# US 5,350,615 A · Method and device for producing reinforcement elements formed of resistant fibers

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- Number: US 5,350,615 A
- Document ID: US5350615A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/048,080
- Filed: 1993-04-14
- Granted: 1994-09-27
- Earliest claimed: 1990-02-26
- Assignees: Societe Nationale Industrielle et Aerospatiale
- Inventors: Jean-Louis Darrieux
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5350615A

## CPC

- D04H 3/115: by applying or inserting filamentary binding elements
- B29C 70/24: oriented in at least three directions forming a three-dimensional [3D] structure
- D04H 3/07: otherwise than in a plane, e.g. in a tubular way
- D05B 23/00: Sewing apparatus or machines not otherwise provided for (for making zip closures A44B19/00)
- D05B 85/06: Curved needles
- D05B 85/10: Hollow needles
- D10B 2505/02: Reinforcing materials; Prepregs
- Y10S 428/902: High modulus filament or fiber
- Y10T 428/24033: including stitching and discrete fastener[s], coating or bond
- Y10T 428/24083: Nonlinear strands or strand-portions
- Y10T 428/24124: Fibers
- Y10T 442/2984: Coated or impregnated carbon or carbonaceous fiber fabric
- Y10T 442/2992: Coated or impregnated glass fiber fabric
- Y10T 442/687: Containing inorganic strand or fiber material
- D04H: MAKING TEXTILE FABRICS, e.g. FROM FIBRES OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL (weaving D03; knitting D04B; braiding D04C; net-making D04G; sewing D05B; tufting D05C; finishing non-woven fabrics D06); FABRICS MADE BY SUCH PROCESSES OR APPARATUS, e.g. FELTS, NON-WOVEN FABRICS; COTTON-WOOL; WADDING {; NON-WOVEN FABRICS FROM STAPLE FIBRES, FILAMENTS OR YARNS, BONDED WITH AT LEAST ONE WEB-LIKE MATERIAL DURING THEIR CONSOLIDATION}(non-woven fabrics having an intermediate or external layer of a different kind, e.g. of woven fabric, B32B)
- B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00)
- D05B: SEWING (appliances for the tailoring trade A41H; sewing tables A47B29/00; sewing in bookbinding B42B2/00; sewing machines modified for knitting D04B39/08)
- D10B: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBLASSES OF SECTION D, RELATING TO TEXTILES
- Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A method and device are disclosed for forming reinforcement element formed of fibers distributed along three dimensions, wherein, a continuous fiber is introduced in a substrate resting on a support formed of such fibers crossed in at least two directions, by stitching, from the free face of said substrate opposite said support by means of a needle driven with a reciprocal movement, a relative movement being in addition generated between said support and said needle so that said continuous fiber is formed inside said substrate of a succession of consecutive segments forming a zig-zag line. The invention is remarkable in that: said needle is curved and imposes on each segment of said continuous fiber a similar curved form; and the reciprocal movement of said curved needle occurs while rotating about an axis perpendicular to the plane of said needle and disposed on the concave side thereof.

## Claims

### Claim 1

Reinforcement element formed of fibers distributed in three dimensions, said reinforcement element comprising a substrate formed of such fibers crossed in at least two directions, and including curved fiber segments disposed in the thickness of said substrate, said segments being produced by stitching a continuous fiber in said substrate.

### Claim 2

Composite piece comprising a reinforcement element formed of fibers distributed in three dimensions and impregnated with a hardened binder, said reinforcement element comprising a substrate formed of such fibers crossed in at least two directions, and including curved fiber segments disposed in the thickness of said substrate, said segments being produced by stitching a continuous fiber in said substrate.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

Composite piece as claimed in claim 2, which is machined, at least on the surface.