Joint system for filament wound aluminum pipe

Claim 1

A joint system for filament reinforced aluminum pipe comprising (a) at least a first aluminum pipe section and a second aluminum pipe section, each pipe section having mating ends, and each pipe section being in direct contact with and reinforced throughout its length, except for a small portion of the length of each pipe adjacent the mating ends thereof, with high strength filaments in a matrix material, each pipe section having a seal means contiguous with the external surface of the aluminum pipe about the circumference thereof, said seal means being forced into engagement with the external surface of each pipe by the filament reinforcement wound over said seal means of each pipe and said seal means being spaced from the end of the filament reinforcement at the mating end of each pipe section, said pipe sections being in mating engagement and welded or soldered at the junction of the mating pipe ends, (b) a sleeve encompassing said pipe sections and having an interior surface surrounding and spaced from said joined pipe sections thereby defining a cavity between the exterior surface of said joined pipe sections and the interior surface of said sleeve, said sleeve bridging the junction of said joined pipes, and being of a sufficient length to extend over the portions of each pipe section which is not filament reinforced, and (c) a cured thermosetting compound filling said cavity.