Braiding fibers with programmably driven carriers
AssigneeJames L. Gallagher, Inc.
InventorJames L. Gallagher
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A braiding machine includes multiple carriers driven along paths that are programmatically defined. The braiding machine has a powered platform that contains an array of electromagnets that are selectively energized by an electronic controller. The carriers ride on respective movers, which are placed on or above the platform. The movers contain respective arrays of permanent magnets. The electromagnets magnetically interact with the permanent magnets to form planar motors, which can drive the movers in arbitrary directions along the platform and can rotate the movers. The electronic controller controls the movers individually, with each mover following its own path and with all movers operating simultaneously.
Claims24
A braiding machine, comprising:
- a powered platform containing an array of electromagnets;
- an electronic controller electrically coupled to the powered platform for selectively energizing the electromagnets based on programmed sequences;
- and
- multiple movers, the movers including respective fiber carriers and respective arrays of permanent magnets, wherein the electromagnets of the powered platform are magnetically coupled with the arrays of permanent magnets to form planar motors constructed and arranged to drive the movers along the powered platform based on the programmed sequences as fibers from the fiber carriers pay out to form a braided product.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.