Penta-axial braiding machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11718933-B2
Application number	US-202117445370-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 18, 2021
Priority date	Aug 18, 2021
Publication date	Aug 8, 2023
Grant date	Aug 8, 2023

Abstract

A penta-axial braiding assembly comprising: a braiding machine comprising: a circular machine bed with an interior curved surface, an exterior curved surface, and a front face; radial bobbins associated with the interior curved surface and configured to dispense a first number of yarns; and front face bobbins associated with the front face and configured to dispense a second number of yarns. A first guide assembly comprising a first braiding plate configured to form a first braiding point for the first number of yarns from the radial bobbins. A second guide assembly comprising a second braiding plate configured to form a second braiding point for the second number of yarns dispensed from the front face bobbins.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A penta-axial braiding assembly comprising:
a braiding machine comprising:
a circular machine bed with an interior curved surface, an exterior curved surface, and a front face;
radial bobbins associated with the interior curved surface and configured to dispense a first number of yarns; and
front face bobbins associated with the front face and configured to dispense a second number of yarns;
a first guide assembly comprising a first braiding plate configured to form a first braiding point for the first number of yarns dispensed from the radial bobbins; and
a second guide assembly comprising a second braiding plate configured to form a second braiding point for the second number of yarns dispensed from the front face bobbins.

2. The penta-axial braiding assembly of claim 1 , wherein the braiding machine further comprises axial bobbins associated with the exterior curved surface.

3. The penta-axial braiding assembly of claim 1 , wherein the radial bobbins comprise a first set of bobbins and a second set of bobbins, wherein the first set of bobbins and the second set of bobbins move in opposing serpentine motion to each other, and wherein the front face bobbins comprise a third set of bobbins and a fourth set of bobbins, wherein the third set of bobbins and the fourth set of bobbins move in opposing serpentine motion to each other.

4. The penta-axial braiding assembly of claim 1 , wherein the braiding machine is configured to produce a braided product with the first number of yarns having a first angle and the second number of yarns having a second angle, wherein the first angle is different from the second angle.

5. The penta-axial braiding assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first guide assembly further comprises a frame and a movement system, wherein the first braiding plate is removably connected to the frame, and wherein the movement system is connected to the frame and configured to move the frame towards or away from the braiding machine.

6. The penta-axial braiding assembly of claim 5 , wherein the first guide assembly further comprises a plurality of vibration systems mounted to the first braiding plate.

7. The penta-axial braiding assembly of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of vibration systems is positioned evenly around an aperture of the first braiding plate.

8. The penta-axial braiding assembly of claim 5 , wherein the second guide assembly further comprises a frame and a movement system, wherein the second braiding plate is removably connected to the frame, and wherein the movement system is connected to the frame and configured to move the frame towards or away from the braiding machine.

9. The penta-axial braiding assembly of claim 8 , wherein the second guide assembly further comprises a plurality of vibration systems mounted to the second braiding plate.

10. The penta-axial braiding assembly of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of vibration systems is positioned evenly around an aperture of the second braiding plate.

11. A braiding machine comprising:
a circular machine bed with an interior curved surface, an exterior curved surface, and a front face;
radial bobbins associated with the interior curved surface and configured to dispense a first number of yarns; and
front face bobbins associated with the front face and configured to dispense a second number of yarns,
wherein the radial bobbins comprise a first set of bobbins and a second set of bobbins, and wherein the first set of bobbins and the second set of bobbins move in opposing serpentine motion to each other.

12. The braiding machine of claim 11 , wherein the front face bobbins comprise a third set of bobbins and a fourth set of bobbins, and wherein the third set of bobbins and the fourth set of bobbins move in opposing serpentine motion to each other.

13. The braiding machine of claim 11 , wherein the radial bobbins are configured to dispense the first number of yarns substantially perpendicular to a dispensed direction of the second number of yarns.

14. A braiding machine comprising:
a circular machine bed with an interior curved surface, an exterior curved surface, and a front face;
radial bobbins associated with the interior curved surface and configured to dispense a first number of yarns;
front face bobbins associated with the front face and configured to dispense a second number of yarns; and
axial bobbins associated with the exterior curved surface.

15. A guide assembly comprising:
a frame;
a braiding plate removably connected to the frame, the braiding plate having an aperture;
a movement system connected to the frame and configured to move the frame across a manufacturing floor; and
a plurality of vibration systems mounted to the braiding plate.

16. The guide assembly of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of vibration systems is positioned evenly around the aperture of the braiding plate.

17. The guide assembly of claim 15 , wherein the movement system comprises wheels.

18. The guide assembly of claim 15 , wherein a shape of the aperture is configured based on a cross-sectional shape of a braided product to be produced.

19. A guide assembly comprising:
a frame;
a braiding plate removably connected to the frame, the braiding plate having an aperture;
a movement system connected to the frame and configured to move the frame across a manufacturing floor; and
a water dispensing system mounted to a first face of the braiding plate and configured to dispense water onto a plurality of yarns prior to extending through the aperture.

20. A guide assembly comprising:
a frame;
a braiding plate removably connected to the frame, the braiding plate having an aperture;
a movement system connected to the frame and configured to move the frame across a manufacturing floor; and
a nozzle mounted to the braiding plate, the nozzle configured to dispense air.

21. A method comprising:
sending a base through a braiding machine, a first guide assembly, and a second guide assembly, the braiding machine comprising a circular machine bed with an interior curved surface, an exterior curved surface, and a front face, radial bobbins associated with the interior curved surface and configured to dispense a first number of yarns, and front face bobbins associated with the front face and configured to dispense a second number of yarns;
braiding the first number of yarns onto the base at a first braiding point created by a first braiding plate of the first guide assembly; and
braiding the second number of yarns over the first number of yarns at a second braiding point created by a second braiding plate of the second guide assembly.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein braiding the first number of yarns onto the base comprises braiding the first number of yarns at a first angle, wherein braiding the second number of yarns over the first number of yarns comprises braiding the second number of yarns at a second angle, and wherein the first angle is different from the second angle.

23. The method of claim 21 further comprising:
sending axial yarns parallel to the base, wherein braiding the first number of yarns onto the base comprises tri-axial braiding with the first number of yarns and the axial yarns.

24. The method of claim 21 further comprising:
vibrating the first braiding plate with a controlled frequency and amplitude using a plurality of vibration systems mounted around an aperture of the first braiding plate.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Tian Jacquelynn Xueting

Classifications

• D04C3/40 Primary

  for making tubular braids by circulating strand supplies around braiding centre at equal distances · CPC title

• D04C3/22

  Guides or track plates (with means for controlling spool carriers D04C3/24) · CPC title

• D04C3/48

  Auxiliary devices · CPC title

• D04C3/12 Primary

  with means for introducing core threads · CPC title