Method for the production of a multi-directional fibrous structure and device for carrying out said method

A method for producing a three-dimensional multi-directional structure that includes superposed layers of fibrous material and reinforcing threads extending through said layers comprising the steps of:

• superposing a plurality of individual layers of a fibrous material;
• feeding at least one tubular needle, having a longitudinal passage with an outlet orifice opening at a forward end of the needle, with a thread inserted into said passage;
• cyclically implanting reinforcing threads over the whole surface of the structure being produced by the steps of:
• causing said needle to penetrate by said forward end through said superposed layers over a predetermined depth from a surface of the structure being produced and to withdraw to outside the structure, so as to drive the thread contained in said passage through the superposed layers during penetration of the needle and to leave a segment of thread implanted through said superposed layers over said depth inside the structure when the needle has been withdrawn to outside the structure;
• displacing said needle relative to the structure over a step along said surface of the structure;
• and
• performing at least once the sequence of operations which comprises superposing at least one additional layer of fibrous material over the previously superposed layers and performing said step of implanting reinforcing threads through said at least one additonal layer and at least the subjacent layer over the whole surface of the structure being produced.