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US 7,124,797 B2Granted
Filament winding apparatus and methods of winding filament
AssigneeToyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
InventorsAlan H. Anderson, Mike Glen Allman, Larry Jed Ashton, Craig Bjarnson Simpson, Benko Samasoni Ta'ala, Troy Larry White
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention relates to apparatus and methods for winding filament to create a structure. In one embodiment, the invention includes the application of filament to a rotating mandrel to create a desired shape. The invention includes the filament winding of both simple and complex shapes.
Claims38
A filament winding apparatus for winding at least two fiber bundles onto a structure, comprising:
- a fiber bundle application section, wherein the fiber bundle application section further comprises:
- a spool section comprising at least two fiber bundle spools;
- and
- a winding head comprising at least two winding eyes to receive a fiber bundle from one of the at least two fiber bundle spools, wherein the at least two winding eyes are oriented such that each fiber bundle exits a winding eye in substantially the same plane as each other fiber bundle and at a specified distance from each other fiber bundle;
- and
- a spreading assembly, wherein the spreading assembly comprises at least two curved rods to spread each fiber bundle exiting each winding eye, wherein the winding eyes and curved rods are oriented such that as the fiber bundles spread, the distance between the fiber bundles decreases forming a substantially continuous band of fiber bundles;
- a transport to move the fiber bundle application section;
- and
- a controller for applying the substantially continuous band of fiber bundles on the structure.
6 more elements
A filament winding apparatus for winding at least two fiber bundles onto a structure, wherein the structure is supported by a mandrel, comprising:
- a fiber bundle application section, wherein the fiber bundle application section further comprises:
- a spool section, wherein the spool section further comprises:
- at least two fiber bundle spools;
- and
- at least two idler rods to control the tension in each of the at least two fiber bundles;
- an articulator to rotate the spool section;
- and
- a winding head comprising at least two winding eyes to receive a fiber bundle from one of the at least two fiber bundle spools, wherein the at least two winding eyes are oriented such that each fiber bundle exits a winding eye in substantially the same plane as each other fiber bundle and at a specified distance from each other fiber bundle;
- and
- a spreading assembly, wherein the spreading assembly comprises at least two curved rods to spread each fiber bundle exiting each winding eye, wherein the winding eyes and curved rods are oriented such that as the fiber bundles spread, the distance between the fiber bundles decreases forming a substantially continuous band of fiber bundles;
- a resin applicator to apply resin to the at least two fiber bundles;
- a transport to move the fiber bundle application section;
- and
- a controller for applying the substantially continuous band of fiber bundles on the structure.
11 more elements
A system for filament winding a closed-shape structure, comprising:
- a first providing component configured to provide a mandrel on which a fiber bundle can be wound;
- a second providing component configured to provide at least two spools of fiber bundles for a winding assembly configured to travel along a path substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the mandrel;
- a feeding component comprising at least two winding eyes configured to feed each fiber bundle from the spool through one of the at least two winding eyes, wherein the at least two winding eyes are oriented such that each fiber bundle exits a winding eye in substantially the same plane as each other fiber bundle and at a specified distance from each other fiber bundle;
- a conveying component configured to convey each fiber bundle through a rod assembly to spread each fiber bundle to a desired thickness, wherein the rod assembly comprises at least two curved rods to spread each fiber bundle and wherein the winding eyes and curved rods are oriented such that as the fiber bundles spread, the distance between the fiber bundles decreases forming a substantially continuous band of fiber bundles;
- and
- a first applying component configured to apply the substantially continuous band of fiber bundles to the mandrel.
3 more elements
A system for filament winding a closed-shape structure, comprising:
- first providing means for providing a mandrel on which at least two fiber bundles can be wound;
- second providing means for providing at least two spools of a fiber bundle for a winding assembly configured to travel along a path substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the mandrel;
- a feeding means comprising at least two winding eyes for feeding each fiber bundle from the spool through one of the at least two winding eyes wherein the at least two winding eyes are oriented such that each fiber bundle exits a winding eye in substantially the same plane as each other fiber bundle and at a specified distance from each other fiber bundle;
- a conveying means for conveying each fiber bundle through a rod assembly to spread each fiber bundle to a desired thickness, wherein the rod assembly comprises at least two curved rods to spread each fiber bundle and wherein the winding eyes and curved rods are oriented such that as the fiber bundles spread, the distance between the fiber bundles decreases forming a substantially continuous band of fiber bundles;
- and
- an applying means for applying the substantially continuous band of fiber bundles to the mandrel.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.