Method and apparatus for manufacturing faired article

Apparatus for producing a structure having a series of flexible members extending therefrom at spaced intervals along its length, comprising:

• means for advancing an elongated core axially in a forward direction,
• means moveable in a path about said core to apply a jacket thereto as said core advances,
• guide means adapted to slidably receive a flexible member at a location spaced from the core and to define a first length of said member extending away from said core,
• means connected to said guide means for reciprocating the same through said path from a home position located rearwardly of said path to limit position located forwardly of said path,
• means for gripping said flexible member at said limit position and holding the same while said reciprocating means returns said guide means to its home position for drawing a second length of said member through said guide means, and
• means engaging and displacing a rearward portion of said lengths of said member inwardly against said core to form said member into a loop extending away from said core,
• whereby the apparatus produces a structure with a series of laterally-extending flexible members each having a base portion fastened securely to the core by the jacket.

A method of manufacturing an elongated article having a plurality of fairings spaced apart along its length, comprising the steps of:

• braiding a section of a jacket around a base length of a flexible member in a braiding zone,
• advancing the jacket and base length axially in a forward direction,
• disposing a first length of said member laterally with respect to said base length through a guide moveable relative to said jacket,
• displacing said guide with said first length of said flexible member forwardly through said braiding zone relative to said moving jacket into a limit position beyond said base length,
• gripping said displaced first length at said forward limit position,
• retracting said guide rearwardly while said displaced length is gripped at said limit position to cause a second length of said flexible member to be drawn through said guide and to extend rearwardly from said forward limit position, and
• continuing said braiding to cause said first and second lengths to be displaced laterally inward while maintaining said member gripped at said location to form a said member into a laterally extending loop, and
• further continuing said braiding rearwardly of said inwardly-displaced lengths of said member as said jacket advances to cause the jacket to surround another base length of said member, and
• repeating said above steps, whereby an elongated faired article is manufactured in a continuous process.

Apparatus for producing a structure having a series of flexible members extending therefrom at spaced intervals along its length, comprising:

• a braider operable to advance braid yarns in a predetermined path to fabricate a braided jacket,
• means for advancing said jacket axially in a forward direction,
• guide means adapted to slidably receive a flexible member at a location spaced laterally from the jacket and to define a first length of said member extending away from said jacket,
• means connected to said guide means for reciprocating the same through said path from a home position located rearwardly of said path to limit position located forwardly of said path,
• means for gripping said flexible member at said limit position and holding the same while said reciprocating means returns said guide means to its home position for drawing a second length of said member through said guide means,
• said braider operating to cause said braid yarns to displace rearward portions of said lengths of said member laterally toward the path of movement of said jacket and thereafter to braid said jacket around a section of said flexible member before said guide means is again advanced forwardly.