Helical braider
AssigneeFiberspar Spoolable Products, Inc.
InventorsJames L. Gallagher, Stephen C. Nolet
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A helical braider for constructing a triaxially braided tubular member in which the angle formed by primary fiber relative to the longitudinal axis of the tubular member can be controlled independently of the corresponding angles formed by the remaining fibers. The helical braider includes a winder that applies a primary fiber at a selected winding rate and a braider that applies two helical fibers at a selected spin rate. The winder can include a winder motor and a winding station rotatable around the mandrel, while the braider can include a braider motor and a braiding station independently rotatable around the mandrel.
Claims10
A helical braider for forming a braided tubular member by wrapping fibers around a mandrel extending along a longitudinal axis, said helical braider comprising:
- a winding station rotatable about the longitudinal axis for applying a primary fiber to the mandrel,
- a winder rotator operatively coupled to said winding station for rotating said winding station at a selectable winding rate such that said primary fiber is oriented at a winding angle relative to said longitudinal axis,
- a braiding station rotatable about the longitudinal axis for applying a clockwise helically-oriented fiber and a counter-clockwise helically-oriented fiber about the mandrel, and
- a braider rotator operatively coupled to said braiding station for spinning said braiding station at a selected spin rate such that said clockwise and counter-clockwise fibers can rotate relative to the rotational frame of said winder.
A helical braider for forming a braided tubular member by wrapping fibers around a mandrel extending along a longitudinal axis, said helical braider comprising:
- a winding station rotatable about the longitudinal axis for applying a primary fiber to said mandrel,
- a winder rotator operatively coupled to said winding station for rotating said winding station at a selectable winding rate such that said primary fiber is oriented at a winding angle relative to said longitudinal axis,
- a braiding station rotatable about the longitudinal axis for applying a clockwise helically-oriented fiber and a counter-clockwise helically-oriented fiber about the mandrel, said braiding station being operably coupled with said winding station such that said braiding station and said winding station rotate together, and
- a braider rotator operatively coupled to said braiding station for spinning said braiding station at a selected spin rate such that said clockwise and counter-clockwise fibers can rotate relative to the rotational frame of said winder.
A helical braider for forming a braided tubular member by wrapping fibers around a mandrel extending along a longitudinal axis, said helical braider comprising:
- winding means rotatable about the longitudinal axis for applying a primary fiber to said mandrel,
- winder rotating means operatively coupled to said winding means for rotating said winding means at a selectable winding rate such that said primary fiber is oriented at a winding angle relative to said longitudinal axis,
- braiding means rotatable about the longitudinal axis for applying a clockwise helically-oriented fiber and a counter-clockwise helically-oriented fiber about the mandrel, said braiding means being operably coupled with said winding means such that said braiding means and said winding means rotate together, and
- braider rotating means operatively coupled to said braiding means for spinning said braiding means at a selected spin rate such that said clockwise and counter-clockwise fibers can rotate relative to the rotational frame of said winding means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.