Systems and methods for through thickness reinforcement using roll-to-roll veil cloth

Abstract

A method for performing a through thickness reinforcement process on a fibrous preform includes moving a plurality of needles from a retracted position to an extended position with respect to a housing. The method further includes penetrating a veil cloth and the fibrous preform with the plurality of needles, moving a through thickness fiber from the veil cloth at least partially into the fibrous preform in response to the fibrous preform being penetrated with the plurality of needles, moving the plurality of needles from the extended position to the retracted position, rotating a feeder spool and a take up spool to move the veil cloth with respect to the fibrous preform, and lifting a needled portion of the veil cloth from the fibrous preform in response to the feeder spool and the take up spool rotating.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.