Weaving assembly and method of using

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11535962-B2
Application number	US-202016880341-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 21, 2020
Priority date	May 21, 2020
Publication date	Dec 27, 2022
Grant date	Dec 27, 2022

Abstract

Disclosed is a weaving assembly including a rotatable base, a base positional controller, a weave control grid, a warp fiber support, warp fiber arms, a warp fiber arm positional controller and a fill fiber wand.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A weaving assembly comprising:
a weaving apparatus that includes a rotatable base and a weave control grid,
a base positional controller that moves the weaving apparatus,
a warp fiber support that locates warp fibers,
warp fiber arms that manipulate warp fibers, the warp fibers passing through the weave control grid,
a warp fiber arm positional controller that moves the warp fiber arms relative to a fill fiber wand, and
wherein the fill fiber wand positions a fill fiber between warp fibers;
wherein the warp fiber support comprises movable segments, the movable segments of the warp fiber support passing through an opening in a rim; and
wherein the movable segments have a slot with a pin to prevent the movable segments from being removed from the rim.

2. The weaving assembly of claim 1 , wherein the weave control grid is located on the rotatable base; and
wherein the weave control grid includes a distribution pattern of openings with designated spacing, and a desired spacing between grid openings varies as needed to locate warp fibers in close proximity to desired locations for incorporation into weaving.

3. The weaving assembly of claim 1 , wherein the rotatable base rotates relative to the fill fiber wand and warp fiber arms.

4. The weaving assembly of claim 1 , wherein the warp fiber support rotates with the base.

5. The weaving assembly of claim 1 , wherein the warp fiber support rotates independently of the base.

6. The weaving assembly of claim 1 , wherein the rim is located adjacent to the rotatable base.

7. The weaving assembly of claim 1 , wherein the movable segments have differing shapes.

8. The weaving assembly of claim 1 , wherein the movable segments can be moved independently of each other.

9. The weaving assembly of claim 1 , wherein the warp fiber support comprises notches.

10. The weaving assembly of claim 1 , comprising more than one warp fiber support.

11. The weaving assembly of claim 10 , wherein the warp fiber supports are moved independently.

12. The weaving assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a movable guide.

13. The weaving assembly of claim 12 , wherein the movable guide comprises segments.

14. The weaving assembly of claim 13 , wherein the movable guide segments are moved independently.

15. A weaving method comprising:
providing a weaving apparatus that includes a rotatable base and a weave control grid, and warp fiber arms that manipulate warp fibers, the warp fibers passing through the weave control grid;
placing a first section of a fill fiber between warp fibers, forming a pick, rotating a base to reposition the warp fibers, and placing a second section of the fill fiber between warp fibers to form a woven structure, wherein at least a portion of the warp fibers are introduced to the woven structure using the weave control grid and at least a portion of the warp fibers are in contact with at least a portion of a warp fiber support;
wherein the warp fiber support comprises movable segments, the movable segments of the warp fiber support passing through an opening in a rim; and
wherein the movable segments have a slot with a pin to prevent the movable segments from being removed from the rim.

16. The weaving method of claim 15 , wherein the warp fiber support rotates with the base.

17. The weaving method of claim 15 , wherein the rim is located adjacent to the base.

18. The weaving method of claim 15 , wherein the segments are moved independently.

19. The weaving method of claim 15 , wherein the warp fiber support has a contour in contact with the warp fibers and the contour relates to a final shape of the woven structure.

20. The weaving method of claim 15 , wherein the weave control grid includes a distribution pattern of openings with designated spacing, and a desired spacing between grid openings varies as needed to locate warp fibers in close proximity to desired locations for incorporation into weaving.

Assignees

• Raytheon Tech Corp

Inventors

• Mccaffrey Michael G

Classifications

• D03D25/005

  Three-dimensional woven fabrics · CPC title

• D03D41/004 Primary

  Looms for three-dimensional fabrics · CPC title