Penta-axial braiding machine
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorJacquelynn Xueting Tian
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A penta-axial braiding assembly comprising: a braiding machine comprising: a circular machine bed with an interior curved surface, an exterior curved surface, and a front face; radial bobbins associated with the interior curved surface and configured to dispense a first number of yarns; and front face bobbins associated with the front face and configured to dispense a second number of yarns. A first guide assembly comprising a first braiding plate configured to form a first braiding point for the first number of yarns from the radial bobbins. A second guide assembly comprising a second braiding plate configured to form a second braiding point for the second number of yarns dispensed from the front face bobbins.
Claims28
A penta-axial braiding assembly comprising:
- a braiding machine comprising:
- a circular machine bed with an interior curved surface, an exterior curved surface, and a front face;
- radial bobbins associated with the interior curved surface and configured to dispense a first number of yarns;
- and
- front face bobbins associated with the front face and configured to dispense a second number of yarns;
- a first guide assembly comprising a first braiding plate configured to form a first braiding point for the first number of yarns dispensed from the radial bobbins;
- and
- a second guide assembly comprising a second braiding plate configured to form a second braiding point for the second number of yarns dispensed from the front face bobbins.
A braiding machine comprising:
- a circular machine bed with an interior curved surface, an exterior curved surface, and a front face;
- radial bobbins associated with the interior curved surface and configured to dispense a first number of yarns;
- and
- front face bobbins associated with the front face and configured to dispense a second number of yarns,
- wherein the radial bobbins comprise a first set of bobbins and a second set of bobbins, and wherein the first set of bobbins and the second set of bobbins move in opposing serpentine motion to each other.
A braiding machine comprising:
- a circular machine bed with an interior curved surface, an exterior curved surface, and a front face;
- radial bobbins associated with the interior curved surface and configured to dispense a first number of yarns;
- front face bobbins associated with the front face and configured to dispense a second number of yarns;
- and
- axial bobbins associated with the exterior curved surface.
A guide assembly comprising:
- a frame;
- a braiding plate removably connected to the frame, the braiding plate having an aperture;
- a movement system connected to the frame and configured to move the frame across a manufacturing floor;
- and
- a plurality of vibration systems mounted to the braiding plate.
A guide assembly comprising:
- a frame;
- a braiding plate removably connected to the frame, the braiding plate having an aperture;
- a movement system connected to the frame and configured to move the frame across a manufacturing floor;
- and
- a water dispensing system mounted to a first face of the braiding plate and configured to dispense water onto a plurality of yarns prior to extending through the aperture.
A guide assembly comprising:
- a frame;
- a braiding plate removably connected to the frame, the braiding plate having an aperture;
- a movement system connected to the frame and configured to move the frame across a manufacturing floor;
- and
- a nozzle mounted to the braiding plate, the nozzle configured to dispense air.
A method comprising:
- sending a base through a braiding machine, a first guide assembly, and a second guide assembly, the braiding machine comprising a circular machine bed with an interior curved surface, an exterior curved surface, and a front face, radial bobbins associated with the interior curved surface and configured to dispense a first number of yarns, and front face bobbins associated with the front face and configured to dispense a second number of yarns;
- braiding the first number of yarns onto the base at a first braiding point created by a first braiding plate of the first guide assembly;
- and
- braiding the second number of yarns over the first number of yarns at a second braiding point created by a second braiding plate of the second guide assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.