US Patent 9187975 Filament wound composite ball

A composite ball is formed with wound filament in a winding machine by winding the filament on a core, which can be permanent and form part of the finished ball. Alternatively, the core can be temporary. When winding is completed, the wound body is removed from the winding machine, an exterior of the wound body is finished, and the wound body is cured. When the core is permanent, at least a portion of the core is removed from the winding machine along with the wound body so any excess of the permanent core can be removed. The temporary core, however, is removed from the wound body, and the void is filled with filler material.