Device for guiding a fabric of fibres on an impregnation mandrel, and associated impregnation mandrel and winding machine

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device (100, 100', 100”) for guiding a fibrous fabric (18) on an impregnation mandrel (16, 16', 16”) of a winding machine (10), comprising a first radial spacer (102a), a second radial spacer (102b), and a frame (104). The first radial spacer is positioned to face a first flange (26a) of the impregnation mandrel (16, 16', 16”), the second radial spacer is positioned to face a second flange (26b) of the impregnation mandrel (16, 16', 16”), and the frame is used to support the first spacer (102a) and the second spacer (102b). The frame (104) includes an adjustment mechanism. The adjusting device (106) is used to adjust the position of the first spacer (102a) and the second spacer (102b) and to position the first spacer (102a) and the second spacer (102b) at a certain distance from the first flange (26a) and the second flange (26b) of the impregnation mandrel (16, 16', 16"), respectively, so as to maintain the first part (180a) and the second part (180b) of the fiber fabric (18) without obstructing the rotation of the impregnation mandrel (16, 16', 16"), and rests against the corresponding flange, with the first part extending along the first flange (26a) and the second part extending along the second flange (26b).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the general field of manufacturing gas turbine housings from composite materials, and more specifically to manufacturing retaining housings for gas turbine fans in aircraft engines. Background Technology

[0002] In a gas turbine aircraft engine, the fan casing performs several functions. The fan casing defines the air inlet passage into the engine, supports abrasion-resistant material at the tips of the fan blades, supports optional acoustic absorber structures at the engine inlet for acoustic treatment, and includes or supports an optional retaining shroud. This shroud constitutes a catcher for retaining centrifugally projected debris, such as ingested objects or fragments of damaged blades, preventing debris from passing through the casing and reaching other parts of the aircraft.

[0003] It has been proposed to manufacture fan housings from composite materials. For example, see document EP 1 961923, which describes manufacturing composite housings of varying thickness by forming fiber reinforcements as a stack of fiber fabrics and by densifying the fiber reinforcements using a matrix. In this invention, the fiber fabric is manufactured to have varying thickness by three-dimensional weaving, and the fiber fabric is wound into multiple stacks on the central annular wall of an impregnation mandrel having a profile corresponding to the profile of the housing to be manufactured. The fiber preform obtained in this manner is held on the impregnation mandrel, and the fiber preform is impregnated with resin before polymerization. For example, winding a woven fabric of varying thickness onto a mandrel can directly obtain tubular preforms having a desired profile with varying thickness, as described in the document.

[0004] In practice, implementing this method presents the problem of holding the fiber preform while it is wound around the impregnation mandrel, and more specifically, holding the edge portions of the fiber fabric in a vertical position, which would form the intended flange of the shell.

[0005] Winding is performed under tension so that the fabric preform remains compact in its central position. This tension presses the currently wound fiber fabric layer against the fiber fabric layer already wound onto the impregnation mandrel. During winding, the flange, i.e., the edge portion of the fiber fabric, moves from a horizontal position on the take-up mandrel to a vertical position on the impregnation mandrel by directly or indirectly resting against the cheek plate of the impregnation mandrel.

[0006] As the flanges transition from a horizontal to a vertical position, they tend to fall inward onto the fibrous fabric wound around the central annular wall of the impregnation mandrel. After the flanges have fallen inward, and when new turns are made, the fallen flanges may become located below the new turns of the fibrous fabric in the air passage portion of the fabric, i.e., in the stack on the central annular wall, rather than in the flange portion. The preform thus wound around the impregnation mandrel becomes defective due to the localized extra thickness associated with the expected thickness loss in the flanges.

[0007] The only existing solution is to visually monitor the positioning of the flanges during winding and to manually hold the fiber fabric upstream of the flange overlap area.

[0008] Errors caused by operator negligence or poor training during the winding process can result in defective parts. Summary of the Invention

[0009] This invention attempts to mitigate this drawback by providing a guide for positively wound flanges that allows the position of the fibrous fabric flange against the cheek plate of the impregnated mandrel to be controlled immediately before receiving additional turns.

[0010] This objective is achieved by a guiding device for guiding a fibrous fabric on an impregnation mandrel of a winding machine, the device comprising a first radial spacer, a second radial spacer, and a transverse member. The first radial spacer is positioned facing a first cheek plate of the impregnation mandrel, the second radial spacer is positioned facing a second cheek plate of the impregnation mandrel, and the transverse member is adapted to support the first and second spacers. The transverse member includes an adjusting device for adjusting the position of the first and second spacers and is adapted to position the first and second spacers separately spaced from the first and second cheek plates of the impregnation mandrel to hold a first portion and a second portion of the fibrous fabric without obstructing rotation of the impregnation mandrel. The first portion presses against the first cheek plate and extends along the first cheek plate, and the second portion presses against the second cheek plate and extends along the second cheek plate.

[0011] Between two consecutive turns of the fibrous fabric, the spacer of the guide device is positioned to prevent the edge portion of the fibrous fabric already wound on the impregnation mandrel from sagging and passing under the portion of the fibrous fabric that is in contact with the impregnation mandrel, so as to facilitate winding.

[0012] In other words, by placing a spacer parallel to the plane of the cheek plate between the wound fibrous fabric and the fibrous fabric to be formed into subsequent layers, the subsequent layers are prevented from stacking on the flange that has become folded down. Therefore, the spacer of the guiding device ensures that the positioned flange remains vertical and that it is properly covered by the subsequent layers. Thus, the guiding device is used to ensure good coverage from one flange to another without human intervention. The term "flange" here is used to mean the edge portion or cluster of edge portions of the wound fibrous fabric that abuts against the cheek plate extension.

[0013] In a first aspect of the guiding device, the adjusting device may include a first module for each of the two spacers, the first module being adapted to adjust the position of the spacer along a first direction according to the thickness of the fibrous fabric and according to the number of turns of the mandrel made using the fibrous fabric.

[0014] The first module of the adjusting device adjusts the spacing between the first and second spacers, causing each of the two spacers to move away from the cheek plate that mates with it, thereby ensuring that the flange remains against the cheek plate in the radial plane for each new turn of the impregnating mandrel. On each new turn of the impregnating mandrel, the stacking of the fibrous fabric layers adds an additional layer. Therefore, to ensure unimpeded rotation of the impregnating mandrel and to maintain guidance of the fibrous fabric, each of the first and second spacers needs to move orthogonally to the plane in which the corresponding cheek plate extends and away from the cheek plate. In other words, after a turn has been received, the first and second spacers move toward each other.

[0015] In a second aspect of the guiding device, the adjusting device may include a second module for each of the two spacers, the second module being adapted to adjust the position of the spacer along a second direction, different from the first direction, according to the shape and diameter of the impregnated mandrel, the thickness of the fibrous fabric, and the number of turns of the mandrel made of fibrous fabric.

[0016] A second module of the adjusting device is used for each of the first and second spacers to adjust the distance between the spacer and the central annular wall of the impregnated mandrel. Before winding begins, this second module is thus used to radially position the first spacer according to the diameter of a section of the central annular wall located in a plane that extends parallel to and close to the first cheek plate. Similarly, before winding begins, the second module is used to position the second spacer according to the diameter of a section of the central annular wall located in a plane that extends parallel to and close to the second cheek plate.

[0017] Therefore, depending on the shape of the impregnated mandrel, the first and second spacers can be positioned in different locations along the second direction.

[0018] While the fibrous fabric is wound onto the impregnation mandrel, the second module also allows each of the first and second spacers to move in a second direction. Thus, for each new turn of the impregnation mandrel, the first and second spacers can move away from the central annular wall of the mandrel to account for the increase in the stacking of fibrous fabric layers on each turn. This avoids any risk of obstructing the rotation of the impregnation mandrel.

[0019] Since the first and second spacers also move along a first direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the mandrel, i.e. orthogonal to the second direction, the diameter of the impregnated mandrel may be different after these spacers have moved along the first direction. Therefore, even though the thickness of the fiber fabric layer stack increases, for the new turns of the impregnated mandrel, for example, if the increase in the thickness of the fiber fabric layer stack is compensated by the decrease in the diameter of the central annular wall of the mandrel, the first and / or second spacers may not move along the second direction, or for the new turns of the impregnated mandrel, for example, if the decrease in the diameter of the central annular wall of the mandrel exceeds the increase in the thickness of the fiber fabric layer stack, the first and / or second spacers may even move towards the central wall.

[0020] In a third aspect, the guiding device may include an electronic control unit adapted to control the automatic actuation of the adjusting device based on the winding of the fibrous fabric on the impregnation mandrel.

[0021] The electronic control unit can be coupled to one or more sensors mounted on the guide device and adapted to detect the position of the fibrous fabric wound on the impregnated mandrel along both a first direction and a second direction, thereby controlling the movement of the two spacers of the guide device along the first and second directions.

[0022] The electronic control unit can also be connected to the control unit for the impregnation mandrel to control the movement and initial positioning of the two spacers of the guide device in the first and second directions solely based on information supplied by the control unit for the impregnation mandrel or based on information transmitted by the sensors of the guide device and information transmitted by the control unit for the impregnation mandrel.

[0023] In a fourth aspect of the guiding device, at least one of the first and second spacers may be made of, for example It is made of plastic materials such as plastic.

[0024] At least one spacer made of plastic material is used to limit friction and contamination of a preform formed by winding a fibrous fabric around an impregnated mandrel.

[0025] In a fifth aspect of the guiding device, for each of the first and second spacers, the spacer is associated with an additional radial spacer disposed parallel to the spacer to define at least one annular guide track portion between the spacer and the additional spacer, the guide track being used to receive a portion of the coiled fibrous fabric to extend along the corresponding cheek plate, while the surface of the spacer facing away from the additional spacer holds at least one layer of the coiled fibrous fabric portion extending along the cheek plate to press against the cheek plate.

[0026] Therefore, the additional spacer is used to form a guide track for the edge portion of the fibrous fabric to be wound. This allows the edge portion to be orthogonally oriented relative to the aforementioned portion of the fibrous fabric from the outset before the portion of the fibrous fabric extending between the edge portions is wound onto the impregnation mandrel.

[0027] Therefore, this orientation before winding is used to avoid any risk of the edge portion rubbing against the flange formed by the wound fiber fabric, while additional spacers are used to prevent the edge portion, which is pre-oriented in this way, from sagging and folding down onto the fiber fabric portion extending between the two edge portions.

[0028] In a sixth aspect of the guiding device, the guiding device may include two guiding screws, each of which is adapted to form a complete turn around a central annular wall extending between the first and second cheek plates of the impregnation mandrel, and each guiding screw has a first end and a second end, the first end forming the spacer, and the second end being opposite the first end and forming the additional spacer.

[0029] This embodiment enables it to provide circumferential guidance along the entire path followed by the fibrous fabric around the impregnation mandrel, while minimizing the number of parts.

[0030] The present invention also provides an impregnation mandrel for a winding machine for receiving a fiber reinforcement formed by a stack of fiber fabrics to facilitate the manufacture of a gas turbine housing from a composite material, and the impregnation mandrel includes a central annular wall and first and second cheek plates, the profile of which corresponds to the profile of the housing to be manufactured, and the profiles of which correspond to the profile of the outer flange of the housing to be manufactured.

[0031] Based on the general characteristics of an impregnation mandrel, the impregnation mandrel may include the guiding device defined above, a first radial spacer disposed facing a first cheek plate, and a second radial spacer disposed facing a second cheek plate, and the first and second spacers being spaced apart from the first and second cheek plates respectively to retain corresponding first and second portions of the fibrous fabric without obstructing rotation of the mandrel, the first and second portions being pressed against the first and second cheek plates respectively and extending along the first and second cheek plates.

[0032] The guide device can be combined with the impregnated mandrel.

[0033] In another aspect, the impregnation mandrel may include an electronic safety unit adapted to stop the impregnation mandrel once the force applied to the first or second spacer by a first and / or second portion of the fibrous fabric, respectively, becomes greater than a force threshold, the first and / or second portions extending along the first cheek plate or along the second cheek plate, respectively.

[0034] Therefore, for highly unstable flanges that tend to fold downwards despite the presence of guidance, an electronic safety unit is used to provide a torque limiter on the spacer. In other words, if the force exerted by the unstable flange of the fiber fabric exceeds a predetermined reference value, a message is sent to the control unit of the winding machine to indicate that an anomaly has been observed, causing the winding machine to stop.

[0035] The present invention also provides a winding machine for winding a fibrous fabric onto an impregnation mandrel, and the machine includes a take-up mandrel and an impregnation mandrel as defined above, the take-up mandrel being used to store the fibrous fabric obtained by three-dimensional weaving. Attached Figure Description

[0036] The invention can be better understood by referring to the following description, which is given in a non-limiting manner with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0037] - Figure 1 This is a schematic side view of a machine according to the invention for winding fibrous fabric onto an impregnation mandrel, the machine being adapted to include the guiding device (not shown) of the invention;

[0038] - Figure 2 and 3 These are two partial three-dimensional schematic diagrams of the winding machine in the first embodiment of the present invention;

[0039] - Figure 4 This is a schematic perspective view of the impregnated mandrel in the second embodiment of the present invention; and

[0040] - Figure 5 and 6 These are perspective views of the impregnated mandrel and the guide device in the third embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0041] The invention is described below in its application in the manufacture of gas turbine aircraft engine fan housings. More generally, the invention is suitable for manufacturing any annular structural component for turbine engines.

[0042] An example of a method for manufacturing such a fan housing is described in document EP 1 961 923, which may be consulted.

[0043] The shell is made of a composite material comprising a dense fiber reinforcement through a matrix. The reinforcement is made of fibers, such as carbon fiber, glass fiber, aramid fiber, or ceramic fiber, while the matrix is ​​made of a polymer, such as epoxy resin, bismaleimide, or polyimide.

[0044] In short, the manufacturing method described in the above literature involves manufacturing a fibrous fabric by three-dimensional weaving and winding it along the warp direction onto a roller (hereinafter referred to as a winding mandrel), the profile of which is determined according to the profile of the shell to be manufactured.

[0045] The fibrous fabric manufactured in this way is then transferred to the mandrel of the resin injection mold (hereinafter referred to as the impregnation mandrel), the outer contour of which corresponds to the inner contour of the housing to be manufactured.

[0046] With the preform held in place of the impregnation mandrel, impregnation is then performed using resin. For this purpose, a housing is applied to the preform, and the resin is injected into a mold constructed in this manner. Impregnation can be aided by creating a pressure difference between the inside and outside of the mold in which the preform is located. After impregnation, a resin polymerization step is performed.

[0047] The present invention, and specifically the guiding device, is applicable to any type of winding machine, such as... Figure 1 As shown, the winding machine has the function of automatically transferring the fibrous fabric stored on the winding mandrel to the impregnation mandrel of the resin injection mold.

[0048] See patent application FR 2 974 026, which describes the structure and operation of such a machine in detail.

[0049] In short, the winding machine 10 includes a frame 12 that specifically supports a winding mandrel 14 and an impregnation mandrel 16 according to the invention. The mandrels 14 and 16 are removable, i.e., they can be removed from the frame 12.

[0050] The take-up mandrel 14 receives, for example, a fibrous fabric 18 obtained by three-dimensional weaving. The take-up mandrel is mounted on a horizontal shaft 20, one end of which is rotatably mounted on the frame 12 of the winding machine, while the other end of the horizontal shaft is connected to the outlet shaft of an electric motor 22, such as an AC geared motor.

[0051] The assembly consisting of the take-up mandrel 14, the shaft 20 of the take-up mandrel, and the motor 22 of the take-up mandrel can be mounted to be able to translate relative to the frame 12 along the rotation axis 20 of the take-up mandrel 14. This degree of freedom of translational movement of the take-up mandrel 14 allows the mandrel 14 to be positioned aligned with the impregnation mandrel 16 before the fibrous fabric 18 is wound onto the impregnation mandrel 16.

[0052] The impregnation mandrel 16 of the winding machine 10 is used to receive the fibrous fabric 18 stored on the take-up mandrel 14 in a stacked layer. In a known manner, the impregnation mandrel has a central annular wall 24 and two cheek plates 26a and 26b. The central annular wall has an outer surface whose profile corresponds to the profile of the inner surface of the housing to be manufactured, and the two cheek plates have profiles that correspond to the profiles of the outer flanges of the housing at its upstream and downstream ends, so that the housing can be assembled with and connected to other components.

[0053] The impregnation mandrel 16 is supported by a horizontal shaft 28, which is parallel to the rotation axis 20 of the winding mandrel 14, and one end is rotatably mounted on the frame 12 of the winding machine 10, while the other end of the horizontal shaft is connected to the outlet shaft of an electric motor 30, such as an AC electric gear motor.

[0054] A control unit, such as a computer workstation 32, is connected to the motors 22 and 30 of the two spindles 14 and 16, and this control unit is used to control and monitor the rotational speed of each spindle 14 and 16. More generally, this control unit 32 is used to control all operating parameters of the winding machine 10.

[0055] In this type of machine 10, the fiber fabric 18 is wound as a stacked layer onto the impregnated mandrel 16 while a suitable winding tension is applied to the fiber fabric 18. Specifically, the setpoint tension is predetermined according to the characteristics of the fiber fabric 18 using a computer workstation 32, and this setpoint tension is applied to the mandrel to provide torque against winding (typically the winding mandrel 14).

[0056] For example, to obtain a prefabricated shell with the required thickness, it may be necessary to wind 4 1 / 8 turns.

[0057] In this invention, the impregnation mandrel 16 has a guiding device 100 for guiding the fibrous fabric 18.

[0058] More precisely, and as Figure 2 and 3 As shown, the guide device 100 has two radial spacers 102a and 102b, which are mounted on the transverse member 104.

[0059] The first spacer 102a is configured to face the first cheek plate 26a of the impregnation mandrel 16, while the second spacer 102b is configured to face the second cheek plate 26b. The first spacer 102a is located in a plane parallel to the first cheek plate 26a, while the second spacer 102b is located in a plane parallel to the second cheek plate 26b.

[0060] Advantageously, both spacers 102a and 102b are made of These spacers are made to limit friction and contamination of fibrous fabrics. However, they can also be made of metal.

[0061] exist Figure 2 and 3 In the first embodiment shown, each of the first and second spacers 102a and 102b has the same arcuate shape to form a crescent-shaped portion.

[0062] Arc-shaped or partially ring-shaped structures are easy to make by cutting the ring into multiple segments.

[0063] When the flange formed by the edge portion 108a or 108b of the wound fiber fabric 18 has at least partially drooped onto the portion 180 of the fiber fabric 18 wound on the central annular wall 24, the crescent shape allows the flange to gradually stand up.

[0064] exist Figure 2 and 3 In the diagram, the wound portion of the fiber fabric 18 is marked as 180, which is the portion in contact with the impregnation mandrel 16, while the unwound portion of the fiber fabric 18 is marked as 181, which is the portion located between the winding mandrel 14 and the impregnation mandrel 16.

[0065] The spacer may also be rectangular in shape and positioned to extend at least partially along the portion 181 of the fibrous fabric 18 between the impregnation mandrel 16 and the winding mandrel 14.

[0066] The transverse member 104 includes an adjustment device 106 that adjusts the positions of the first and second spacers 102a and 102b. The adjustment device 106 is connected to the first spacer 102a via a first bracket 104a and to the second spacer 102b via a second bracket 104b.

[0067] The adjusting device 106 is configured to position the first spacer 102a and the second spacer 102b separately from the first cheek plate 26a and the second cheek plate 26b of the impregnation mandrel 16, so as to maintain the first portion 108a and the second portion 108b of the fibrous fabric 18 without obstructing the rotation of the impregnation mandrel 16. The first portion presses against the first cheek plate 26a and extends along the first cheek plate 26a, while the second portion presses against the second cheek plate 26b and extends along the second cheek plate 26b.

[0068] When the guide device 100 is assembled on the impregnation mandrel 16 of the winding machine 10, the first and second spacers 102a and 102b are spaced apart from the first and second cheek plates 26a and 26b, respectively. This is to prevent the edge portions 180a and 180b of the portion 180 of the fibrous fabric 18 that has been wound onto the impregnation mandrel 16 from drooping between two consecutive turns of the fibrous fabric 18 on the impregnation mandrel 16, but rather from passing under the portion 181 of the fibrous fabric 18 that is in contact with the impregnation mandrel 16, so that it can be wound.

[0069] For each of the two spacers 102a and 102b, the adjustment device 106 includes a corresponding horizontal movement module labeled 108a and 108b. Each horizontal movement module 108a, 108b is configured such that the spacers 102a, 102b associated with the horizontal movement module move in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation 28 of the impregnation mandrel 16.

[0070] Therefore, the first modules 108a and 108b are used to adjust the horizontal position of the two spacers 102a and 102b according to the inherent thickness of the fiber fabric 18 and the number of turns made of the fiber fabric 18 by the impregnated mandrel 16. Thus, the spacers 102a and 102b move horizontally according to the thickness of the flanges formed by the edge portions 180a and 180b of the wound portion 180 of the fiber fabric 18, to extend along the cheek plates 26a and 26b.

[0071] The adjustment device 106 also includes a corresponding radial motion module, labeled 110a and 110b, for each of the two spacers 102a and 102b. Each radial motion module 110a, 110b is configured such that the spacers 102a, 102b associated with the radial motion module move in a direction parallel to the plane in which the corresponding cheek plates 26a, 26b extend.

[0072] Therefore, radial motion modules 110a and 110b are used to adjust the radial positions of the two spacers 102a and 102b according to the inherent thickness of the fiber fabric 18, together with the number of turns of the impregnated mandrel 16 made of the fiber fabric 18, and also according to the shape and diameter of the impregnated mandrel 16.

[0073] Therefore, spacers 102a and 102b move radially according to the thickness of the central portion formed by the portion of the preform extending between the edge portions 180a and 180b of the portion 180 of the wound fiber fabric 18. Before winding begins, these spacers are also radially positioned according to the diameter of the cross-section of the central annular portion 24 in a plane in which these spacers 102a, 102b extend parallel to and close to the corresponding cheek plates 26a, 26b. This is done independently for each of the two spacers 102a and 102b.

[0074] While the fibrous fabric 18 is being wound onto the impregnation mandrel 16, the spacers 102a and 102b also move radially by means of the radial motion modules 110a and 110b. Thus, for each new turn, the first and second spacers 102a and 102b can move away from the central annular wall 24 of the impregnation mandrel 16 to accommodate any change in the diameter of the central annular wall 24 along the axis of rotation 28.

[0075] The guide device 100 also has an electronic control unit connected to the adjustment device 106 to automatically control the actuation of the horizontal motion modules 108a, 108b and the radial motion modules 110a, 110b according to the winding of the fiber fabric 18 on the impregnation mandrel 16.

[0076] Specifically, the electronic control unit is connected to the control unit 32 of the impregnated mandrel 16 to receive information about the number of turns of the mandrel 16.

[0077] Figure 4 This is a schematic perspective view of the impregnated mandrel 16' in the second embodiment of the present invention.

[0078] The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the guiding device, now labeled 100', has a first additional spacer 122a and a second additional spacer 122b, the first additional spacer being associated with the first spacer 102a and the second additional spacer being associated with the second spacer 102b.

[0079] Each of the two additional spacers 122a and 122b is configured to be parallel to the spacers 102a and 102b associated with the additional spacer, so as to define annular guide rail portions 130a and 130b between the spacers 102a and 102b and the additional spacers 122a and 122b.

[0080] Guide rail portions 130a, 130b are disposed around an area in which the fibrous fabric 18 contacts the second annular wall 24 of the impregnation mandrel 16. Therefore, the guide rail portions 130a, 130b are constructed and configured to receive edge portions 181a, 181b of the fibrous fabric 18 that will extend along the corresponding cheek plates 26a, 26b, while spacers 102a, 102b of the guide rail portions 130a, 130b hold at least one edge portion layer 180a, 180b of the wound fibrous fabric 18, which is pressed against the cheek plates 26a, 26b and extends along them. This allows the edge portions 181a, 181b of the portion 181 of the fibrous fabric 18 to initially be radially or vertically oriented before the fibrous fabric 18 is wound onto the impregnation mandrel 16.

[0081] The spacers 102a, 102b and additional spacers 122a, 122b of the guide rail sections 130a, 130b are fixed to each other, for example, by connecting strips, or these spacers are integrally formed from an inverted channel section. Therefore, this allows the entire guide rail section 130a, 130b to move as a whole when the adjustment device 106 is used.

[0082] Figure 5 and 6 These are schematic perspective views of the impregnated mandrel 16” and the guide device 100” in the third embodiment of the present invention, respectively.

[0083] The third embodiment differs from the second embodiment in that the guide device, now designated 100", has two guide spirals, each of which forms a complete turn around the central annular wall 24 of the impregnated mandrel 16". Each guide spiral has a first end 141a, 141b and a second end 142a, 142b, the first end forming spacers 102a, 102b, while the second end opposite the first end 141a, 141b forms additional spacers 122a, 122b. The spacers 102a, 102b and the additional spacers 122a, 122b of each spiral together form an annular guide track portion 130a, 130b.

[0084] In this embodiment, the radial motion modules 110a and 110b are each configured to operate along a certain axis and to modify the diameter of the ring formed by the helix by moving the first ends 141a and 141b toward or away from each other, while keeping the horizontal separation distance between these ends, i.e., the distance in the direction orthogonal to the plane in which the helix extends, constant.

[0085] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described. Therefore, a winding machine equipped with the impregnation mandrel of the present invention provides guidance for the flange of the forming preform, which enables the position of the flange of the fibrous fabric against the cheek plate of the impregnation mandrel to be managed immediately before receiving additional turns.

Claims

1. A guiding device (100, 100', 100'') for guiding a fibrous fabric (18) on an impregnation mandrel (16, 16', 16'') of a winding machine (10), the guiding device comprising a first radial spacer (102a), a second radial spacer (102b), and a transverse member (104), the first radial spacer being designed to face a first cheek plate (26a) of the impregnation mandrel (16, 16', 16''), the second radial spacer being designed to face a second cheek plate (26b) of the impregnation mandrel (16, 16', 16''), and the transverse member being adapted to support the first and second radial spacers. The transverse member (104) includes an adjusting device (106) for adjusting the position of the first and second radial spacers (102a, 102b) and adapted to position the first and second radial spacers (102a, 102b) separately from the first and second cheek plates (26a, 26b) of the impregnation mandrel (16, 16', 16'') to maintain the first portion (180a) and the second portion (180b) of the fibrous fabric (18) without obstructing the impregnation mandrel (16, 16', 16'') on both ends of the fibrous fabric. During rotation between consecutive turns, the first portion presses against the first cheek plate (26a) extending along the first cheek plate (26a), while the second portion presses against the second cheek plate (26b) extending along the second cheek plate (26b). For each of the first and second radial spacers (102a, 102b), the first and second radial spacers (102a, 102b) are associated with additional spacers (122a, 122b) disposed parallel to the first and second radial spacers (102a, 102b) to the first and second radial spacers (102a, 102b) and the additional spacers (122a, 122b). At least one annular guide rail portion (130a, 130b) is defined between the first and second radial spacers (102a, 102b) for receiving a portion (181a, 181b) of the coiled fibrous fabric (18) that is to extend along the corresponding cheek plates (26a, 26b), while the surfaces of the first and second radial spacers (122a, 122b) facing away from the additional spacers (122a, 122b) retain at least one layer of the coiled portion (181a, 181b) of the fibrous fabric (18) that extends along the first and second cheek plates (26a, 26b), causing it to press against the first and second cheek plates (26a, 26b).

2. The guiding device (100, 100', 100'') according to claim 1, characterized in that, For each of the first and second radial spacers (102a, 102b), the adjusting device (106) includes a first module (108a, 108b) adapted to adjust the position of the first and second radial spacers (102a, 102b) along a first direction according to the thickness of the fibrous fabric (18) and according to the number of turns made of the fibrous fabric (18) by the mandrel (16, 16', 16'').

3. The guiding device (100, 100', 100'') according to claim 1, characterized in that, For each of the first and second radial spacers (102a, 102b), the adjusting device (106) includes a second module (110a, 110b) adapted to adjust the position of the first and second radial spacers (102a, 102b) along a second direction simultaneously according to the shape and diameter of the impregnated mandrels (16, 16', 16''), the thickness of the fibrous fabric (18), and the number of turns of the mandrels (16, 16', 16'') made from the fibrous fabric (18).

4. The guiding device (100, 100', 100'') according to claim 1, characterized in that, Includes an electronic control unit adapted to control the automatic actuation of the adjustment device (106) based on the winding of the fibrous fabric (18) on the impregnation mandrel (16, 16', 16'').

5. The guiding device (100, 100', 100'') according to claim 1, characterized in that, At least one of the first and second radial spacers (102a, 102b) is made of plastic material.

6. The guiding device (100'') according to claim 1, characterized in that, It includes two guide spirals, each guide spiral being adapted to form a complete turn around the central annular wall (24) extending between the first and second cheek plates (26a, 26b) around the impregnation mandrel (16''), and each guide spiral having a first end (141a, 141b) and a second end (142a, 142b), the first end forming the first and second radial spacers (102a, 102b), and the second end opposite to the first end (141a, 141b) and forming the additional spacers (122a, 122b).

7. An impregnation mandrel (16, 16', 16'') for a winding machine (10), the impregnation mandrel being used to receive a fiber reinforcement formed by a stack of fiber fabrics (18) for manufacturing a gas turbine housing from a composite material, and the impregnation mandrel (16, 16', 16'') comprising a central annular wall (24) and first and second cheek plates (26a, 26b), the profile of the central annular wall corresponding to the profile of the housing to be manufactured, and the profiles of the first and second cheek plates (26a, 26b) corresponding to the profile of an outer flange of the housing to be manufactured, characterized in that, The mandrel includes a first radial spacer (102a), a second radial spacer (102b), and a guide device (100, 100', 100'') according to claim 1. The first radial spacer is configured to face the first cheek plate (26a), and the second radial spacer is configured to face the second cheek plate (26b). The first and second radial spacers (102a, 102b) are spaced apart from the first and second cheek plates (26a, 26b) respectively to hold the first and second portions (181a, 181b) of the fibrous fabric respectively without obstructing the rotation of the mandrel (16, 16', 16'') between two consecutive turns of the fibrous fabric. The first and second portions press against the first cheek plate (26a) and the second cheek plate (26b) respectively and extend along the first and second cheek plates (26a, 26b).

8. The impregnated mandrel (16, 16', 16'') according to claim 7, characterized in that, Includes an electronic safety unit adapted to cause the impregnation mandrel (16, 16', 16'') to stop once the force applied to the first radial spacer (102a) or the second radial spacer (102b) by the first portion (181a) and / or the second portion (181b) of the fibrous fabric (18) becomes greater than a force threshold, the first portion and / or the second portion extending along the first cheek plate (26a) or along the second cheek plate (26b), respectively.

9. A winding machine (10) for winding a fiber fabric (18) onto an impregnation mandrel (16, 16', 16''), and the winding machine comprising a take-up mandrel (14) and an impregnation mandrel (16, 16', 16'') according to claim 8, the take-up mandrel being used to store the fiber fabric (18) obtained by three-dimensional weaving.

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