Methods and apparatus for coating fibers
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsGuido Teti, Steven Robert Hayashi, Pierre-Andre Bui, Wiktor Serafin, Timothy Patrick Smith, James Anthony Ruud
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Abstract
A system for coating reinforcing fiber of a composite component is provided, The system includes a frame including at least one contact location for contacting the reinforcing fiber and a movement mechanism including an actuator. The movement mechanism is operably coupled to the frame to induce movement of the reinforcing fiber relative to the frame. Methods are also provided for coating such a fiber.
Claims18
A system for coating reinforcing fiber of a composite component, the system comprising:
- a frame including at least one contact location for contacting the reinforcing fiber;
- and
- a movement mechanism including an actuator, wherein the movement mechanism comprises a rack and at least one gear in operative communication with the rack and is operably coupled to the frame to induce movement of the reinforcing fiber relative to the frame,
- wherein the actuator comprises:
- a rotary vacuum feedthrough operably coupled to a drive motor,
- a screw drive member operably coupled to the rotary vacuum feedthrough, and
- a slider defining a cam, the slider disposed on the screw drive member, wherein the cam is configured to contact the rack.
A system for coating reinforcing fiber of a composite component, the system comprising:
- a frame including at least one contact location for contacting the reinforcing fiber;
- and
- a movement mechanism including an actuator, wherein the movement mechanism is operably coupled to the frame to induce movement of the reinforcing fiber relative to the frame,
- wherein the frame includes a frame end defining an opening, wherein a spline is disposed in the opening, the spline in operative communication with the movement mechanism, and wherein the spline comprises the at least one contact location, and wherein the spline includes a rocker end and a contact end opposite the rocker end.
A method of coating a reinforcing fiber of a composite component, the method comprising:
- inserting a frame wrapped with the reinforcing fiber into a reactor;
- initiating a flow of reactants into the reactor;
- and
- initiating movement of the reinforcing fiber relative to the frame while the frame is positioned in the flow of reactants, wherein initiating movement of the reinforcing fiber relative to the frame comprises actuating a movement mechanism provided on the frame in operative communication with at least one spline, the at least one spline including a rocker end and a contact end opposite the rocker end, and wherein the contact end defines a point contact between the at least one spline and the reinforcing fiber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.