Woven Preform with Integral Off Axis Stiffeners
AssigneeAlbany Engineered Composites, Inc.
InventorJonathan Goering
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An integrally woven three-dimensional preform with stiffeners in two or more directions constructed from a woven fabric having a first, second and optional third woven fabric layer. A plurality of yarns are interwoven over a region between the first and second fabric layers such that the first fabric layer is foldable relative to the second fabric layer. An additional plurality of yarns are interwoven over a region between the second and third fabric layers such that the third fabric layer is foldable relative to the second fabric layer. Upon folding of the woven fabric layers, the integrally woven three-dimensional preform with stiffeners in two or more directions is formed.
Claims60
An integrally woven preform with stiffeners in two or more directions constructed from a woven base fabric, said base fabric comprising:
- a first woven fabric;
- a second woven fabric;
- and
- a plurality of yarns interwoven between said first woven fabric and said second woven fabric, wherein said plurality of yarns are interwoven over a region between said first fabric and said second fabric, and said first fabric is folded relative to said second fabric such that a first off-axis stiffener is formed in said preform.
A fiber reinforced composite comprising an integrally woven preform with stiffeners in two or more directions constructed from a woven base fabric, said base fabric comprising:
- a first woven fabric;
- a second woven fabric;
- and
- a plurality of yarns interwoven between said first woven fabric and said second woven fabric, wherein said plurality of yarns are interwoven over a region between said first fabric and said second fabric, and said first fabric is folded relative to said second fabric such that a first off-axis stiffener is formed in said preform.
An integrally woven preform with stiffeners in two or more directions constructed from a woven base fabric, said base fabric comprising:
- a first woven fabric;
- a second woven fabric;
- and
- a plurality of yarns interwoven between said first woven fabric and said second woven fabric in a plurality of independent regions,
- wherein said first fabric is folded relative to said second fabric such that a first stiffener is formed in a first direction in said preform, and a portion of said first stiffener is folded to form a second stiffener in a second direction in said preform, said second stiffener being an off-axis stiffener.
A fiber reinforced composite comprising an integrally woven preform with stiffeners in two or more directions constructed from a woven base fabric, said base fabric comprising:
- a first woven fabric;
- a second woven fabric;
- and
- a plurality of yarns interwoven between said first woven fabric and said second woven fabric in a plurality of independent regions,
- wherein said first fabric is folded relative to said second fabric such that a first stiffener is formed in a first direction in said preform, and a portion of said first stiffener is folded to form a second stiffener in a second direction in said preform, said second stiffener being an off-axis stiffener.
A method of forming an integrally woven preform comprising the steps of:
- providing two or more woven fabrics;
- interweaving a plurality of yarns from a first woven fabric with a plurality of yarns from a second woven fabric, said first woven fabric being foldable in relation to said second woven fabric;
- slitting a portion of said first woven fabric from a top surface of said second woven fabric;
- and
- folding said portion of said first fabric relative to said second woven fabric to form a first off-axis stiffener in said preform.
A method of forming a fiber reinforced composite comprising the steps of:
- forming an integrally woven preform by providing two or more woven fabrics;
- interweaving a plurality of yarns from a first woven fabric with a plurality of yarns from a second woven fabric, said first woven fabric being foldable in relation to said second woven fabric;
- slitting a portion of said first woven fabric from a top surface of said second woven fabric;
- and
- folding said portion of said first fabric relative to said second woven fabric to form a first off-axis stiffener in said preform.
A method of forming an integrally woven preform comprising the steps of:
- providing two or more woven fabrics;
- interweaving a plurality of yarns from a first woven fabric with a plurality of yarns from a second woven fabric in a plurality of independent regions, said first woven fabric being foldable in relation to said second woven fabric;
- slitting a portion of said first woven fabric from a top surface of said second woven fabric;
- and
- folding said portion of said first fabric relative to said second woven fabric such that a first stiffener is formed in a first direction in said preform, and a portion of said first stiffener is folded to form a second stiffener in a second direction in said preform, said second stiffener being an off-axis stiffener.
A method of forming a fiber reinforced composite comprising the steps of:
- forming an integrally woven preform by providing two or more woven fabrics;
- interweaving a plurality of yarns from a first woven fabric with a plurality of yarns from a second woven fabric in a plurality of independent regions, said first woven fabric being foldable in relation to said second woven fabric;
- slitting a portion of said first woven fabric from a top surface of said second woven fabric;
- and
- folding said portion of said first fabric relative to said second woven fabric such that a first stiffener is formed in a first direction in said preform, and a portion of said first stiffener is folded to form a second stiffener in a second direction in said preform, said second stiffener being an off-axis stiffener.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.