Method and apparatus for weaving a woven angle ply fabric
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration
InventorGary L. Farley
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Planar or multilayer structural preforms are made having yarns extending in a bias direction of the preform. Angularly directed yarns can be inserted in planar and multilayer fabrics to increase shear strength of structural preforms made from the fabrics. In multilayer fabrics, the angle yarns can extend between layers to provide through-the-thickness reinforcement. Fabrics are formed by carrying yarns transversely across the fabric as the fabric advances. Fill yarns may be inserted by an insertion technique employing a pneumatic beating element. Angle yarn feeding arrangements are made readily removable to provide for the use of other weaving assemblies.
Claims25
Weaving apparatus comprising:
- a unit for forming a first sheet of substantially parallel warp yarns;
- a unit for forming a second sheet of substantially parallel warp yarns;
- means for moving the sheets of warp yarns with respect to each other to form a shed;
- a member for inserting fill yarns transversely of the warp yarns into the shed;
- and
- a unit for inserting an interlocked angle yarn at an angle across the first sheet of warp yarns, the fill yarns and the second sheet of warp yarns.
Weaving apparatus comprising:
- a supply system for providing an array of warp yarns;
- a fill yarn placement member for placing fill yarns substantially orthogonal to the warp yarns;
- a unit for placing first angle yarns with the warp yarns and the fill yarns, said angle yarns being disposed angularly with respect to the warp and the fill yarns in a plane defined by the warp yarns and the fill yarns, wherein the angle yarn placing unit comprises a first yarn carrying member and a drive system for moving the yarn carrying member transversely with respect to the array of warp yarns;
- means for effecting relative movement between the angle yarns and the warp yarns for interlocking the warp yarns, the angle yarns and the fill yarns, wherein the angle yarns are disposed angularly with respect to the warp yarns and the fill yarns in a plane defined by the warp and fill yarns;
- and
- a first support disposed outboard of a first edge of the array of warp yarns for releasably engaging an end of said angle yarn.
A method of forming a fabric comprising the steps of:
- establishing a sheet of warp yarn;
- disposing a fill yarn substantially transversely to the warp yarns;
- disposing an angle yarn extending in a bias direction with the warp and fill yarns;
- moving the angle yarn relative to the warp layers such that the angle yarn is in an interlocked relationship with the warp yarn and the fill yarn;
- and
- securing an end of the angle yarn at an edge of the warp yarn, wherein the step of securing the end of the angle yarn comprises releasably engaging said end on a member movable with the warp yarns.
A method of forming a fabric comprising the steps of:
- establishing a first sheet of warp yarns;
- establishing a second sheet of warp yarns;
- forming a shed with the first and second sheets of warp yarns;
- inserting a fill yarn in said shed to form a first fabric;
- and
- inserting an angle yarn extending in a bias direction to the warp yarns and fill yarn in said first fabric while successively drawing the angle yarn transversely with respect to the sheets of warp yarns as fill yarns are inserted in the fabric.
Weaving apparatus comprising:
- a supply system for providing an array of warp yarns;
- a fill yarn placement member for placing fill yarns substantially orthogonal to the warp yarns;
- a unit for placing first angle yarns with the warp yarns and the fill yarns, said angle yarns being disposed angularly with respect to the warp and the fill yarns in a plane defined by the warp yarns and the fill yarns;
- and
- means for effecting relative movement between the angle yarns and the warp yarns for interlocking the warp yarns, the angle yarns and the fill yarns, wherein the angle yarns are disposed angularly with respect to the warp yarns and the fill yarns in a plane defined by the warp and fill yarns, wherein the effecting and interlocking means can vary the position of a warp yarn with respect to the angle yarn and the fill yarn.
Weaving apparatus comprising:
- a supply system for providing an array of warp yarns;
- a fill yarn placement member for placing fill yarns substantially orthogonal to the warp yarns;
- a unit for placing first angle yarns with the warp yarns and the fill yarns, said angle yarns being disposed angularly with respect to the warp and the fill yarns in a plane defined by the warp yarns and the fill yarns;
- and
- means for effecting relative movement between the angle yarns and the warp yarns for interlocking the warp yarns, the angle yarns and the fill yarns, wherein the angle yarns are disposed angularly with respect to the warp yarns and the fill yarns in a plane defined by the warp and fill yarns, wherein the effecting and interlocking means can vary the position of the angle yarn with respect to the warp yarns and the fill yarn.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.