Back to results
US 2014/0311324 A1Published application
Conformable Braid
AssigneeAlbany Engineered Compoistes, Inc.
InventorsAaron Tomich, Steve Biddle
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tubular structure which includes a plurality of axial sites in circular relation to one another and a plurality of bias sites that interconnect the axial sites to form the tubular structure. The tubular structure's axial sites have a greater diameter than the structure's bias sites.
Claims5
A method of constructing a conformable braided tubular structure comprising:
- a plurality of axial sites in circular relation to one another, said axial sites being unbraided tows or braided tows or pultruded rods;
- and
- a plurality of bias sites, comprising bias fibers interconnecting said axial sites;
- wherein the cross-section of the axial sites is greater than the cross-section of the bias sites, wherein the plurality of bias sites loosely interconnects said axial sites to form the tubular structure such that at least some of the axial sites are adapted to roll over each other semi-freely:
- comprising the steps of:
- calculating the perimeter of a gap or a complex shape to be filled;
- calculating the area of said gap or said complex shape to be filled;
- calculating a number of carriers on a braider based on said calculated perimeter and area of said gap or said complex shape to be filled;
- calculating a diameter of a circular axial tow based on said calculated perimeter and area of said gap or said complex shape to be filled;
- fabricating said conformable braid with a plurality of said circular axial tows, wherein said axial tows form a sheath of said conformable braid, said sheath satisfying said perimeter and said area requirements of said gap or said complex shape to be filled when conformed to said gap or said complex shape.
7 more elements
A method of reinforcing a structure comprising the steps of
- providing a conformable tubular structure with a plurality of axial sites in circular relation to one another;
- providing a plurality of bias sites interconnecting the axial sites to form the conformable tubular structure, wherein the diameter of the axial sites is greater than the diameter of the bias sites, wherein each axial site is a braided structure, and wherein the plurality of bias sites loosely interconnect the axial sites to form the conformable tubular structure such that at least some of the axial sites are adapted to roll over each other when the conformable tubular structure is being conformed to a gap or complex shape;
- inserting and conforming the conformable tubular structure to at least one surface of the structure;
- and
- impregnating the combination of the structure and the conformable tubular structure with a resin material.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.