component, the first and second braided material layers enveloping at least a portion of an inflatable longitudinal bladder,   the first and second braided material layers arranged such that the first longitudinal edges of the first and second braided material layers are approximately aligned and connected together along a first side of the bladder and the second longitudinal edges of the first and second braided material layers are approximately aligned and connected together along a second side of the bladder.   
     
     
         2 . The structural component as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising
 a first reinforcing strip affixed to the first braided material layer and the second braided material layer along the first side of the bladder and a second reinforcing strip affixed to the first braided material layer and the second braided material layer along the second side of the bladder.   
     
     
         3 . The structural component as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a first structural panel having a first joining edge affixed to the aligned first longitudinal edges. 
     
     
         4 . The structural component as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising
 a second structural panel having a second joining edge affixed to the aligned second longitudinal edges.   
     
     
         5 . The structural component as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising
 a sleeve affixed to the first braided material layer and the second braided material layer along the first side of the bladder.   
     
     
         6 . The structural component as claimed in  claim 5 , where the sleeve is integral to the first braided material layer, the second braided material layer, or both. 
     
     
         7 . The structural component as claimed in  claim 1 , where the first braided material layer comprises a biaxial braid having a predetermined bias angle as a function of a braid hose angle. 
     
     
         8 . The structural component as claimed in  claim 1 , where the bladder comprises a braided sleeve embedded in an elastomeric matrix. 
     
     
         9 . An inflatable structural component comprising
 a longitudinal first braided material layer and a longitudinal second braided material layer each forming a panel having a width-wise dimension transverse to a length-wise direction of the component bounded by first and second longitudinal edges along the length-wise direction of the component, the first and second braided material layers enveloping at least a portion of an inflatable longitudinal bladder,   the first and second braided material layers arranged such that the first longitudinal edges of the first and second braided material layers are approximately aligned along a first side of the bladder and the second longitudinal edges of the first and second braided material layers are approximately aligned along a second side of the bladder, and   a first structural panel having a first joining edge affixed to the aligned first longitudinal edges.   
     
     
         10 . The structural component as claimed in  claim 9 , further comprising
 an edger strip affixed to the first joining edge of the first structural panel between the first and second braided material layers wrapping partially around the first side of the bladder.   
     
     
         11 . The structural component as claimed in  claim 10 , where the edger strip is folded enclosing an outer edge of the first side of the bladder in a pre-deployed configuration. 
     
     
         12 . The structural component as claimed in  claim 9 , further comprising
 a second structural panel having a second joining edge affixed to the aligned second longitudinal edges.   
     
     
         13 . The structural component as claimed in  claim 12 , further comprising
 an edger strip affixed to the second joining edge of the second structural panel between the first and second braided material layers wrapping partially around the second side of the bladder.   
     
     
         14 . The structural component as claimed in  claim 13 , where the edger strip is folded enclosing an outer edge of the second side of the bladder in a pre-deployed configuration. 
     
     
         15 . The structural component as claimed in  claim 9 , where the first braided material layer comprises a biaxial braid having a predetermined bias angle as a function of a braid hose angle. 
     
     
         16 . The structural component as claimed in  claim 1 , where the bladder comprises a braided sleeve embedded in an elastomeric matrix.