Pi-shaped preform
AssigneeAlbany Engineered Composites, Inc.
InventorsJonathan Goering, Kenneth Ouellette
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A woven preform for a reinforced composite material, which may be woven flat and folded into shape. The preform has a three-dimensional weave architecture with weft fibers woven to provide layer-to-layer interlocking of layers of warp fiber as well as interlocking of fibers within each layer. One or more legs extend from a base, the base and legs each having at least two layers of warp fibers. The legs may be parallel or angled to each other and/or may move along a sine wave in the warp and/or weft direction. The outer ends of the base and/or the legs preferably have tapers formed from terminating layers of warp fibers in a stepped pattern.
Claims46
A method of forming a woven preform, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a plurality of adjacent layers, each layer having a plurality of warp fibers, the warp fibers being parallel to each other;
- (b) weaving a plurality of weft fibers with the layers of warp fibers to form a base and one or more legs extending from the base;
- and
- (c) selectively dropping one or more warp fibers out of a first portion of the preform that forms a first leg and/or selectively adding one or more warp fibers into the first portion of the preform, thereby forming the one or more legs in a sine wave, zig-zag, diagonal, curved or non-linear configuration or combination thereof in the warp direction of the preform.
A woven preform for use in reinforced composite structures, the preform comprising:
- a plurality of adjacent layers, each layer having a plurality of warp fibers, the warp fibers being parallel to each other;
- and
- a plurality of weft fibers woven with the layers of warp fibers to form a base and one or more legs extending from the base, wherein
- one or more warp fibers are selectively dropped out of a first portion of the preform that forms a first leg and/or one or more warp fibers are selectively added into the first portion of the preform, thereby the one or more legs are in a sine wave, zig-zag, diagonal, curved or non-linear configuration or combination thereof in the warp direction of the preform.
A method of forming a woven preform, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a plurality of adjacent layers, each layer having a plurality of warp fibers, the warp fibers being parallel to each other;
- (b) weaving a plurality of weft fibers with the layers of warp fibers to form a base and one or more legs extending from the base;
- and
- (c) selectively dropping one or more weft fibers out of a first portion of the preform that forms a first leg and/or selectively adding one or more weft fibers into the first portion of the preform, thereby forming the one or more legs in a sine wave, zig-zag, diagonal, curved or non-linear configuration or combination thereof in the weft direction of the preform.
A woven preform for use in reinforced composite structures, the preform comprising:
- a plurality of adjacent layers, each layer having a plurality of warp fibers, the warp fibers being parallel to each other;
- and
- a plurality of weft fibers woven with the layers of warp fibers to form a base and one or more legs extending from the base, wherein
- one or more weft fibers are selectively dropped out of a first portion of the preform that forms a first leg and/or one or more weft fibers are selectively added into the first portion of the preform, thereby forming the one or more legs in a sine wave, zig-zag, diagonal, curved or non-linear configuration or combination thereof in the weft direction of the preform.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.