Process for manufacturing a textile preform with continuous fibres by circulation of hot gas flow through a fibrous array

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9597844-B2
Application number	US-201314133023-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 18, 2013
Priority date	Dec 20, 2012
Publication date	Mar 21, 2017
Grant date	Mar 21, 2017

Abstract

The invention relates to a process for manufacturing a textile preform from a fibrous array with continuous fibres, the process comprising a step for heating of the fibrous array between a matrix and a punch to stiffen this fibrous array. To cut down processing time, the heating step is performed by having a hot gas flow circulate through the matrix, the fibrous array and the punch.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A process for manufacturing a textile preform by stamping of a fibrous array comprising continuous fibers, the process comprising:
providing a matrix and a punch,
forming the fibrous array by pressing the punch against the matrix, with a stack of fibrous layers comprising continuous fibers being located therebetween, the continuous fibers comprising a resin, and
circulating a hot gas flow through the matrix, the fibrous array, and the punch to heat and stiffen the fibrous array,
wherein a sliding layer is interposed between two directly consecutive fibrous layers, the sliding layer having a coefficient of friction less than that of the fibrous layers and
wherein each sliding layer comprises a hollowing out for the passage of the punch during the step of pressing the punch against the fibrous array and the matrix.

2. The process of claim 1 , further comprising cooling the fibrous array by circulating a flow of cooling gas through the matrix, the fibrous array, and the punch after circulating the hot gas flow.

3. The process of claim 1 , wherein each sliding layer is maintained fixedly with respect to the matrix while the punch is pressed against the fibrous array and the matrix.

4. The process of claim 1 , wherein the resin comprises a coating of resin powder on the continuous fibers.

5. A process for manufacturing a part, the process comprising:
providing a textile preform by:
providing a matrix and a punch,
forming the fibrous array by pressing the punch against the matrix, with a stack of fibrous layers comprising continuous fibers being located therebetween, the continuous fibers comprising a resin, and
circulating a hot gas flow through the matrix, the fibrous array, and the punch to heat and stiffen the fibrous array,
wherein a sliding layer is interposed between two directly consecutive fibrous layers, the sliding layer having a coefficient of friction less than that of the fibrous layers, and
wherein each sliding layer comprises a hollowing out for the passage of the punch during the step of pressing the punch against the fibrous array and the matrix, and

impregnating the textile preform with resin.

6. The process of claim 5 , wherein impregnating the textile preform with resin comprises a resin transfer molding or a liquid resin infusion technique.

Assignees

• Airbus Operations Sas

Inventors

• Blot Philippe
• Duthille Bertrand
• Boude Serge
• Pupin Cédric
• Moret Marc
• Jourdren Clément

Classifications

• B29C70/088

  and with one or more layers of non-plastics material or non-specified material, e.g. supports · CPC title

• B29C70/081

  Combinations of fibres of continuous or substantial length and short fibres · CPC title

• B29K2105/251

  Particles, powder or granules (expandable particles B29K2105/046) · CPC title

• B29K2105/08

  of continuous length, e.g. cords, rovings, mats, fabrics, strands or yarns · CPC title

• B29B11/16

  comprising fillers or reinforcement {(non-woven fabrics per se D04H1/00, D04H3/00)} · CPC title