Filament winding machine and method with resin application
Patent Information
- Application Number
- JP2024544456
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2022-01-25
- Filing Date
- 2023-01-20
- Publication Date
- 2025-02-14
Smart Images
Figure 2025504651000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
Detailed Description of the Invention
[0001] The present invention relates to a filament winding machine for winding a fibrous web comprising at least one continuous fiber onto a body, in particular onto a liner for the manufacture of tanks, with a particular resin application system, and to a method for manufacturing fiber-reinforced parts comprising filament winding of a fibrous web onto a body with in-line resin application.
[0002] Composite tanks for storing pressurized gases, classically known as domes, are known, which generally comprise a cylindrical central portion and two end portions with decreasing cross section and rounded towards the outside. In the case of a type IV tank, the tank is formed by an inner shell, classically called a liner, which defines a closed storage chamber, and a reinforcing shell surrounding the liner. The reinforcing shell is obtained by filament winding of continuous fibers around the liner, said fibers being preferably pre-impregnated with a resin, typically a thermosetting resin, each fiber being formed from a number of continuous filaments.
[0003] Filament winding is carried out using a filament winding machine, which typically comprises at least one winding head, a winding means associated with a fiber storage means, and a displacement system capable of rotating the liner about its longitudinal axis and of carrying out a relative displacement of the liner with respect to the winding means in order to wind the fibers onto the liner.
[0004] Such a machine is known, in particular from the patent document DE102010047361, in which the winding means comprises a winding head rotatably mounted around a horizontal axis on a fixed frame. The fibre coming from the fibre spools arranged in a creel is guided in the form of a web towards the winding head. The displacement system comprises an articulated arm robot carrying a gripping device at its tip. The gripping device comprises a U-shaped support attached by its base to the wrist of the robot, the liner being attached by its ends between the two U-shaped arms and driven in rotation by a motor by one of its ends.
[0005] Spools of fibre pre-impregnated with resin may be used. In an alternative wet winding process, dry fibre spools are used, and the fibres unwound from the spools are guided in the form of a web towards the winding head by first passing through an impregnation system known per se, formed by a resin bath, typically a thermosetting resin bath. The bath consists of a resin composition comprising a resin component and a reactive component, the reactive component comprising, for example, a hardener component. Typically used resins are epoxy-based resins. After the winding process, the part is subjected to a vacuum or autoclave curing process, which polymerises the resin and forms the polymer matrix of the composite. In the case of tanks, the reinforcement envelope of the composite comprises about 40% by volume of the polymer matrix.
[0006] This kind of impregnation system significantly reduces the cost of raw materials, since dry fibers are much cheaper than pre-impregnated fibers. Such baths limit the winding speed, since the fibers must pass through the bath for a long enough time to obtain good impregnation of the fibers. In the case of thermosetting resins, the resin baths must be emptied, cleaned and refilled periodically, typically about every 8 hours. Moreover, to have a sufficiently long life, the baths are made of slow-polymerizing resin compositions with low viscosities, typically less than 0.5 Pa·s at 20 °C, which require a long autoclave curing step of several hours that significantly reduces the production rate and increases the final cost of the parts. The low viscosity of the resin compositions used means that winding must be performed at a reduced speed to limit resin splashing.
[0007] The object of the invention is to propose a winding machine making it possible to overcome at least one of the aforementioned drawbacks.
[0008] For this purpose, the invention proposes a filament winding machine for winding, on a body having a main longitudinal axis, a fibrous web comprising continuous fibres, formed from at least one flat continuous fibre in ribbon form, in particular from several flat continuous fibres in ribbon form arranged substantially end-to-end, The machine comprises: a winding means comprising at least one winding head, associated with the fiber storage means and comprising a final guide member; a displacement system capable of rotating the body and of causing a relative displacement of the body with respect to the winding means for winding the fibrous web onto the body; A resin application system capable of applying a resin composition to the fibrous web in-line; Equipped with The resin application system includes: At least one nozzle capable of coating one of the main surfaces of the fibrous web with a resin composition, preferably in the form of a film or layer, at the winding head upstream of the final guide member with respect to the flow direction of the fibrous web; a feeder capable of feeding a resin composition to the nozzle at a rate adjusted according to the speed of the fibrous web in front of the nozzle; The coating device is characterized in that it comprises a coating means comprising:
[0009] According to the invention, the machine comprises a nozzle upstream of the final guide member, which allows the application of the resin composition to the fibrous web by coating. The use of such a nozzle allows the in-line application of resin compositions having a high viscosity, for example a viscosity at 50°C of at least 20 Pa·s, preferably at least 100 Pa·s, more preferably 100-200 Pa·s, and thus allows high winding speeds of more than 1 m / s, preferably more than 2 m / s, to be achieved. The use of such a nozzle allows the application of resin compositions which are more reactive than those used in the prior art, since the various components of the resin composition can be mixed immediately upstream of the nozzle.
[0010] According to one embodiment, the winding head comprises a final guide member, for example formed by a final eyelet or a final roller, with which the fibrous web is contacted by a first main surface, The nozzle is capable of applying a resin composition to a second major surface of the fibrous web. The resin composition is applied to a surface of the fibrous web opposite a final guide member to avoid scraping of the resin composition as the fibrous web passes over the final guide member. The surface of the fibrous web that is coated with the resin composition during winding is the surface facing the body such that winding the web under tension onto the body can at least partially impregnate the resin composition throughout the fibrous web.
[0011] According to one embodiment, the nozzle is a slot nozzle, also known as a lip nozzle, comprising a foil defining a distribution slot, said nozzle being capable of applying the resin composition in the form of a layer or film over substantially the entire width of the fibrous web.
[0012] According to one embodiment, said final guide member is formed by a final roller, preferably mounted non-rotatably about its longitudinal axis.
[0013] According to one embodiment, the winding head comprises, upstream of the final guide member with respect to the flow direction of the fibrous web, one intermediate guide member or two intermediate guide members, The nozzle is capable of applying the resin composition to the fibrous web as it passes over an intermediate guide member or onto a bundle of fibrous webs arranged between two intermediate members or arranged between an intermediate guide member and the final guide member, preferably onto a bundle of fibrous webs arranged between two intermediate members. Preferably, the final guide member is formed by a final roller mounted non-rotatably about its longitudinal axis and each intermediate member is formed by an intermediate roller, preferably mounted non-rotatably about its longitudinal axis.
[0014] According to one embodiment, said final guide member, preferably formed by a final roller, is mounted on the head support so as to be pivotable about a rotation axis, preferably horizontal, the winding head includes a motor capable of rotating the final guide member around the rotation axis, the nozzle is attached to the head support so as to be rotatable together with the final guide member, The final guide member can be rotated, for example, by ±90° with respect to the initial position.
[0015] According to one embodiment, the winding head comprises a moving ring rotatably mounted about its main axis on a fixed ring fixedly mounted on the head support, the translation ring comprises at least one arm extending substantially parallel to the main axis and carrying at its end the final guide member together with any intermediate guide members; the nozzle is fixed to rotate with the moving ring; The main axis of the moving ring constitutes the axis of rotation of the final guide element. Such a pivoting mounting of the final guide element allows winding to take place along a helical trajectory at the height of the tank dome with a satisfactory winding quality. In this case, the nozzle is also pivotally mounted with the final guide element.
[0016] The supply device includes a resin storage means, a discharge means, and a distribution means. the distribution means comprises a valve system connected to the discharge means, for example at least two inlets connected to a discharge pump, in particular of the gear pump type, through which the at least two components of the resin composition are fed, and an outlet connected to a static mixer for mixing the two components of the resin composition, The nozzle is directly or indirectly connected to the outlet of the static mixer.
[0017] According to one embodiment, the valve system is mounted on the head support upstream of the moving ring, the static mixer is rotatably mounted at the outlet of the valve system and extends through the moving ring substantially along the major axis of the moving ring; the static mixer is fixed to rotate with the moving ring; The nozzle is connected directly to the outlet of the static mixer and is preferably capable of applying a resin composition to the bundle which is placed between two intermediate members attached to the arm.
[0018] In another embodiment, the valve system and the static mixer are fixedly mounted to the support and the nozzle is mounted to the arm fixed to the moving ring and connected to the outlet of the static mixer via a flexible tube.
[0019] According to one embodiment, the winding means comprises at least two winding systems, Each winding system is a winding head associated with a fiber storage means; A nozzle is provided to which a resin composition is supplied by a static mixer connected to a valve system, The valve systems of the two winding systems are supplied with the components of the resin composition by a common discharge means.
[0020] According to one embodiment, the winding means comprises: A rotating support or carousel rotatably mounted about an axis of rotation, preferably about a vertical axis of rotation, at least two winding systems are mounted on it, each winding system comprising a fiber storage means and an associated winding head, such that by rotation of said rotary support about its axis of rotation, each winding system can be moved into an operational position for winding the fibrous web by its winding head, and into a non-operational position in which an operator can carry out maintenance operations, each winding system comprising a rotary support or carousel, The supply device comprises: a common discharge means mounted on a rotary support and capable of selectively supplying the valve systems associated with the winding heads of the winding systems in the operative position; and resin storage means arranged in the vicinity of the rotating support, preferably on the ground, which supplies the discharge means. In this embodiment, the winding machine comprises a carousel carrying several winding systems so that, when one winding system is used for winding operations, maintenance operations of the other(s) winding system(s) can be carried out in masked time, in particular replacement of the fibre spools and maintenance operations on the nozzle, the distribution system, the final guide member and / or any intermediate guide members. The machine according to the invention thereby makes it possible to achieve high production rates. The machine according to the invention is particularly advantageous for the production of high-pressure tanks, the body of which constitutes the liner of the tank. 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 at regular angular intervals equal to 360° / n. In one embodiment, the rotating support carries two winding systems, each movable between an operative position and a non-operative position, and each winding system is manipulated between the two positions by a rotation of the rotating support about its axis of rotation by 180° and / or −180° between the two positions. In another embodiment, the rotating support carries first, second and third winding systems, each movable between an operative position and a non-operative position, and each winding system is manipulated between the three positions by a rotation of the rotating support about its axis of rotation by 120° and / or −120° between the three positions.
[0021] According to one embodiment, the storage means of each winding system comprises a mandrel mounted on a support structure, each mandrel capable of carrying a fiber spool and associated with a tensioning system, and each winding system comprises guide means capable of guiding the fiber from the mandrel towards the winding head to form a fibrous web at the head.
[0022] The displacement system may comprise a first articulated robot and a second articulated robot capable of carrying a body by its ends such that the body is rotatably mounted about its longitudinal axis of rotation by a first end of the first articulated robot and a second end of the second articulated robot, at least one of the two articulated robots comprising a drive motor for rotating the body about its longitudinal axis.
[0023] According to one embodiment, each winding system comprises several winding heads, for example two or three, each associated with a fibre storage means and equipped with a nozzle and a valve system. The winding heads are arranged one above the other, for example with their rotation axes arranged in the same vertical plane. The machine then preferably comprises a displacement system capable of rotating a number of bodies corresponding to the number of winding heads of each winding system and of bringing about a relative displacement of the bodies with respect to the winding means for simultaneous winding of the fibrous web onto said bodies.
[0024] Another subject of the invention is a method for the manufacture of a fiber-reinforced component comprising filament winding of a fibrous web onto a body, the method comprising the steps of: The fibrous web comprises flat continuous ribbon-shaped fibers formed from at least one, and preferably several, flat continuous ribbon-shaped fibers arranged substantially end-to-end; The method is characterized in that the filament winding is carried out using a filament winding machine as described above with in-line application by coating of a resin composition to the first major surface of the fibrous web.
[0025] Preferably, the process according to the invention involves application by hot coating of the resin composition at a temperature of at least 50°C.
[0026] The process according to the invention can be used to produce composite parts with a thermosetting polymer matrix, in which case the resin composition comprises a thermosetting resin component, such as an epoxy resin, and a reactive component. After the winding step, the process comprises a heating or curing step to polymerize the resin composition, thereby obtaining a fiber-reinforced part, preferably comprising at least 30% by volume of a polymer matrix. The process according to the invention can also be used to produce composite parts with a thermoplastic polymer matrix, in which case the resin composition comprises a thermoplastic resin component.
[0027] According to one embodiment, the process comprises in-line coating using a nozzle of a resin composition having a viscosity at 50°C, measured according to the ISO 3219 method, of at least 20 Pa·s, preferably at least 100 Pa·s, more preferably 100-200 Pa·s.
[0028] According to one embodiment, the fibrous web is wound up so that the main surface coated with the resin composition faces the main body, Winding the fibrous web under tension promotes impregnation of the resin composition throughout the fibrous web during winding. at the end of the step of winding the body, a first step of heating the wound body at a defined temperature level for a defined time in order to reduce the viscosity of the resin composition and to promote impregnation; and then a second step of heating the wound body under vacuum or in an autoclave, also known as a curing step, to polymerize the resin composition and form the polymer matrix of the fiber reinforced component.
[0029] According to one embodiment, for the production of fiber reinforced parts such as high pressure tanks, The body constitutes a liner; the fiber reinforced component is formed by the liner and a fiber mat winding; The liner preferably comprises a substantially cylindrical central portion and first and second domed end portions; The liner is provided at said end with a spindle for mounting it and for driving it in rotation by a displacement system.In another embodiment, the body constitutes a mandrel and the fibre reinforced portion is formed by winding a fibrous web.
[0030] The invention will be better understood, and other objects, details, features and advantages will become more apparent, in the course of the following detailed descriptive description of certain presently preferred embodiments thereof, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a winding means of a filament winding machine according to the invention, comprising two winding heads mounted on a carousel, each winding head being provided with a resin application means; FIG. 2 is a partial schematic perspective view of the winding head of FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a partial schematic side view of a filament winding machine according to the present invention; FIG. 4 is a schematic side view of the winding head of FIG. 2; FIG. 5 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of the winding head of FIG. 2; and FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a resin application system of a filament winding machine.
[0031] With reference to figures 1 to 3, a filament winding machine according to the invention is used here for winding a plurality of fibres in the form of a fibrous web on a body formed, for example, by a liner 9 for the production of tanks. The liner has a main longitudinal axis A and comprises a cylindrical central part and two end domes on which the mounting spindles are mounted. The winding machine comprises a winding means 2 and a displacement system 1 carrying the liner 9. The winding means 2 comprises a first winding system 20a and a second winding system 20b mounted on a rotating support or carousel 21, as described in French patent applications nos. 2108411 and 2108412, filed on 2 August 2021. The carousel 21 is mounted rotatably around a vertical axis of rotation B on a frame 22 fixed to the floor and can be driven in rotation by a motor controlled by the machine control unit. The two winding systems 30a, 30b are arranged on either side of a first vertical plane P1 passing through the axis B. The first winding system 20a, arranged on a first side of the plane P1 of the carousel, comprises a first fiber storage means 50a and an associated first winding head 30a. The first storage means 50a comprises a mandrel for receiving a spool of continuous fiber. The machine is designed to allow the winding of a fibrous web formed of eight fibers, so the first storage means comprises eight mandrels. The mandrels are mounted on a support frame 23 fixed to the carousel substantially along the plane P1. The first winding system comprises a tensioning system 24a for adjusting the tension of each fiber of the web, comprising first tensioning motors associated with said first mandrels, these first motors being located on a second side of the carousel. The first winding system further comprises first guide means 25a, 25b, 26 for guiding the fibers unwound from the bobbins towards the head in the form of a fibrous web 8 in which the fibers are arranged substantially end-to-end. In the illustrated embodiment, the fibers unwound from the spool pass over a first return roller 25a and then a second return roller 25b and are collected at a guide roller 26 in the form of a fibrous web.
[0032] With reference to Figures 2, 4 and 5, the winding head 30a comprises a moving ring 31 rotatably mounted about a horizontal axis C on a head support 32 fixedly mounted on the carousel. For this assembly, a fixed ring 33 is mounted on the head support, and the moving ring 31 is mounted on the fixed ring with the interposition of a bearing system 34. The moving ring 31 is rotated by a motor 38 mounted on the head support 32 and by a belt 39 meshing with a pinion 38a of the motor shaft and with teeth 40 present on its outer circumferential surface of the moving ring. An arm 35 is attached to the moving ring and extends outwards, on the downstream side of the moving ring, substantially parallel to the axis C. A final guide member 36 and two intermediate guide members 37a, 37b are attached to this arm. The fibrous web coming from the aforementioned guide roller 26 passes through the moving ring, over the intermediate guide member and then over the final guide member. The final guide member is formed here by a final roller 36, cantilevered and fixedly mounted at the end of said arm, whose longitudinal axis D1 is arranged perpendicular to the axis C, said axis C passing substantially through said longitudinal axis D1. The intermediate guide member is formed by a first intermediate roller 37a and a second intermediate roller 37b, cantilevered and mounted on said arm between the final roller 36 and the moving ring 31. Each intermediate roller is fixedly or rotatably mounted on the arm about its longitudinal axis D2, D3, preferably fixedly. Their longitudinal axes D2, D3 are arranged perpendicular to the axis C and are arranged on either side of the latter, so that the fibrous web leaving the moving ring passes over the first intermediate roller 37a and then the second intermediate roller 37b, with the bundle 81 of fibrous web between the first and second intermediate rollers being arranged substantially perpendicular to the axis C.
[0033] The second winding system 20b is identical to the first winding system 20a and comprises a second winding head 30b pivotally mounted about a horizontal axis C on a head support arranged on the second side of the plane P1 of the carousel, a second fibre storage means 50b comprising a mandrel associated with a second tensioning motor 24b and second guide means for guiding the fibres in the form of a fibrous web towards the winding head. The second mandrel is mounted on the same support frame 23 and the second tensioning motor 24b is located on the first side of the carousel.
[0034] The machine is used with dry fiber spools, the machine according to the invention comprises a resin application system for in-line application of a resin composition to a fibrous web during the winding operation. With reference to figures 4-6, the resin application system comprises application means formed by slit nozzles 60 attached to each winding head, distribution means 61, 62, also attached to each winding head, for supplying the resin composition to the slit nozzles, resin storage means 63 and discharge means 64. The distribution means comprises a valve system 61 and a static mixer 62 to which the nozzles are directly connected. The valve system 61 now comprises two inlets, connected to the discharge means, through which at least two components of the resin composition are fed, and an outlet to which the static mixer 62 is connected, the static mixer ensuring the mixing of the two components. The valve system is fixedly mounted on the head support 32 and is arranged upstream of the moving ring 31 with respect to the flow direction of the fibrous web. The static mixer is rotatably mounted at the outlet of the valve system, arranged along the axis C and passing through the moving ring. The static mixer is mechanically connected to the moving ring by at least one connecting bar 65 so as to be fixed for rotation with the moving ring. The slot nozzle comprises, in a manner known per se, two plates or bars surrounding a foil provided with slots. One of the two bars comprises a feed passage opening into said slots and connected at its inlet to the discharge orifice of the static mixer. The slot nozzle makes it possible to spread the resin composition delivered by the static mixer on the fibrous web in the form of a layer or film. The width of the layer is determined by the width of the slot in the foil. The slot nozzle is arranged in the head so as to be in contact with or flush with the fibrous web in order to apply the resin composition to one main face of the fibrous web over substantially its entire width in a bundle 81 arranged between the first intermediate roller 37a and the second intermediate roller 37b. To ensure a precise positioning of the slot nozzle with respect to said bundle, the two intermediate rollers are adjustably mounted on arms oriented parallel to the axis C.To displace the fibrous web from the axis C and thus free up space for the static mixer, the fibrous web coming from the roller 26 passes over two return rollers 69a, 69b arranged upstream of the transfer ring and attached to an arm 70 extending from said transfer ring and fixed to rotate with it. The axes of the return rollers 69a, 69b are arranged parallel to the axis D1 of the final roller 36, the second return roller 69b being arranged such that the strands extending from this second return roller and from the first intermediate roller 37a are substantially parallel to the axis C. The resin storage means 63 are adapted to the different packages and volumes of the components of the resin composition used. The storage means comprise, for example, a tank of the melter type, drum vacuum type or pressure pot type for each component. The discharge means 64 comprise one discharge pump per component, the input of each pump being connected to the tank and the output to the two valve systems 61.
[0035] In the illustrated embodiment, a resin supply system is provided for hot application of an epoxy-based resin composition. The resin composition to be applied is formed of a resin component, a hardener component and a catalyst component, the latter two components being mixed upstream of the valve system 61 to form a reactive component. The storage means 63 comprises three tanks 63a, 63b, 63c for the resin component, the hardener component and the catalyst component respectively, connected by flexible tubing to three delivery pumps 64a, 64b, 64c respectively. The output of the resin component delivery pump 64a is connected to the input of a first 1-in / 2-out valve referenced 66, each output of which is connected to a first input of the valve system 61 via a flexible tubing. The other two delivery pumps 63b, 63c are connected at their outputs to two inputs of a manifold block 67 for mixing the hardener and catalyst components, the output of which is connected to the input of a second 1-in / 2-out valve, referenced 68, each of whose outputs is connected to a second input of the valve system 61. The delivery means 64 is mounted above the carousel, while the storage means 63 is placed on the ground, remote from the carousel 21. The flexible pipes connecting the storage means to the delivery means pass, for example, through the centre of the frame and have extra length, allowing the carousel to be rotated relative to the frame by at least +180° and -180° about axis B. The flexible pipes used for the resin components, between the resin tank, the resin delivery pump and the valve system 61, are heated pipes. Similarly, the static mixers of each distribution means are fitted with heated sleeves. Preferably, each nozzle and each valve system is also equipped with heating means. Thereby, the resin composition can be hot-applied to the fibrous web at a desired viscosity. As an example, the application system is used to hot-apply a resin composition including an epoxy resin component at a temperature of about 50° C., the resin composition having a viscosity of 100-200 Pa·s at 50° C. In this embodiment, the mixing of the resin component and the reactive component is carried out in a head as close as possible to a nozzle directly connected to the static mixer.Advantageously, the static mixer is disposable and is replaced periodically.
[0036] The displacement system 1 comprises two articulated arms or robots 10a, 10b for carrying the liner, as described, for example, in the aforementioned patent application, the articulated robots being equipped at their ends with a mounting device 11 for mounting the liner by its end spindle to the two articulated robots and for driving the liner in rotation about its axis A. Each articulated robot is fixedly mounted on the floor, in the per se known six-axis robot type, and the mounting device 11 is assembled to the end wrist of each articulated robot. At least one of the two mounting devices comprises a motor for driving the liner in rotation. Alternatively, the displacement system comprises a single articulated robot for carrying the liner 9, the wrist of the articulated robot being equipped at its end with a gripping device for carrying the liner by its end spindle.
[0037] The carousel can be moved between two positions by a rotation of +180° or -180° about its axis B. In the first position of the carousel, the first winding system 20a is in the working position and its head 30a can be used for a filament winding operation onto a liner carried and rotated by the displacement system. The second winding system 20b is in a non-working position corresponding to a maintenance position. The winding operation is performed by a machine control unit, which controls the two articulated robots along a programmed path to move the liner relative to the winding head 30a, together with the drive motor(s) for rotating the liner about its axis A and the motor 38 for rotating the winding head about its axis of rotation C. The control unit controls the first and second valves 66, 68 to supply reactive and resin components to the valve system 61 associated with the head 30a in the working position. The delivery pumps 63a, 63b and 63c are controlled by the control unit to deliver the desired amount of each component depending on the speed of the fibrous web. For example, one of the guide rollers 26 is fitted with an encoder 27 which transmits the speed of the fibrous web to the control unit. During the winding operation by the first winding system, an operator can carry out maintenance operations on the second winding system 20b in the maintenance position in complete safety. In particular, the operator can replace the spool of the second winding system and thread the fibre of the new spool through the guide means and through the guide members. The operator can also carry out cleaning and / or replacement operations of the final roller 36 and / or the intermediate rollers 37a, 37b and / or the guide means 25a, 25b, 26 of the second head, and / or maintenance operations of the nozzles, the valve system and / or the static mixer. When the spool of the first winding system needs to be replaced, the carousel is moved to its second position by rotating 180° about its axis C. In this second position, the first winding system is in a maintenance position for the aforementioned maintenance operations, while the second winding system is in an operating position enabling it to carry out winding operations via its winding head.
[0038] Advantageously, the first winding system and the second winding system each comprise an automatic attachment device that enables the fibrous web to be automatically attached to the main body without manual operation at the start of filament winding, and an automatic cutting device that enables the fibrous web to be automatically cut at the end of winding.
[0039] According to another embodiment, the winding means comprises three winding systems mounted on a rotating support or carousel, the three winding heads being arranged at 120° to each other and each equipped with a valve system and a slot nozzle as described above, and the resin application system comprises, instead of the two 1-in / 2-out valves mentioned above, two 1-in / 3-out valves for selectively feeding one of the three valve systems associated with the three winding heads.
[0040] Although the invention has been described in relation to specific embodiments, it is by no means limited thereto, but it is extremely clear that it also encompasses all technical equivalents of the means described, and combinations thereof, provided they fall within the scope of the invention. [Brief description of the drawings]
[0041] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic perspective view of a winding means of a filament winding machine according to the present invention, comprising two winding heads mounted on a carousel, each winding head being provided with a resin application means. [Diagram 2] 2 is a schematic partial perspective view of the winding head of FIG. 1; [Diagram 3] 1 is a partial schematic side view of a filament winding machine according to the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of the winding head of FIG. 2. [Diagram 5] FIG. 3 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of the winding head of FIG. 2. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a resin application system of a filament winding machine.
Claims
1. A filament winding machine for winding a fibrous web (8) comprising at least one continuous fiber onto a body (9), comprising: The machine comprises: a winding means (2) comprising at least one winding head (30a, 30b), associated with a fibre storage means (50a, 50b) and comprising a final guide member (36); a displacement system (1) capable of rotating the body (9) and of bringing about a relative displacement of said body with respect to said winding means in order to wind the fibrous web onto said body; a resin application system capable of applying a resin composition to the fibrous web; Equipped with The resin application system includes: At least one nozzle (60) in the winding head upstream of the final guide member (36) capable of coating one of the main surfaces of the fibrous web with a resin composition; A supply device (61-64) capable of supplying the resin composition to the nozzle at a rate adjusted according to the speed of the fibrous web; A filament winding machine comprising a coating means comprising:
2. The winding head (20a, 20b) comprises a final guide member (36) with which the fibrous web (8) is contacted by a first main surface thereof, 2. The machine of claim 1, wherein the nozzle is capable of applying a resin composition to the second major surface of the fibrous web.
3. A machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the nozzle (60) is a slot nozzle comprising a foil defining a distribution slot.
4. A machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the final guide member is formed by a final roller (36) mounted non-rotatably about its longitudinal axis (D1).
5. The winding head (20a, 20b) comprises one intermediate guide member or two intermediate guide members (37a, 37b) upstream of the final guide member (36), The machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the nozzle (60) is capable of applying the resin composition to the fibrous web as it passes over an intermediate guide member or to the bundle (81) of fibrous webs arranged between two intermediate members or between an intermediate guide member and the final guide member.
6. The final guide member (36) is attached to the head support (32) so as to be rotatable about a rotation axis (C), The winding head includes a motor (38) capable of rotating the final guide member about the rotation axis; A machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the nozzle (60) is mounted on the head support so as to be pivotable together with the final guide member.
7. The winding head comprises a moving ring (31) rotatably mounted about its main axis (C) on a fixed ring (33) fixedly mounted on the head support (32), said transfer ring comprises at least one arm (35) extending substantially parallel to said main axis and carrying at its end said final guide member (36); 7. A machine as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that said nozzle (60) is fixed for rotation with said moving ring.
8. The supply device includes a resin storage means (63), a discharge means (64), and a distribution means (61, 62), The distribution means comprises a valve system (61) connected to the discharge means and having at least two inlets through which the at least two components of the resin composition are fed, and an outlet connected to a static mixer (62); A machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the nozzle is connected to the outlet of the static mixer.
9. The valve system (61) is attached to the head support (32); the static mixer (62) is rotatably mounted at the outlet of the valve system and extends through the moving ring (31) substantially along the main axis (C) of the moving ring; the static mixer is fixed to rotate with the moving ring; A machine according to claims 7 and 8, characterized in that the nozzle (60) is connected directly to the outlet of the static mixer.
10. The winding means comprises at least two winding systems (20a, 20b), Each winding system is a winding head (30a, 30b) associated with a fibre storage means (50a, 50b), The present invention comprises a nozzle (60) to which a resin composition is supplied by a static mixer (62) connected to a valve system (61), 10. A machine according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the valve systems of the two winding systems are supplied with the components of the resin composition by a common discharge means (64).
11. The winding means (2) is A rotating support (21) rotatably mounted around a rotation axis (B), a rotating support (21) on which at least two winding systems (20a, 20b) are mounted, such that each winding system can be moved into an operative position for winding the fibrous web by its winding head and into a non-operative position by rotation of said rotating support about its axis of rotation (B), The supply device comprises: a common discharge means (64) mounted on a rotating support and capable of selectively supplying the valve systems (61) associated with the winding heads of the winding systems in the operative position; 11. A machine according to claim 10, characterized in that it comprises resin storage means (63) arranged in said vicinity of said rotary support and supplying said discharge means.
12. A method for producing a fiber-reinforced component, comprising filament winding of a fibrous web (8) onto a body (9), A method characterized in that the filament winding is carried out using a filament winding machine described in any one of claims 1 to 11, involving in-line application, by coating, of a resin composition onto the first main surface of the fibrous web.
13. 13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that it comprises in-line coating, using a nozzle (60), of a resin composition having a viscosity at 50°C of at least 20 Pa.s, preferably at least 100 Pa.s, more preferably 100-200 Pa.s.
14. The winding of the fibrous web (8) is performed so that the main surface coated with the resin composition faces the main body, The method comprises: a first step of heating the wound body to reduce the viscosity of the resin composition and promote impregnation; and then a second step of heating the wound body to polymerize the resin composition.
15. To produce fiber-reinforced parts such as high pressure vessels, The body constitutes a liner; The method according to any one of claims 12 to 14, characterized in that the fibre reinforced component is formed from the liner and a winding of the fibrous web.