Woven preform with integral off axis stiffeners
AssigneeAlbany Engineered Composites, Inc.
InventorJonathan Goering
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Abstract
An integrally woven three-dimensional preform with stiffeners in two or more directions constructed from a woven fabric having a first, second and optional third woven fabric layer. A plurality of yarns are interwoven over a region between the first and second fabric layers such that the first fabric layer is foldable relative to the second fabric layer. An additional plurality of yarns are interwoven over a region between the second and third fabric layers such that the third fabric layer is foldable relative to the second fabric layer. Upon folding of the woven fabric layers, the integrally woven three-dimensional preform with stiffeners in two or more directions is formed.
Claims34
An integrally woven preform with stiffeners in two or more directions constructed from a woven base fabric, said base fabric comprising:
- a first woven fabric;
- a second woven fabric;
- a third woven fabric;
- a plurality of yarns interwoven between said first woven fabric and said second woven fabric, wherein said plurality of yarns are interwoven over a region between said first fabric and said second fabric, and said first fabric is folded relative to said second fabric such that a first integral stiffener is formed in said preform;
- a plurality of yarns interwoven between said second woven fabric and said third woven fabric, wherein said plurality of yarns are interwoven over a region between said second fabric and said third fabric, and said third fabric is folded relative to said second fabric such that a second integral stiffener is formed in said preform;
- and
- wherein said first integral stiffener and/or said second integral stiffener is an integral off-axis stiffener that is oriented in a direction or angle other than 0 and +/−90 degrees from a direction aligned with warp or weft yarns or fibers, and perpendicular to the second fabric.
A fiber reinforced composite comprising an integrally woven preform with stiffeners in two or more directions constructed from a woven base fabric, said base fabric comprising:
- a first woven fabric;
- a second woven fabric;
- a third woven fabric;
- a plurality of yarns interwoven between said first woven fabric and said second woven fabric, wherein said plurality of yarns are interwoven over a region between said first fabric and said second fabric, and said first fabric is folded relative to said second fabric such that a first integral stiffener is formed in said preform;
- a plurality of yarns interwoven between said second woven fabric and said third woven fabric, wherein said plurality of yarns are interwoven over a region between said second fabric and said third fabric, and said third fabric is folded relative to said second fabric such that a second integral stiffener is formed in said preform;
- and
- wherein said first integral stiffener and/or said second integral stiffener is an integral off-axis stiffener that is oriented in a direction or angle other than 0 and +/−90 degrees from a direction aligned with warp or weft yarns or fibers, and perpendicular to the second fabric.
An integrally woven preform with stiffeners in two or more directions constructed from a woven base fabric, said base fabric comprising:
- a first woven fabric;
- a second woven fabric;
- and
- a plurality of yarns interwoven between said first woven fabric and said second woven fabric in a plurality of independent regions,
- wherein said first fabric is folded relative to said second fabric such that a first stiffener is formed in a first direction in said preform, and a portion of said first stiffener is folded to form a second stiffener in a second direction in said preform, said first stiffener and/or said second stiffener being an integral off-axis stiffener that is oriented in a direction or angle other than 0 and +/−90 degrees from a direction aligned with warp or weft yarns or fibers, and perpendicular to the second fabric;
- a third woven fabric;
- and
- a plurality of yarns interwoven between said second woven fabric and said third woven fabric in a plurality of independent regions,
- wherein said third fabric is folded relative to said second fabric such that a third stiffener is formed in a third direction in said preform, and a portion of said third stiffener is folded to form a fourth stiffener in a fourth direction in said preform, said fourth stiffener being an off-axis stiffener.
A fiber reinforced composite comprising an integrally woven preform with stiffeners in two or more directions constructed from a woven base fabric, said base fabric comprising:
- a first woven fabric;
- a second woven fabric;
- and
- a plurality of yarns interwoven between said first woven fabric and said second woven fabric in a plurality of independent regions,
- wherein said first fabric is folded relative to said second fabric such that a first stiffener is formed in a first direction in said preform, and a portion of said first stiffener is folded to form a second stiffener in a second direction in said preform, said first stiffener and/or said second stiffener being an integral off-axis stiffener that is oriented in a direction or angle other than 0 and +/−90 degrees from a direction aligned with warp or weft yarns or fibers, and perpendicular to the second fabric;
- a third woven fabric;
- and
- a plurality of yarns interwoven between said second woven fabric and said third woven fabric in a plurality of independent regions,
- wherein said third fabric is folded relative to said second fabric such that a third stiffener is formed in a third direction in said preform, and a portion of said third stiffener is folded to form a fourth stiffener in a fourth direction in said preform, said fourth stiffener being an off-axis stiffener.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.