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US 7,611,997 B2Granted
Integral 3-D foam core fabrics, composites made therefrom and methods of making
OwnerDonald E. Wigent, IIIinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A 3-D woven fabric having substantially elongated foam elements integrally formed therein during fabric formation for providing open corridors within the fabric. The fabric is preferably used for structural, stiffener, or component applications.
Claims13
A three-dimensional (3-D) woven fabric comprising:
- a 3-D woven fabric formed from three independent, orthogonal yarn systems and corresponding components thereof, including a warp, x-direction components;
- a weft, y-direction components;
- and a vertical, thickness, z-direction components;
- and
- selvage edges formed by the weft yarns and selvage yarns;
- wherein at least one of the yarn components includes substantially elongate foam elements for providing lightweight foam core components within the fabric with the elongate foam elements being removed or eliminated after fabric formation to leave open channels within the fabric.
3 more elements
A composite material comprising:
- a 3-D woven fabric formed from three independent, orthogonal yarn systems and corresponding components thereof, including a warp, x-direction components;
- a weft, y-direction components;
- and a vertical, thickness, z-direction components;
- and
- selvage edges formed by the weft yarns and selvage yarns;
- wherein at least one of the yarn components includes substantially elongate foam elements for providing lightweight foam core components within the fabric with the elongate foam elements being removed or eliminated after fabric formation to leave open channels within the fabric;
- and
- wherein the fabric is infused with a resin and cured to form a rigid composite structure.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.