Graphite fiber alignment process and apparatus
AssigneeTextile Products, Incorporated
InventorFrederick H. Curzio
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Misaligned strands in a graphite fiber on tape are aligned and wound up on reels with a minimum of degradation by the steps of: separating the individual strands, diverging the strands, aligning the strands and winding the individual strands onto separate take-up reels in one continuous operation. Graphite fabric woven from the strands exhibit little or no degradation and have a uniform density and excellent physical properties. The alignment apparatus is inexpensive, simple to operate and occupies a relatively small space.
Claims10
A process for aligning graphite strands from a tape of graphitized fibers which comprises the steps of:
- i. initially separating individual graphite strands from the tape;
- ii. diverging the strands while separating the strands from the graphitized tape under tension;
- iii. feeding each strand through a separate alignment tube;
- and,
- iv. winding up a plurality of strands, each strand being on a separate aligned reel, a plurality of aligned reels having at least one drive rod therefor, each reel being maintained forwardly in off-centered contact with the drive rod due to strand tension, whereby release of strand tension causes the reel to move out of alignment.
An apparatus for aligning graphite strands from a tape of graphitized fibers comprising:
- i. means to initially separate individual strands from the tape;
- ii. means to tension the separated strands;
- iii. means to diverge and align the strands;
- and,
- iv. means to wind-up the strands on reels under uniform tension by direct contact drive, the reels being aligned and having at least one drive rod therefor, each reel being maintained forwardly in off-centered contact with its drive rod due to strand tension, whereby release of strand tension causes the reel to move out of alignment.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.