Tooling for winding a fibrous texture and associated winding process

Abstract

Tooling for winding a fibrous texture and associated winding method. The present invention relates to tooling (100) for winding a fibrous texture around a winding support (120) and for reducing wrinkling of the texture obtained after compaction. The tooling is specially adapted for winding a large texture with significant mass, and includes in particular a connecting bar for connecting to a winding machine, and a frame attached to the winding support to provide rigidity. Figure for the abstract: Fig. 4.

Description

Title of the invention: Tooling for winding a fibrous texture and associated winding method. Technical field

[0001] The present description relates to tooling for winding a fibrous texture, obtained in particular by three-dimensional weaving, in order to obtain a fibrous preform of a part made of composite material, as well as an associated winding process. The invention is applicable to the manufacture of parts useful in various fields and of various shapes, in particular to the manufacture of aircraft parts, such as landing gear or turbomachine components. Previous technique

[0002] The manufacturing of composite material parts by winding a fibrous texture around a shape and subsequently introducing a matrix material into the texture's porosity is known. Upon exiting the loom, the fibrous texture is "loose," meaning it has a significant free volume of porosity not occupied by fibers. Loose fibrous textures generally have a fiber volume fraction that is lower than the desired fiber volume fraction in the final part. Therefore, the wound texture is compacted to reduce the thickness of each layer and thus increase the fiber volume fraction to the desired value.Nevertheless, excess lengths of the texture are generated during compaction, which lead to texture wrinkling (also called local buckling defects) during shaping in an injection mold. These wrinkling defects can degrade the part's strength under load during operation. An illustration of the excess lengths produced during compaction is provided in Figures 1 and 2. Figure 1 concerns the case where the wrapped texture 1 has a locally circular geometry. According to this configuration, the layers wrapped 3a-3n around the shape F receive, during compaction represented by the arrows C, an excess length that increases the further the layer is located towards the outside of the wrap. This difference is explained by the increase in the perimeter of the layers as they are wrapped. Thus, the excess length Sn generated for the outermost layer 3n is maximal. Figure 12] illustrates, for its part, the generation of excess lengths in a rolled preform 1 having a locally rectilinear shape. On this rectilinear part, each rolled layer 3a-3n receives an identical excess length during compaction C which changes it from a length L1 to a length L2 greater than LL.

[0003] Document WO 2023 / 031541 proposes a solution for reducing, or even eliminating, the presence of folding defects in the compacted texture intended to form the The part to be produced is reinforced with fibrous material. The end regions of the tooling are brought together as the material is wound, i.e., at each turn or fraction thereof of the fibrous texture. This allows the perimeter of each wound layer to be adjusted to a predetermined value, compensating for any excess length generated between the layers during compaction at the end regions. After compaction, the end regions are separated to tension the winding and eliminate creases, and then the central region of the winding is compacted. This solution provides satisfactory results but can be improved to facilitate the processing of large-dimension, heavy textures (typically several tens of kilograms). Description of the invention

[0004] The present description relates to tooling for winding a fibrous texture, comprising at least: - a frame, - a winding support attached to the frame and on which the fibrous texture is intended to be wound around a first winding axis, the winding support having at least two end regions spaced along a second axis transverse to the first axis, - a displacement device configured to modify the shape of the winding support between a retracted and an extended configuration by moving the end regions relative to the frame so as to bring them closer together or further apart along the second axis, - a connecting bar, fixed to the frame, extending along the first axis, the connecting bar being configured to be removably connected to a rotation system for a winding machine so as to rotate the tooling around the first axis and thus wind the fibrous texture onto the winding support, and - compaction wedges suitable for compacting the winding support, each end region being delimited by positioning elements between which the fibrous texture is intended to be wound, the positioning elements being configured to cooperate with at least one of the compaction wedges so as to position it on the associated end region to perform compaction, at least part of these positioning elements being removable from the end regions.

[0005] The tooling according to the invention makes it possible to greatly reduce, or even eliminate, pleating defects while being specially adapted to the winding of a texture The fiber is large and of significant mass. The connecting bar links the winding machine to support the weight of the tooling and the texture, controls the tooling's rotation, and enables winding. The frame, integral to the winding support, provides structural rigidity to ensure proper parallelism of the winding ends and maintain the winding length. The removable positioning elements used for placing the compaction wedges allow the winding to be removed from the support by pulling parallel to the first axis, without altering its geometry, once the texture has been compacted by the wedges, dried (rigid and non-deformable state), and the connecting bar is disconnected from the winding machine.

[0006] In one embodiment, the tooling further includes internal wedges configured to be juxtaposed along the second axis between the end regions, when the winding support is in extended configuration, so as to form a counter-mold on which the winding is intended to be compacted by the compaction wedges, each internal wedge including a guide element configured to cooperate with a guide element of a neighboring wedge so as to control its relative positioning with respect to it.

[0007] The implementation of juxtaposed internal wedges equipped with guiding elements to control their relative positioning makes it possible to further improve the accuracy of the shape obtained after compaction.

[0008] In one embodiment, the tooling further includes a second displacement device configured to move at least one end region away from the frame by moving it transversely to the second axis when the winding support is in extended configuration.

[0009] Such a feature is of particular interest in the manufacture of landing gear braces, which have clevises of varying widths. Actuating the second displacement device advantageously allows a shear stress to be applied to the winding before its compaction in the central region. The shaped winding is then cut into elementary windings, each intended to form a lateral part of the brace. The shearing ensures that the main fibers, for example warp fibers, are continuous on both belts (lateral parts) of the part, thus guaranteeing maximum tensile strength. If the cutting were performed before shearing, the subsequent shearing of each of the cut elements could lead to undesirable geometric deviations and an increase in manufacturing time.

[0010] In one embodiment, the tooling further comprises a second frame integral with the winding support located on the opposite side to the first frame along the first axis, the end regions being movable relative to each frame by actuation of the displacement device, the tooling further comprising a second connecting bar attached to the second frame, identical or distinct from the first connecting bar, each connecting bar extending along the first axis and being configured to be connected, in a removable manner, to the rotation system of the winding machine.

[0011] The second frame provides additional rigidity and allows the center-to-center distance of the end regions on both sides to be varied to avoid overhang. Naturally, in this case, at least one of the frames is removably connected to the winding support to allow the preform to be removed. The invention remains within the scope of the tooling if it comprises only one frame, as will be detailed below with reference to the figures.

[0012] In one embodiment, the winding support is removably connected to each frame.

[0013] Such a feature advantageously makes the winding part with preform and its compaction removable from the structural part for handling, moving and drying a less bulky and lighter tooling.

[0014] In one embodiment, each positioning element defines several protruding reliefs from the associated end region, each of these reliefs being configured to cooperate with a respective compaction wedge.

[0015] This feature allows the application of pressure to be segmented on each end region on several compaction wedges so as to better control the directions of application of the compaction force and thus neutralize even more folding when passing into the extended configuration.

[0016] The present disclosure also relates to a method for manufacturing a fibrous preform using tooling as described above, comprising at least: - winding the fibrous texture onto the winding support around the first winding axis, progressively reducing the distance between the end regions along the second axis to predetermined values ​​during winding until the winding support is in the retracted configuration, the connecting bar being linked to the rotation system of the winding machine and the texture being wound by rotating the tooling around the first axis by rotating the connecting bar through the rotation system, - a first compaction of the winding in the end regions, with the support in the retracted configuration, by first compaction wedges positioned on the positioning elements, - the transition of the winding support from the retracted configuration to the extended configuration, after the first compaction, by increasing the distance between the end regions along the second axis so as to tension the winding in a central region located between the end regions, - a second compaction of the winding in the central region by second compaction wedges with the support in extended configuration, and - the removal of the fibrous preform obtained following the second compaction after removal of the compaction wedges and removable positioning elements.

[0017] In one embodiment, the internal wedges are juxtaposed along the second axis between the end regions when the winding support is in extended configuration before the second compaction, and the winding is taken, during the second compaction, between the second compaction wedges and the counter-mold formed by the internal wedges thus juxtaposed.

[0018] In one embodiment, at least one of the end regions is moved away from the frame by actuation of the second displacement device when the winding support is in extended configuration and before the second compaction, so as to deform the winding by application of a shear stress, and the winding thus deformed undergoes the second compaction and is cut along the second axis into a plurality of elementary windings forming several fibrous preforms which are then removed from the tooling.

[0019] According to one variant, the texture is wound by rotating the tooling around the first axis by rotating the first and second connecting bars by the winding machine's rotation system.

[0020] In one embodiment, the fibrous texture is obtained by three-dimensional weaving.

[0021] The present description also relates to a method for manufacturing a part made of composite material comprising at least: - the manufacture of at least one fibrous preform by implementing a process as described above, and - the formation of a matrix in a porosity of said at least one fibrous preform thus manufactured.

[0022] The matrix can typically be formed by introducing a matrix material into the porosity of the fibrous preform and then curing the matrix material. Alternatively, a resin can be injected into the porosity of the fibrous preform and crosslinked to obtain the matrix. The resulting part can be made of an organic matrix composite material.

[0023] In one embodiment, the fibrous preform forms part of a belt, and a fibrous assembly is formed by positioning this belt part on a preform fibrous core so as to define a loop around the latter, the fibrous assembly thus formed having, at its longitudinal ends, free spaces intended for articulation with other parts, and the matrix is ​​formed in the porosity of said fibrous assembly.

[0024] In one embodiment, the part is a landing gear strut, part of a landing gear strut or a brake bar. Brief description of the drawings [Fig.1] Fig.1 illustrates schematically the generation of excess lengths during the compaction of a winding of fibrous texture layers having a local circular shape. [Fig.2] Fig.2 schematically illustrates the generation of excess lengths during the compaction of a winding of fibrous texture layers having a local rectilinear shape. [Fig.3] Fig.3 illustrates a succession of steps of an example of a manufacturing process for a part made of composite material according to the invention. [Fig.4] Fig.4 represents part of an example of tooling for winding a fibrous texture according to the invention. [Fig.5] The [Fig.5] is a photograph of an example of tooling according to the invention during the winding of a fibrous texture. [Fig. 6] Figure 6 schematically and partially represents the tooling of the [Fig.4] with the winding support in retracted configuration after winding. [Fig.7] Fig.7 represents, schematically and partially, the tooling of [Fig.4] with the winding support in retracted configuration and following the first compaction. [Fig.8] Fig.8 represents, schematically and partially, the tooling of Fig.4 with the winding support in extended configuration before the second compaction. [Fig.9] Fig.9 represents some details of the tooling of Fig.8. [Fig. 10] The [Fig. 10] represents an internal wedge, taken in isolation, implemented in the tooling of figures 8 and 9. [Fig.l 1] The [Fig.l 1] represents the tooling of the [Fig.9] during the second compaction. [Fig. 12] The [Fig. 12] represents an example of a "core-belt" fibrous assembly that can be obtained within the framework of the invention. [Fig. 13] The [Fig. 13] represents, schematically and partially, a succession of steps of a variant of the process according to the invention. [Fig. 14] The [Fig. 14] represents, schematically and partially, a variant of tooling according to the invention. Description of the implementation methods

[0025] The invention is now described by means of figures, which are provided for descriptive purposes to illustrate certain embodiments of the invention and which should not be interpreted as limiting the latter.

[0026] Figure 3 schematically illustrates a sequence of steps in an example of a process according to the invention. The fibrous texture is first obtained by techniques known per se (step E10). The fibrous texture can, for example, be formed by three-dimensional weaving. The fibrous texture can be made of carbon fibers.

[0027] The texture is then wound using a tool according to the invention (step E20). Figure 4 illustrates part of an example of a tool according to the invention.

[0028] The tooling 100 includes a frame 110 and a winding support 120 on which the texture (not shown in [Fig.4]) is intended to be wound and which is attached to the frame 110. The texture is intended to be wound around a first winding axis XI.

[0029] The support 120 here comprises two end regions 122 which are spaced along a second transverse axis X2, for example perpendicular, to the first axis XL. The second axis X2 may correspond to a longitudinal axis of the support 120. Each end region 122 is delimited by positioning elements 124 between which the texture is intended to be wrapped and which are intended to cooperate with compaction wedges as will be detailed below. The elements 124 of a given region 122 are spaced along a transverse direction, for example perpendicular, to the second axis X2. This direction may correspond to the elongation direction of the region 122 under consideration, or to the direction along the width of the support 120. In the example illustrated in [Fig.[4], each region 122 has a first end 1221 equipped with a first element 124 in contact with the frame 110 and a second end 1222, opposite the first end 1221, equipped with a second element 124. In the example considered here, the second end 1222 corresponds to a free end and is in particular not in contact with a structural part of the tooling. The invention is not, however, limited to such an arrangement as will be described below in connection with [Fig. 14].

[0030] The regions 122 are movable in translation relative to the frame 110 so as to move them closer together or further apart along the second axis X2. The possibility of moving the regions 122 is indicated by the arrows DD in [Fig. 4]. The tooling is equipped with a displacement device configured to change the shape of the support 120 between a retracted and an extended configuration. by moving the regions 122 relative to the frame 110 so as to bring them closer together or further apart along the second axis X2. In the illustrated example, the frame 110 may include two guides 112 generally extending along the second axis X2. Each region 122 is extended at the level of the frame 110 by a through bar 115 that extends between the two guides 112 and is able to slide along them so as to move the corresponding region 122. The bar 115 may have a structural function so as to improve the rigidity of the assembly. The frame 110 includes, in the illustrated example, a trapezoidal screw 114 that cooperates with the bars 115 so as to move the regions 122 when it is actuated.Each bar 115 can be equipped with a first pin 116 for locking the position of the corresponding region 122, and a second, separate pin 118 located near visual indicators 119 that provide information on the position of the region 122 in question and on the distance separating it from the other region 122. The displacement device is thus configured to allow an incremental reduction of the distance between the regions 122 and to lock the regions 122 in position at a desired distance. Those skilled in the art will recognize that other devices can be implemented within the scope of the invention to move the regions 122 and control their spacing; the illustrated displacement device represents only one possible and non-limiting embodiment.

[0031] The tooling 110 further includes a connecting bar 130, integral with the frame 110, and which extends along the first axis XL. The connecting bar 130 is located between the two regions 122 in the example of [Fig.4]. A free space 131, intended for storing the texture during its winding, is defined between the bar 130 and each region 122. The connecting bar 130 is extended at the frame 110 by a through bar 135. Unlike the regions 122, the connecting bar 130 is not movable relative to the frame 110. The connecting bar 130 is intended to rotate the tooling 110 around the first axis XI so as to wind the texture onto the support 120. This rotation is indicated by the arrow R. The connecting bar 130 has a connecting end 132 which is configured to be removably connected to a rotation system for a winding machine (see reference "M" in [Fig. 5]). In the example of [Fig.4], the connecting bar 130 has a length L130 greater than the length L122 of the regions 122. Unless otherwise stated, these lengths are measured along the first axis XL.

[0032] Figure 5 is a photograph showing the winding of texture T using tooling 100 according to the invention. Texture T is brought to tooling 100 by a conveying device AT. In one example, the AT device may include a take-up roller onto which texture T has previously been wound as it exits the loom. Texture T delivered from this take-up roller is brought to The tooling 100 is used for winding onto the support 120. The connecting bar 130 is rotated by the system M so as to drive the tooling 100 into rotation around the first axis XI and thus wind the texture T. The texture T can be wound fraction by fraction of a turn, for example half a turn by half a turn, by rotating the tooling 100 as a unit by actuating the system M. One or more fixing devices, such as a clamping device, can be used on each region 122 so as to hold the texture T during winding while the tooling 100 is rotating.

[0033] The technique implemented within the framework of the invention has the particularity of bringing the regions 122 closer together during the winding of the T texture so as to reduce, or even eliminate, pleating defects in the resulting reinforcement. The general principle of bringing the end regions closer together is described in document WO 2023 / 031541, in particular in Figures 3 to 6 of that document.

[0034] Thus, the tooling 100 allows the regions 122 to be brought closer together as the winding progresses in order to adjust the perimeter of each wound layer (Cl, Cn-1, Cn on [Fig. 6] in particular) to a predetermined value allowing to compensate for the disparities in overlengths generated for the different layers during compaction on the regions 122. Thus, the texture T is wound by reducing, with each additional turn or fraction of a turn, the distance between the regions 122. This makes it possible to take into account the increase in overlengths generated during compaction the more the layer is external to the winding (see [Fig. 1]) until reaching for the last turn a minimum distance corresponding to the configuration of the support 120 called "retracted".The end regions 122 define a loop or corner around which the orientation of the texture T is modified, the texture making a half-turn around each end region 122 during the winding in the illustrated example. The end regions 122 can have a convex shape, as illustrated. In the illustrated example, the end regions 122 have a rounded shape in cross-section with respect to the first axis XI. This retracted configuration is illustrated in [Fig. 6] in which the regions 122 are spaced a distance DI apart.

[0035] The passage below details the method for determining the length of texture to be wrapped at each turn or fraction of a turn, depending on the part considered.

[0036] Initially, the dimensions of the part to be obtained (after compaction) are known, namely in particular its length and thickness as well as the desired volumetric fiber content.

[0037] The initial thickness of the texture (before compaction) is also known; this is referred to as "loose" as indicated above, with a fiber volume percentage generally lower than the desired fiber volume percentage for the part. The number of texture turns required corresponds to the number of turns needed to obtain the thickness and the desired fiber volume percentage in the final piece, taking into account the texture bulk.

[0038] The excess lengths generated in the central region during compaction at the end regions are calculated geometrically for each layer of the winding. These excess lengths vary according to the position within the thickness of the wound layer, as indicated above and illustrated schematically in [Fig. 1]. From this, the length to be adopted during the winding of each texture layer is deduced, and therefore the distance separating the regions 122 to be adopted for each turn or fraction of a turn, so as to obtain the desired length for the final part without creases in the texture after accounting for the excess lengths generated during compaction on the regions 122.

[0039] Once the winding is complete, the support 120 is in the retracted configuration of [Fig.6] and the compaction of the wound texture can be initiated.

[0040] The compaction process comprises several stages and begins first with the initial COI compaction, shown schematically in [Fig. 7], during which initial compaction wedges (not shown in [Fig. 7]) apply compaction pressure to the regions 122 (stage E30 in [Fig. 3]). The initial COI compaction is initiated while the support 120 is in its retracted configuration.

[0041] The first compaction wedges 140 are schematically shown in [Fig. 11], which illustrates a later arrangement of the tooling 100, but for which the details relating to the positioning of the first wedges 140 on the regions 122 remain applicable in step E30. Each positioning element 124 defines several protruding ridges 1242, here in the form of teeth, extending from a base 1241. Each of these ridges 1242 is configured to cooperate with a respective wedge 140 so as to position it on the associated end region. The elements 124 here have a trident shape in a plane transverse to the first axis XI, but those skilled in the art will recognize that other structures are conceivable. Each wedge 140 can be fixed to a pair of ridges located on opposite sides of a region, for example by screwing.

[0042] After compaction by the first wedges 140 in the retracted configuration, the distance between the regions 122 is increased until reaching the so-called "extended" configuration where the wound layers are tensioned (step E40 in [Fig. 3]) by eliminating the folds, with a distance between the end regions 122 that corresponds substantially to a final dimension of the part to be obtained. The initial compaction COI can be maintained during the transition from the retracted to the extended configuration. The regions 122 are spaced by a distance D2 greater than the distance DI in the extended configuration. Once the support is in the extended configuration, internal wedges 150 are juxtaposed along the second axis X2 inside the winding. The arrangement thus obtained is illustrated in a schematic in [Fig.8] and represented, more precisely, in [Fig.9] in which texture T and the first 140 wedges have not been shown.

[0043] Figure 10 shows an internal wedge 150 in isolation. Each wedge 150 may include a guide element 157, here in the form of a groove, configured to cooperate with a complementary guide element of a neighboring wedge or of the connecting bar 130, here in the form of a protrusion designed to engage in the groove in order to guide its insertion into the frame 110. The guide element 157 allows control of the relative positioning of the internal wedge 150 with respect to the connecting bar 130 or to the neighboring internal wedge 150. Each internal wedge 150 further includes first threaded holes 153 for the installation of the second compaction wedges, for example by bolting, for compacting the central region of the winding, between the regions 122.Each internal shim 150 also includes, in the illustrated example, second threads 155 for connection with an internal shim 150 superimposed in the thickness direction of the winding, for example, using a screw-nut system 154 (visible in [Fig.9]).

[0044] The second compaction is then carried out in the central region using the second compaction wedges 160 (step E50 in [Fig. 3]) in order to shape the texture in this region (see [Fig. 11]). The second wedges 160 here consist of a sheet 164 bearing against the winding and a reinforcement 162 superimposed on the sheet 164, these two elements being bolted to the internal wedges 150 to carry out the second compaction CO2.

[0045] After compaction, a preform of the part to be obtained is thus obtained with the desired volumetric fiber ratio and with significantly reduced texture folding defects, or even entirely free of such defects.

[0046] The texture, wound onto the support 120 and compacted by the compaction blocks 140 and 160, is then dried to give it a rigid state that fixes its shape. The support 120 can advantageously be removably mounted to the frame 110 so that it can be disconnected for easier transport, along with the blocks 140, 150, and 160, into a treatment chamber for drying.

[0047] After drying, the resulting preform is removed from the support 120 after first removing the shims 140, 150, and 160, as well as the removable positioning elements 124 (step E60 in [Fig. 3]). The distance between the regions 122 can be slightly reduced to facilitate the removal of the preform. The preform can then be cut, for example by waterjet cutting, to adjust its dimensions.

[0048] The example just described concerns the manufacture of a belt preform 201 as illustrated in [Fig. 12]. In the case corresponding to this figure, a fibrous assembly 200, intended to form the fibrous reinforcement of the part to be obtained, was obtained by adding a web preform 203 inside the preform of belt 201 (step E70 in [Fig. 3]). The belt preform 201 is positioned around the web preform 203 so as to define a loop around the latter. The fibrous assembly 200 has free spaces 205 intended for articulation with other parts at its longitudinal ends, and constitutes, for example, a preform forming the fibrous reinforcement of a brake bar.

[0049] The reinforcement can then be introduced into an injection mold and a matrix can then be formed in its porosity (step E80 on [Fig.3]) for example by injection of resin and then crosslinking of the latter.

[0050] Figure 13 describes an alternative embodiment adapted for forming a landing gear brace. The texture T is initially wound around a winding support 220 and between two end regions 222, following the principle described above (step E20 in Figure 13). The first compaction is then carried out on the regions 222 and the tensioned texture T by passing the support 220 through the extended configuration (steps E30 and E40 in Figure 13). In the illustrated example, at least one of the two regions 222 is equipped with a second displacement device configured to move it away from the frame by moving it transversely to the second axis X2 when the support 220 is in the extended configuration (step E45 in Figure 13). Region 222 can be formed of two parts, one fixed and attached to the frame and the other movable, for example by actuation of a screw.The distance is represented by arrow 224 and allows the coil to be deformed by applying a shear stress CC. The stress CC is applied while the first wedges are still positioned on regions 222. The second compaction is then carried out using the second compaction wedges (step E50 in [Fig. 13]).

[0051] The deformed and compacted winding is then cut along the cutting lines 226 (step E55 in [Fig. 13]) to form a plurality of elementary windings 228, forming several fibrous preforms which are then removed from the tooling (step E60 in [Fig. 13]). The cut 226 is made after the second compaction. The cut can be made parallel to the elongation axis of the deformed and compacted winding. A cutting technique known per se, such as waterjet cutting, is used. A fibrous assembly 230 is then formed by positioning two elementary windings 228 on each lateral edge of a core preform 229 to obtain a strut preform (step E170 in [Fig. 13]), in the porosity of which an organic matrix is ​​then formed as described above.

[0052] The examples described so far concern tooling with only one frame. The variant in [Fig. 14] uses a frame 1100 on each side of the width of the winding support 320. The texture T is wound onto a winding support 320 and between the two end regions 322, as described Previously, each frame 1100 included two guides 1112 on which each region 322 could slide and a trapezoidal screw 1114 for actuating the movement of these regions 322, similarly to what was described above. Actuating the movement device allowed the regions 322 to be moved relative to each frame 1100. Each frame 1100 was equipped with a respective connecting bar 1130 for connection to the rotation system of the winding machine. According to an alternative (not shown), the tooling could include only a single through connecting bar linking the two frames and defining two connection ends to the rotation system. The winding support 320 was disconnected from at least one of the frames 1100 to allow the preform to be removed.

[0053] The examples that have been described relate to a winding support with two end regions, but the principle of the invention remains applicable when the support 120 has more than two end regions, defining corners around which the texture is intended to be wound.

Claims

Demands

1. Tooling (100) for winding a fibrous texture (T), comprising at least: - a frame (110; 1100), - a winding support (120; 220; 320) integral with the frame and on which the fibrous texture is intended to be wound around a first winding axis (XI), the winding support having at least two end regions (122; 222; 322) spaced along a second axis (X2) transverse to the first axis, - a displacement device (114; 1114) configured to modify the shape of the winding support between a retracted configuration and an extended configuration by moving the end regions relative to the frame so as to bring them closer together or further apart along the second axis, - a connecting bar (130;1130), attached to the frame, extending along the first axis, the connecting bar being configured to be removably connected to a system (M) for rotating a winding machine so as to rotate the tooling (R) around the first axis and thus wind the fibrous texture onto the winding support, and - compaction wedges (140; 160) suitable for compacting the winding support, each end region being delimited by positioning elements (124) between which the fibrous texture is intended to be wound, the positioning elements being configured to cooperate with at least one of the compaction wedges so as to position it on the associated end region to carry out compaction, at least part of these positioning elements being removable from the end regions.;

2. Tooling (100) according to claim 1, wherein the tooling further comprises internal wedges (150) configured to be juxtaposed along the second axis (X2) between the end regions (122; 222; 322) when the winding support is in its extended configuration, so as to form a counter-mold on which the winding is intended to be compacted by the compaction wedges (140; 160), each internal wedge comprising a guide element (157) configured to cooperate with a guide element of a neighboring hold so as to control its relative positioning with respect to it.

3. Tooling according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the tooling further comprises a second displacement device configured to move at least one end region (222) away from the frame by moving it transversely to the second axis (X2) when the winding support (220) is in extended configuration.

4. Tooling according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the tooling further comprises a second frame (1100) integral with the winding support (320) located on the opposite side to the first frame (1100) along the first axis (XI), the end regions (322) being movable relative to each frame by actuation of the displacement device (1114), the tooling further comprising a second connecting bar (1130) integral with the second frame, identical or distinct from the first connecting bar, each connecting bar extending along the first axis and being configured to be removably connected to the winding machine rotation system (M).

5. Tooling (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the winding support (120; 220; 320) is removably connected to each frame (110; 1100).

6. A method for manufacturing a fibrous preform (201) employing tooling (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, comprising at least: - winding (E20) the fibrous texture (T) onto the winding support (120; 220; 320) around the first winding axis (XI) by progressively reducing the distance (DI; D2) between the end regions (122; 222; 322) along the second axis (X2) to predetermined values ​​during winding until the winding support is in the retracted configuration, the connecting bar (130; 1130) being linked to the winding machine's rotation system (M) and the texture being wound by rotating the tooling around the first axis by rotating (R) the connecting bar by the rotation system. rotation, - a first compaction (E30;COI) of the winding in the end regions, with the support in retracted configuration, by first compaction wedges (140) positioned on the positioning elements (124); - the passage (E40) of the winding support from the retracted configuration to the extended configuration, after the first compaction, by increasing the distance between the end regions along the second axis so as to tension the winding in a central region located between the end regions, - a second compaction (E50; CO2) of the winding in the central region by second compaction wedges (160) with the support in extended configuration, and - the withdrawal (E60) of the fibrous preform obtained following the second compaction after removal of the compaction wedges and removable positioning elements.

7. A method according to claim 6 and employing tooling (100) according to claim 2 or according to any one of claims 3 to 5 related to claim 2, wherein the internal wedges (150) are juxtaposed along the second axis (X2) between the end regions (122; 222; 322) when the winding support (120; 220; 320) is in extended configuration before the second compaction (CO2), and wherein the winding is taken, during the second compaction, between the second compaction wedges (160) and the counter-mold formed by the internal wedges thus juxtaposed.

8. A method according to claim 6 or 7 and employing tooling according to claim 3 or according to claim 5 related to claim 3, wherein at least one of the end regions (222) is moved away (E45) from the frame by actuation of the second displacement device when the winding support (220) is in extended configuration and before the second compaction, so as to deform the winding by application of a shear stress (CC), and wherein the winding thus deformed undergoes the second compaction and is cut (E55) along the second axis into a plurality of elementary windings (228) forming several fibrous preforms which are then removed from the tooling.

9. A method according to claim 6 or 7 and employing tooling according to claim 4 or according to claim 5 related to claim 4, wherein the texture is wound by rotating the tooling around the first axis (XI) by rotating the first and second bars (1130) connection by the winding machine rotation system.

10. A method for manufacturing a part made of composite material comprising at least: - manufacturing at least one fibrous preform (201) by implementing a method according to any one of claims 6 to 9, and - forming (E80) a matrix in a porosity of said at least one fibrous preform thus manufactured.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the fibrous preform (201) forms a part of a belt and wherein a fibrous assembly (200) is formed by positioning this part of the belt on a fibrous core preform (203) so as to define a loop around the latter, the fibrous assembly thus formed having, at its longitudinal ends, free spaces (205) intended for articulation with other parts, and wherein the matrix is ​​formed in the porosity of said fibrous assembly.

12. Method according to claim 11, wherein the part is a landing gear strut, a part of a landing gear strut or a brake bar.

Images