FILAMENT WINDING MACHINE WITH A ROTATING CARRIER HAVING A PLURALITY OF WINDING HEADS

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a filament winding machine for winding at least one continuous fiber onto a body, in particular onto a liner for the manufacture of tanks, as well as to a method for manufacturing a fiber-reinforced part comprising the filament winding of at least one continuous fiber onto a body by means of such a machine.

[0002] Composite tanks are known for storing pressurized gas, generally having a cylindrical central portion and two end portions of decreasing section, curved outwards, conventionally called domes. In the case of type IV tanks, the tanks are formed of an inner envelope, conventionally called a liner, defining a sealed storage chamber, and a reinforcing envelope, surrounding the liner, which is obtained by filament winding of continuous fibers around the liner, the fibers preferably being pre-impregnated with a resin, generally thermosetting resin, each fiber being formed of a multitude of continuous filaments.

[0003] Filament winding is carried out by means of a filament winding machine which conventionally comprises winding means comprising at least one winding head associated with fiber storage means, and a movement system capable of rotating the liner around its longitudinal axis, and of carrying out a relative movement of the liner with respect to the winding means for winding fiber onto said liner.

[0004] It is known in particular from patent document DE 10 2010 047 361 such a machine in which the winding means comprise a winding head mounted to rotate about a horizontal axis on a fixed frame. The fibers, coming from fiber reels arranged in a creel, are guided in the form of a sheet towards the winding head, passing beforehand through an impregnation system formed by a resin bath. The movement system comprises a robot of the poly-articulated arm type carrying at its end a gripping device. The gripping device comprises a U-shaped support mounted by its base on the wrist of the robot, the liner being mounted by its ends between the two branches of the U and driven in rotation by one of its ends by a motor.

[0005] This type of machine with a robot carrying the liner makes it possible to offer a compact, simple-to-design, and low-cost filament winding machine, using standard robots, traditionally used in the automotive sector. The robot makes it possible to easily load a liner for the filament winding operation and to easily transfer the reinforced liner obtained after winding to another processing station.

[0006] Changing the fiber reels requires a machine shutdown, which significantly reduces the machine's production rates.

[0007] The aim of the present invention is to propose a winding machine allowing the manufacture of parts by winding at high speeds.

[0008] To this end, the present invention provides a filament winding machine for winding at least one continuous fiber onto a body having a main longitudinal axis, said machine comprising winding means comprising at least one winding head associated with fiber storage means, and a movement system capable of rotating a body around its longitudinal axis and of effecting a relative movement of the body with respect to the winding means for winding fiber onto said body, characterized in that the winding means comprise a rotating support or carousel, rotatably mounted around an axis of rotation, on a fixed structure, on which are mounted at least two winding systems, each winding system comprising a winding head associated with storage means, so that, by rotation of said rotating support around its axis of rotation, each winding system can be moved into an active position for winding fiber by its winding head and an inactive position in which an operator can carry out maintenance operations.

[0009] According to the invention, the winding machine comprises a carousel carrying several winding systems, so that when a winding system is in use for winding operations, maintenance operations, in particular changes of fiber reels, can be carried out in masked time on the other winding system(s). The machine according to the invention thus makes it possible to obtain high production rates. The machine according to the invention proves to be particularly advantageous for the production of high-pressure tanks, with a body constituting the liner of the tank.

[0010] According to one embodiment, the rotating support is rotatably mounted around a vertical rotation axis.

[0011] According to one embodiment, the rotating support comprises n winding systems, n being an integer greater than or equal to 2, the winding systems being arranged on the rotating support with a regular angular space equal to 360° / n.

[0012] According to one embodiment, said rotating support carries two winding systems, each movable between an active position and an inactive position, the maneuvering of each winding system between its two positions being carried out by a rotation of 180° and / or - 180° of the rotating support around its axis of rotation between two positions, a first position in which the first winding system and the second winding system are respectively in the active position and in the inactive position, and a second position in which the first winding system and the second winding system are respectively in the inactive position and in the active position.

[0013] According to one embodiment, said rotating support carries a first, second and third winding system, each movable between an active position and two inactive positions, the maneuvering of each winding system between its three positions being carried out by rotations of +120° and / or -120°, of the rotating support around its axis of rotation, between three positions a first position in which the first, second and third winding systems are respectively in an active position, a second inactive position and a first inactive position; a second position in which the first, second and third winding systems are respectively in a first inactive position, an active position, and a second active position, a third position in which the first, second and third winding systems are respectively in a second inactive position, a first inactive position, and an active position, at least one of the two inactive positions of each winding system, preferably the two inactive positions, correspond to maintenance positions in which an operator can carry out maintenance operations.

[0014] According to another embodiment, the rotating support is rotatably mounted around a horizontal rotation axis.

[0015] According to one embodiment, each winding head comprises a guide member, such as an eyelet or one or more rollers or pulleys, preferably pivotally mounted on said support rotating around an axis of rotation, preferably horizontal, each winding system comprising a motor capable of pivoting its guide member around its axis of rotation.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the storage means of each winding system comprise mandrels mounted on a support structure, each mandrel being capable of carrying a reel of fiber, and is associated with a tension regulation system, each winding system comprising guide means capable of guiding the fibers from the mandrels towards the winding head to form a sheet of fibers at the head.

[0017] According to one embodiment, each winding system comprises several winding heads, for example two or three winding heads, each associated with fiber storage means, for example arranged one above the other with the rotation axes arranged in the same vertical plane, the machine then preferably comprising a movement system capable of rotating several bodies, the number of which corresponds to the number of winding heads of each winding system, and of carrying out a relative movement of the bodies with respect to the winding means for the simultaneous winding of fiber on said bodies.

[0018] According to one embodiment, the movement system comprises a first polyarticulated robot and a second polyarticulated robot capable of carrying said body by its ends, such that the body is rotatably mounted about its longitudinal axis of rotation by a first end to the first polyarticulated robot and by a second end to the second polyarticulated robot, at least one of the two polyarticulated robots being equipped with a drive motor for driving said body in rotation about its longitudinal axis. Such a two-robot movement system makes it possible to carry bodies of large dimensions while guaranteeing significant movement speeds and accelerations and therefore high production rates, as well as a reasonable cost both in terms of equipment and installation. Furthermore, such a movement system allows precise movement in the three dimensions of the body resulting in good winding quality.The machine is particularly advantageous for the production of high-pressure tanks, with a body constituting the tank liner.

[0019] According to one embodiment, each polyarticulated robot is equipped with a mounting device comprising a support plate assembled to the end wrist of the polyarticulated robot and carrying a clamping chuck, preferably automatic, capable of clamping a tubular end of a body, the clamping chuck of the first and / or second polyarticulated robot being connected to a drive motor for driving the body in rotation around its longitudinal axis.

[0020] According to one embodiment, at least one of the two mandrels is mounted on its support plate with one or more degrees of freedom to avoid any problem of hyperstaticism when the body is assembled to the two mounting devices.

[0021] According to one embodiment, each clamping chuck is mounted on the support plate so that the longitudinal axis of the clamping chuck is arranged perpendicular to the last axis of rotation of the wrist of the polyarticulated robot, the mounting devices thus being able to carry a body so that the longitudinal axis of the body is arranged perpendicular to the last axes of the polyarticulated robots. This type of mounting allows optimized three-dimensional movement of the body for filament winding operations, and for picking up and removing the body opposite the winding means relative to the robot.

[0022] According to one embodiment, the clamping chucks of the first and second poly-articulated robots are each connected to a drive motor for driving the body in rotation around its longitudinal axis. The motorization of each clamping chuck makes it possible, in the case of liner, to avoid twisting of the liner during winding operations.

[0023] According to another embodiment, when each winding system comprises several winding heads, as described previously, the movement system is capable of carrying several bodies, of each polyarticulated robot comprising a plate with a second plate on which several clamping mandrels are mounted one above the other, each body being assembled by one end to a clamping mandrel of the first polyarticulated robot and to a clamping mandrel of the second polyarticulated robot.

[0024] According to one embodiment, the movement system comprises a first polyarticulated robot and a second polyarticulated robot each formed of a 6-axis type robot. Such 6-axis robots ensure optimal movement of the body for winding and for picking up and placing the body opposite the winding means relative to the robot.

[0025] According to one embodiment, the first polyarticulated robot and the second polyarticulated robot are mounted to slide by their base on a rail, so as to be able to adapt the center distance between the two robots, in particular between their first vertical axes of rotation, to the length of the body.

[0026] According to one embodiment, the winding means are arranged on a first side of the movement system, the machine further comprising a loading and unloading bench arranged on the second side of the movement system which is opposite the winding means, from which the movement system is able to grip a body and on which said movement system is able to deposit a body, said bench preferably being able to receive at least two bodies.

[0027] The present invention also relates to a filament winding installation characterized in that it comprises several machines as described above, arranged side by side, and a transfer system comprising a polyarticulated robot mounted mobile in translation on a rail, and equipped with a gripping device capable of gripping a body from the loading and unloading benches of the winding machines and of depositing a body on said loading and unloading benches, said transfer system preferably further comprising an input bench and an output bench, said rail being arranged on the side of the loading and unloading benches of the winding machines which is opposite the movement systems of the winding machines,

[0028] The present invention also relates to a method for manufacturing a fiber-reinforced part comprising the filament winding of at least one continuous fiber onto a body, characterized in that the filament winding is carried out by means of a filament winding machine or an installation, as described previously.

[0029] According to one embodiment of the method, for producing a fiber-reinforced part such as a high-pressure tank, the body constitutes a liner, the fiber-reinforced part being formed from the liner and the fiber winding, the liner preferably comprises a substantially cylindrical central portion and first and second domed end portions in the shape of domes, said liner being equipped at the end with a pin for mounting it at the ends of the two polyarticulated robots.

[0030] In another embodiment, the body constitutes a mandrel, the fiber-reinforced part being formed from the fiber winding.

[0031] The invention will be better understood, and other objects, details, characteristics and advantages will appear more clearly during the following detailed explanatory description of two particular currently preferred embodiments of the invention, with reference to the appended schematic drawings, in which: there Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a filament winding machine according to the invention, during the operation of winding fibers onto a body carried by the two robots; Figure 2 is a perspective view similar to that of the figure 1 , during a body unloading operation; Figure 3 is a top view of the machine of the figure 1 ; there Figure 4 is a side view of the machine from the figure 1 ; there Figure 5 is a schematic top view of an installation comprising several filament winding machines; the Figure 6 is a schematic perspective view of a filament winding machine according to a second embodiment of the invention; and the Figure 7 and the Figure 8 are respectively a top view and a side view of the machine of the figure 6 .

[0032] In reference to the figures 1 à 4 , the filament winding machine 1 according to the invention is used here for winding several fibers in the form of a sheet on a body formed from a liner 9 for the production of tanks. The liner has a main longitudinal axis A and comprises a cylindrical central portion and two end domes equipped with mounting pins 91.

[0033] The winding machine comprises winding means 2, a movement system 3 carrying the liner 9, and a loading and unloading bench or station 4.

[0034] The winding means 2 comprise a first winding system 20a and a second winding system 20b mounted on a rotating support or carousel 23. The carousel 23 is rotatably mounted about a vertical axis of rotation B on a frame 24 fixed to the ground, and is capable of being driven in rotation by a motor 25 controlled by a control unit of the machine. The two winding systems 20a, 20b are arranged on either side of a first plane P1 ( Fig. 3 ) vertical passing through the axis B. Each winding system comprises a winding head associated with fiber storage means.

[0035] The first winding system 20a, arranged on a first side of the plane P1 of the carousel, comprises a first winding head 21a associated with first storage means 22a. The first winding head comprises a guide member formed here by a depositing roller mounted rotatably about a horizontal axis C on a first support 26a fixed to the carousel, said first support 26a extending from the plane P1 to move the winding head away from said plane P1. The first storage means 22a comprise mandrels for receiving reels of continuous fibers. The machine is provided here to allow the winding of a sheet formed of 8 fibers, the first storage means thus comprise eight mandrels. The mandrels are mounted on a support frame 27 fixed to the carousel, substantially along the plane P1.The first winding system further comprises first guide means (not shown), known per se, for guiding the fibers unwound from the spools to the guide member in the form of a sheet in which the fibers are substantially arranged edge to edge. The first winding system comprises a tension regulation system 28a for regulating the tension of each fiber of the sheet, comprising first tension regulation motors associated with said first mandrels, these first motors being positioned on the second side of the carousel. The first winding head 21a is further away from the plane P1 than the mandrels 22a to free up a space between the first head and the plane P1 allowing the fibers to be guided in the form of a sheet to the guide member.

[0036] The machine can be used with reels of fibers pre-impregnated with resin. When the reels of fibers are provided with a support film, the storage means can comprise rewinding mandrels for rewinding the support film onto a roll as the reel of fiber unwinds. The machine can also be used with reels of dry fiber, the first winding system then being equipped with a resin application system for applying resin in-line to the fibers during the winding operation. The impregnation system comprises, for example, a resin impregnation bath arranged in the space between the plane P1 and the first winding head, for a so-called wet winding process.

[0037] The second winding system 20b is identical to the first winding system 20a, and comprises a second winding head 21b pivotally mounted about a horizontal axis C on a second support 26b, second storage means 22b comprising second mandrels associated with second tension regulating motors 28b, guide means (not shown), and possibly a resin application system. The second mandrels are mounted on the same support frame 27, the second tension regulating motors 28b being positioned on the first side of the carousel.

[0038] In the present embodiment, the first winding head and the second winding head are arranged on either side of a plane P2 passing through the axis B, and perpendicular to the plane P1, the heads being arranged between the plane P2 and their respective storage means.

[0039] The movement system 3 comprises two poly-articulated arms or robots 30a, 30b for carrying the liner, the poly-articulated robots being equipped at the end with a mounting device 33 for mounting the liner by its end pins 91 to the two poly-articulated robots.

[0040] Each poly-articulated robot is of the six-axis robot type, known per se, mounted fixed to the ground, a mounting device 33 being assembled to the end wrist 32 of the poly-articulated robot. With reference to the figure 1 , each poly-articulated robot, comprises different sections 31a-31g mounted pivoting to each other around axes of rotation D1-D6, the first section or base 31a being fixed to the ground, the second section 31b being mounted movably on the base 31a around a vertical axis D1, the end section 31g forms an assembly plate for the assembly of the assembly device according to the last axis of rotation D6, also called assembly axis. The last three sections 31e, 31f, and 31g constitute the end wrist 32 of the robot mounted rotatably around the axis D4.

[0041] The mounting device 33 comprises an L-shaped support plate comprising a first plate 34a by which the device is mounted to the wrist 32 and a second plate 34b, perpendicular to the first plate, carrying a clamping chuck 35, for example a lathe chuck, known per se, with three jaws, with automatic clamping, for example of the pneumatic type, making it possible to automatically clamp and unclamp the spindle of a liner. The clamping chuck mounted on the second plate has a chuck axis perpendicular to the last axis D6 of the robot. The clamping chuck 35 is connected to a drive motor 36a, 36b, arranged under the first plate 34a of the plate and controlled by the control unit of the machine, for driving the liner in rotation around its axis A.Preferably, the first robot 30a comprises a first master drive motor, driven by the control unit, and the second robot 30b comprises a second slave drive motor, synchronized with the master drive motor.

[0042] The two poly-articulated robots are fixed to the ground, one next to the other. In reference to the figure 3 , the carousel 23 carrying the two winding systems is arranged on a first side of the plane referenced P3 passing through the first axes D1 of the robots. In this embodiment, the axis B is arranged in the median vertical plane P4 which is arranged equidistant from the axes D1, perpendicular to the plane P3.

[0043] The loading and unloading bench 4 is arranged opposite the carousel with respect to the two poly-articulated robots, on the second side of the plane P3. The bench comprises a structure placed or fixed to the ground and can receive two liners, with the axes B of the liners arranged parallel to the plane P3, the structure comprising for each liner two reception systems 41a, 41b on which a liner can be placed by its end pins.

[0044] The carousel can be moved between two positions by a rotation of +180° or -180° around its axis B. In a first position of the carousel illustrated in figures 1 , 3 And 4, the first winding system 20a is in an active position, its head can be used for filament winding operations on a liner carried by the two poly-articulated robots. The second winding system 20b is in an inactive position corresponding to a maintenance position. In this position of the carousel, the plane P1 is parallel to the plane P3, the planes P2 and P4 being merged.

[0045] The winding operation is carried out by the machine control unit which drives the two poly-articulated robots along programmed trajectories to move the liner relative to the winding head 20a, as well as the drive motors 36a, 36b for rotating the liner around its axis A, and the motor for rotating the head 20a around its rotation axis C.

[0046] During winding operations with the first winding system, an operator can safely perform maintenance operations on the second winding system in the maintenance position. The operator can, in particular, replace the reels of the second winding system, and pass the fibers of the new reels through the guide means to the guide member. The operator can also perform cleaning and / or replacement operations of rollers and / or rollers of the second head and / or the guide means, and / or operations on the resin application system.

[0047] When it is necessary to change the reels of the first winding system, the carousel is brought into its second position, by rotating 180° around its axis C, by driving the motor 25 via the machine control unit. In this second position, the second winding system 20b is in the active position to allow winding operations to be carried out via its winding head 21b, while the first winding system is in the maintenance position for maintenance operations, in particular changing reels.

[0048] At the end of the filament winding operation of a liner, the liner is moved by the two poly-articulated robots to the side of the P3 plane opposite the winding system, to place the liner on the receiving systems of the bench as illustrated in figure 2 The automatic clamping chucks 35 of the mounting devices are then driven to loosen the spindles, and the poly-articulated robots are driven to move the clamping chucks in an outward translational movement, parallel to the axis A of the liner, and thus release the spindles from the clamping chucks 35. The poly-articulated robots can then be driven to grip a new liner placed on the bench and tilt it in front of the winding system for a new winding operation.

[0049] As shown in the figure 3 , the machine advantageously comprises a safety enclosure 5, comprising a barrier 51 surrounding the poly-articulated robots 30a, 30b and the winding means 2, with a first door 52 for accessing the first zone 53 in which the robots and the winding system are positioned in the active position, and a second door 54 for accessing a second zone 55 in which the winding system is positioned in the maintenance position. The barrier surrounds the winding means, as close as possible to the support frame, while allowing the rotation of the carousel, so that an operator accessing the winding system in the maintenance position in the first zone through the second door cannot access the winding system in the active position in the first zone. The barrier portion 51a between the robots and the bench 4 has a reduced height to allow the liner to be loaded from the bench and the liner to be unloaded onto the bench with the robots.

[0050] According to another embodiment, the carousel and the poly-articulated robots are arranged on the ground by offsetting the axis B relative to the plane P4, so that the head of the winding system in the active position is arranged along the plane P4, its axis C of rotation arranged along the plane P4.

[0051] According to another embodiment, the two winding systems are arranged symmetrically on the carousel on either side of the plane P1, the axes C of rotation of the two winding systems being merged.

[0052] According to one embodiment, the two poly-articulated robots are mounted to slide by their base on a rail, so as to be able to adapt the center distance between the axes D1 of the robots according to the length of the liners, the center distance preferably being fixed during winding operations, by locking the bases of the robots in position on the rail.

[0053] Advantageously, the first winding system and the second winding system each comprise an automatic attachment device, making it possible to automatically attach the fiber or the sheet of fibers to the body without manual intervention at the start of filament winding, and an automatic cutting device, making it possible to automatically cut the fiber or the sheet of fibers at the end of winding.

[0054] There figure 5 illustrates a winding installation comprising two winding machines 1a, 1b as described above, each comprising a two-robot movement system 3a, 3b, winding means 2a, 2b comprising a carousel carrying two winding systems, a loading and unloading bench 4a, 4b. the two machines 1a, 1b are arranged side by side, the planes P3 of the machines being merged. The installation further comprises a transfer system 6, comprising a poly-articulated robot, called a transfer robot 61, of the 6-axis robot type, mounted on a linear rail 62 arranged parallel to the plane P3, on the side of the benches 4a, 4b which is opposite the poly-articulated robots of the winding machines. The transfer robot is equipped at its wrist with a gripping device 63 capable of automatically gripping liners by their end pins.The installation further comprises a first input bench 64 at a first end of the rail, intended to receive liners, and a second output bench 65, intended to receive the reinforced liners, obtained after the filament winding operation. The input and output benches are for example identical to the benches 4a, 4b of the winding machines, and can receive two liners. The transfer robot is used to pick up liners from the input bench and place them on the benches of the winding machines, and pick up reinforced liners from the benches of the winding machines to place them on the output bench. This installation makes it possible to efficiently manage the flows of liners, and reinforced liners, and to obtain high production rates.

[0055] THE figures 6 à 8 illustrate a filament winding machine 101 according to a second embodiment comprising winding means 102, a movement system 103 carrying the liner 9, and a loading and unloading bench 104.

[0056] The winding means 102 here comprise three winding systems mounted on a rotating support or carousel 123, namely a first, second and third winding systems referenced respectively 120a, 120b and 120c. The carousel 123 is rotatably mounted about a vertical rotation axis B' on a frame 124 fixed to the ground, and is capable of being driven in rotation by a motor (not shown) controlled by a control unit of the machine. The carousel comprises a triangular support structure 127 defining three lateral faces arranged at 120° from each other, a winding system is mounted on each face. Each winding system comprises a winding head 121a-c associated with fiber storage means 122a-c.Each winding head comprises a guide member formed here by several sets of pulleys, an intermediate roller and a final deposit roller, all mounted on an arm, said arm being rotatably mounted about a horizontal axis C' on a support 126 fixed on the carousel, said support extending outwards from one face, the axes C' being arranged at 120° from each other. Each fiber passes one over the pulley of each set, then over the intermediate roller and the final deposit roller. In the illustrated embodiment, the winding heads are centered on the faces, and extend radially outwards, the axes C' passing through the axis B'. According to another embodiment, the heads are offset on one side of a lateral face of the support structure. For each winding system, the storage means comprise mandrels for receiving continuous fiber reels. The mandrels are mounted on a support plate assembled to one face.Each mandrel is associated with a tension regulating motor 128. Guide means, formed of rollers 171, 172, make it possible to guide the fibers unwound from the reels towards the guide member, the fibers being at the level of the final laying roller in the form of a sheet in which the fibers are substantially arranged edge to edge. Each winding system here comprises a resin application system 173 formed by a resin impregnation bath arranged in the space between the plane P1 and the winding head.

[0057] The movement system 103 comprises a poly-articulated robot 130 for carrying the liner 9, the wrist of the poly-articulated robot being equipped at the end with a gripping device 133 for carrying the liner by its end pins. The poly-articulated robot is here a six-axis robot fixed to the ground by its base. The gripping device 133 comprises a beam 137 assembled to the wrist carrying on the side opposite the wrist two L-shaped support plates 134. Each plate comprises a first plate by which it is mounted to the beam and a second plate, perpendicular to the first carrying a clamping mandrel 135, similar to that described previously, making it possible to automatically tighten and loosen the pin of a liner, the mandrel axes being arranged parallel to the beam, perpendicular to the last axis D6 of the robot. The two plates are spaced apart from each other along the beam.Advantageously, at least one of the plates, preferably both plates, are slidably mounted by their first plate on the beam to be able to adapt their spacing to the length of the liner, and to allow automatic gripping and installation of the liners. The translational movement of each plate on the beam is ensured by a motor controlled by the control unit of the machine. One of the two mandrels 135 is connected to a drive motor 136 controlled by the control unit of the machine, for driving the liner in rotation around its axis A. Alternatively, each mandrel is connected to a drive motor.

[0058] The bench 104, arranged opposite the carousel with respect to the polyarticulated robot, can receive two liners, and comprises for each liner two reception systems 41a, 41b, formed here of forks, the positioning of which on the bench can be adapted to the length of the liners, as illustrated in the figure 6 .

[0059] The carousel can be moved between three positions by rotations of +120° or -120° around its B' axis to move each movement system between an active position and two inactive positions. In a first position of the carousel illustrated in figures 6 à 8 , the first winding system 120a is in an active position, its head can be used for filament winding operations on a liner carried by the poly-articulated robot. The second winding system 120b and the third winding system 120c are respectively in a second inactive position, and a first inactive position in which maintenance operations, as described previously, can be carried out.

[0060] A rotation of +120° (clockwise) allows the carousel to be brought into a second position in which the first, second and third winding systems are respectively in the first inactive position, in the active position, and in the second inactive position.

[0061] A further rotation of +120° allows the carousel to be brought into a third position in which the first, second and third winding systems are respectively in the second inactive position, the first inactive position and the active position.

[0062] The winding systems can be used for winding operations one after the other, by successive rotation of 120°, the winding systems being able to be reloaded with new reels when positioned in the first inactive position and / or in the second inactive position.

[0063] In another mode of use, the machine is used to perform a carbon fiber winding on the liner and then a final fiberglass winding. The first winding system and the second winding system are for example used to perform carbon fiber winding operations, while the third system is used for fiberglass winding operations.

Claims

1. Filament winding machine (1, 101) for winding at least one continuous fiber onto a body (9) having a main longitudinal axis (A), said machine comprising - winding means (2, 102) comprising at least one winding head associated with fiber storage means, and - a displacement system (3, 103) able to rotate a body (9) around its longitudinal axis (A) and to perform a relative displacement of the body with respect to the winding means for winding fiber onto said body, characterized in that the winding means (2, 102) comprise a rotating support (23, 123), mounted rotatably around a rotation axis (B, B'), on which are mounted at least two winding systems (20a, 20b; 120a, 120b, 120c), each winding system comprising a winding head (21a, 21b; 121a, 12b, 121c) associated with storage means (22a, 22b ; 122a, 122b, 122c ), so that, by rotation of said rotating support around its rotation axis (B, B'), each winding system can be moved into an active position for fiber winding via its winding head and an inactive position in which an operator can perform maintenance operations.

2. Filament winding machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the rotating support (23, 123) is mounted rotatably around a vertical rotation axis (B, B').

3. Machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said rotating support (23) carries two winding systems (20a, 20b), each movable between an active position and an inactive position, the maneuvering of each winding system between its two positions being achieved by a 180° and / or -180° rotation of the rotating support around its rotation axis (23) between two positions.

4. Machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said rotating support carries a first, second and third winding system (120a, 120b, 120c), each movable between an active position and two inactive positions, the maneuvering of each winding system between its three positions being achieved by +120° and / or -120° rotations of the rotating support around its rotation axis (B'), between three positions.

5. Machine according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that each winding head (21a, 21b; 121a, 12b, 121c) comprises a guide member pivotally mounted on said rotating support (23, 123) around a horizontal rotation axis (C, C'), each winding system comprising a motor able to pivot its guide member around its rotation axis.

6. Machine according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the displacement system (3) comprises a first polyarticulated robot (30a) and a second polyarticulated robot (30b) able to carry said body by its ends, so that the body is rotatably mounted around its longitudinal rotation axis (A) by a first end to the first polyarticulated robot (30a) and by a second end to the second polyarticulated robot, at least one of the two polyarticulated robots being equipped with a drive motor (36a, 36b) for rotating said body around its longitudinal axis.

7. Machine according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the winding means (2, 102) are arranged on a first side of the displacement system (3, 103), the machine further comprising a loading and unloading bench (4, 104) arranged on the second side of the displacement system which is opposite to the winding means, from which the displacement system is able to grip a body and onto which said displacement system is able to deposit a body.

8. Filament winding installation characterized in that it comprises several machines according to claim 7, arranged side by side, and a transfer system (6) comprising a polyarticulated robot mounted mobile in translation on a rail (62), and equipped with a gripping device (63) able to grip a body from the loading and unloading benches of the winding machines and to deposit a body on said loading and unloading benches.

9. Method for manufacturing a fiber-reinforced part comprising filament winding of at least one continuous fiber onto a body, characterized in that the filament winding is carried out by means of a filament winding machine according to one of claims 1 to 7 or an installation according to claim 8.

10. Method according to claim 9, for producing a fiber-reinforced part such as a high-pressure vessel, characterized in that the body constitutes a liner, the fiber-reinforced part being formed by the liner and the fiber winding.