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US 5,465,762 AGranted
Adjustable reed for weaving net-shaped tailored fabrics
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
InventorGary L. Farley
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for forming woven fabrics through the use of an adjustable reed. The adjustable reed has multiple groups of reed wires that guide the warp yarns. The groups of reed wires move on reed rails parallel to the warp direction. In addition, rail expanders permit the space between the reed wires to be modified and telescoping rods attached to the rail sliders can be turned to permit the reed wires to be skewed to alter the fill yarn angle. These adjustments to the reed permit simultaneous variation of fill yarn angles and fabric widths and allow these variations to be made during fabrication, without the need to halt production.
Claims27
An adjustable reed for weaving warp and fill yarn fibers into fabrics, comprising:
- a reed frame having at least two substantially parallel sides;
- a plurality of group frames wherein each group frame further comprises:
- at least two substantially vertical end legs, each leg having a top end, a bottom end and an inner surface;
- and
- a linear actuator interconnecting the two end legs near the top ends of each end leg, and the bottom of the end legs of the reed group frame are movably disposed on the reed frame;
- a plurality of reed rails wherein each reed rail is mounted at each end to the inner surface of each of the end legs of the group frames such that each group frame contains a plurality of reed rails;
- a plurality of reed sliders wherein each reed slider is slidably mounted on a corresponding reed rail;
- a plurality of reed wires wherein each reed wire is attached to a corresponding reed slider such that the reed wires extend below the reed sliders and are interposed between the warp yarns to guide the warp yarns during weaving;
- means interconnecting the rail sliders within each group frame such that the rail sliders within each group frame move along the length of the rails in unison;
- means interconnecting the linear actuator and the rail slider interconnecting means such that activation of the linear actuator causes the rail sliders within the group frame to be pulled along the lengths of the reed rails;
- and
- means for moving each group frame along the reed frame in a direction perpendicular to the warp yarn axis to vary warp yarn spacing during weaving.
9 more elements
An adjustable reed for weaving warp and fill yarn fibers into fabrics, comprising:
- a reed frame having at least two substantially parallel sides;
- a plurality of group frames wherein each group frame further comprises:
- at least two substantially vertical end legs, each leg having a top end, a bottom end and an inner surface;
- and
- a linear actuator interconnecting the two end legs near the top ends of each end leg, wherein the bottom of the end legs of the reed group frame are attached to the reed frame;
- a plurality of reed rails wherein each reed rail is expandably mounted at each end to the inner surface of each of the end legs of the group frames such that each group frame contains a plurality of reed rails;
- a plurality of reed sliders wherein each reed slider is slidably mounted on a corresponding reed rail;
- a plurality of reed wires wherein each reed wire is attached to a corresponding reed slider such that the reed wires extend below the reed sliders and are interposed between the warp yarns to guide the warp yarns during weaving;
- means interconnecting the rail sliders within each group frame such that the rail sliders within each group frame move along the length of the rails in unison;
- means interconnecting the linear actuator and the rail slider interconnecting means such that activation of the linear actuator causes the rail sliders within the group frame to be pulled along the lengths of the reed rails;
- and
- means for expanding the reed rails within each group frame in a direction perpendicular to the warp yarn axis.
9 more elements
An adjustable reed for weaving warp and fill yarn fibers into fabrics, comprising:
- a reed frame having at least two substantially parallel sides;
- a plurality of group frames wherein each group frame further comprises:
- at least two substantially vertical end legs, each leg having a top end, a bottom end and an inner surface;
- and
- a linear actuator interconnecting the two end legs near the top ends of each end leg, wherein the bottom of the end legs of the reed group frame are attached to the reed frame;
- a plurality of reed rails wherein each reed rail is mounted at each end to the inner surface of each of the end legs of the group frames such that each group frame contains a plurality of reed rails;
- a plurality of reed sliders wherein each reed slider is slidably mounted on a corresponding reed rail;
- a plurality of reed wires wherein each reed wire is attached to a corresponding reed slider such that the reed wires extend below the reed sliders and are interposed between the warp yarns to guide the warp yarns during weaving;
- means interconnecting the rail sliders within each group frame such that the rail sliders within each group frame move along the length of the rails in unison;
- means interconnecting the linear actuator and the rail slider interconnecting means such that activation of the linear actuator causes the rail sliders within the group frame to be pulled along the lengths of the reed rails;
- and
- means for skewing the relative positions of the rail sliders within each reed rail group.
9 more elements
An adjustable reed for weaving warp and fill yarn fibers into fabrics, comprising:
- a reed frame having at least two substantially parallel sides;
- a plurality of group frames wherein each group frame further comprises:
- at least two substantially vertical end legs, each leg having a top end, a bottom end and an inner surface;
- and
- a linear actuator interconnecting the two end legs near the top ends of each end leg, wherein the bottom of the end legs of the reed group frame are movably disposed on the reed frame so that each group frame moves along the reed frame in a direction perpendicular to the warp yarn axis;
- a plurality of reed rails wherein each reed rail is expandably mounted at each end to the inner surface of each of the end legs of the group frames such that each group frame contains a plurality of reed rails;
- a plurality of reed sliders wherein each reed slider is slidably mounted on a corresponding reed rail;
- a plurality of reed wires wherein each reed wire is attached to a corresponding reed slider such that the reed wires extend below the reed sliders and are interposed between the warp yarns to guide the warp yarns during weaving;
- means for moving each group frame along the reed frame;
- means interconnecting the rail sliders within each group frame such that the rail sliders within each group frame move along the length of the rails in unison;
- means interconnecting the linear actuator and the rail slider interconnecting means such that activation of the linear actuator causes the rail sliders within the group frame to be pulled along the lengths of the reed rails;
- and
- means for expanding the reed rails within each group frame in a direction perpendicular to the warp yarn axis.
10 more elements
An adjustable reed for weaving warp and fill yarn fibers into fabrics, comprising:
- a reed frame having at least two substantially parallel sides;
- a plurality of group frames wherein each group frame further comprises:
- at least two substantially vertical end legs, each leg having a top end, a bottom end and an inner surface;
- and
- a linear actuator interconnecting the two end legs near the top ends of each end leg, wherein the bottom of the end legs of the reed group frame are movably disposed on the reed frame so that each group frame moves along the reed frame in a direction perpendicular to the warp yarn axis;
- a plurality of reed rails wherein each reed rail is mounted at each end to the inner surface of each of the end legs of the group frames such that each group frame contains a plurality of reed rails;
- a plurality of reed sliders wherein each reed slider is slidably mounted on a corresponding reed rail;
- a plurality of reed wires wherein each reed wire is attached to a corresponding reed slider such that the reed wires extend below the reed sliders and are interposed between the warp yarns to guide the warp yarns during weaving;
- means for moving each group frame along the reed frame;
- means interconnecting the rail sliders within each group frame such that the rail sliders within each group frame move along the length of the rails in unison;
- means interconnecting the linear actuator and the rail slider interconnecting means such that activation of the linear actuator causes the rail sliders within the group frame to be pulled along the lengths of the reed rails;
- and
- means for skewing the relative positions of the rail sliders within each reed rail group.
10 more elements
An adjustable reed for weaving warp and fill yarn fibers into fabrics, comprising:
- a reed frame having at least two substantially parallel sides;
- a plurality of group frames wherein each group frame further comprises:
- at least two substantially vertical end legs, each leg having a top end, a bottom end and an inner surface;
- and
- a linear actuator interconnecting the two end legs near the top ends of each end leg, wherein the bottom of the end legs of the reed group frame are movably disposed on the reed frame so that each group frame moves along the reed frame in a direction perpendicular to the warp yarn axis;
- a plurality of reed rails wherein each reed rail is movably mounted at each end to the inner surface of each of the end legs of the group frames such that each group frame contains a plurality of reed rails;
- a plurality of reed sliders wherein each reed slider is slidably mounted on a corresponding reed rail;
- a plurality of reed wires wherein each reed wire is attached to a corresponding reed slider such that the reed wires extend below the reed sliders and are interposed between the warp yarns to guide the warp yarns during weaving;
- means for moving each group frame along the reed frame;
- means interconnecting the rail sliders within each group frame such that the rail sliders within each group frame move along the length of the rails in unison;
- means interconnecting the linear actuator and the rail slider interconnecting means such that activation of the linear actuator causes the rail sliders within the group frame to be pulled along the lengths of the reed rails;
- means for skewing the relative positions of the rail sliders within each reed rail group;
- and
- means for expanding the reed rails within each group frame in a direction perpendicular to the warp yarn axis.
11 more elements
An adjustable reed for weaving warp and fill yarn fibers into fabrics, comprising:
- a reed frame having at least two substantially parallel sides;
- a plurality of group frames wherein each group frame further comprises:
- at least two substantially vertical end legs, each leg having a top end, a bottom end and an inner surface;
- and
- a linear actuator interconnecting the two end legs near the top ends of each end leg, wherein the bottom of the end legs of the reed group frame are attached to the reed frame;
- a plurality of reed rails wherein each reed rail is expandably mounted at each end to the inner surface of each of the end legs of the group frames such that each group frame contains a plurality of reed rails;
- a plurality of reed sliders wherein each reed slider is slidably mounted on a corresponding reed rail;
- a plurality of reed wires wherein each reed wire is attached to a corresponding reed slider such that the reed wires extend below the reed sliders and are interposed between the warp yarns to guide the warp yarns during weaving;
- means interconnecting the rail sliders within each group frame such that the rail sliders within each group frame move along the length of the rails in unison;
- means interconnecting the linear actuator and the rail slider interconnecting means such that activation of the linear actuator causes the rail sliders within the group frame to be pulled along the lengths of the reed rails;
- means for skewing the relative positions of the rail sliders within each reed rail group;
- and
- means for expanding the reed rails within each group frame in a direction perpendicular to the warp yarn axis.
10 more elements
A method of weaving fabrics having varying fabric widths and fill yarn angles comprising the steps:
- positioning an adjustable reed having groups of slotted reed wires into the path of warp yarns;
- threading each warp yarn through a respective slotted reed wire to guide the position of each warp yarn;
- and
- simultaneously controlling the spacings of groups of reed wires during weaving to selectively modify the fabric width by varying reed wire spacing, and controlling the orientation of the reed wires in each reed wire group to selectively vary the fill yarn angle.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.