US Patent 7427237 Load sharing composite shaft

A composite shaft for transmitting torsional forces between end pieces of the shaft. The shaft includes an inner tube member with an end piece mounted at each end of the tube. A composite material is provided covering the inner tube member and at least a portion of the end pieces. The composite material includes elongated fibers oriented at a predetermined angle which optimizes the strength of the shaft for a desired shaft performance, and the shaft is constructed to provide multiple load paths between the end pieces.