Process for manufacturing homogeneously needled three-dimensional structures of fibrous material
US4790052A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 23, 1986 |
| Grant date | Dec 13, 1988 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 23, 2006 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC D)Textiles; Paper
- CPC primaryD04H18/02
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
Method and apparatus for producing homogeneously needled three-dimensional structures formed of superposed layers of fibrous material and the needled structures produced thereby. As layers of fibrous material are added to a stack of needled layers, the needling needles are moved away from the stack so as to maintain a uniform depth of needling over the entire stack, and to achieve a uniformly needled result. To permit the same density of needling in the initial layers, a substrate layer of needle penetrable material is used to support the initial layers which can then be needled as through they were layed on top of other needled layers. For the final layers, the needling rate is reduced to compensate for the lessened clogging of the needle in having fewer layers to penetrate in the final needling. Needled structures according to the invention find particular application in the manufacture of rocket motor parts, heat protective pieces, and friction pieces such as high performance brake discs or pads as used on aircraft and land vehicles.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.