Carbon Fiber Cable Spreading Comb for Homogeneous Preform Width
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for producing annular fibrous preforms for carbon-carbon composite materials, such as brake discs, face challenges in maintaining the width of carbon fiber cables without generating tension and ensuring homogeneity, particularly in achieving a uniform surface mass distribution between the external and internal crowns.
Innovation Solution
A device with a comb mechanism that runs carbon fiber cables through its teeth in a direction parallel to the fibers, allowing for widening of the cables without tension, and adjustable comb positions to maintain width and homogeneity, integrated into the manufacturing process for annular fiber preforms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of moving object
If air blowing spreading device is used to widen the cable, then the cable width can be increased, but the cable cannot maintain its width and regains its initial appearance, and tension is created in the cable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a spreading device with teeth as an intermediary mechanical structure between the cable and the spreading process. The teeth gradually separate and widen the cable fibers through controlled mechanical action, allowing the cable to maintain its widened state without regaining its initial appearance, unlike air blowing methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the air blowing spreading method with a mechanical teeth-based spreading device. This substitution eliminates the inability to maintain cable width and prevents tension creation, as the mechanical teeth gradually and uniformly separate the fibers without the chaotic air flow that causes cable recovery and tension.
2Manufacturing precision
If cables with different titles are used to compensate for surface mass variation, then homogeneous surface mass distribution can be achieved, but the implementation becomes impractical and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by positioning spreading teeth at different radial locations on the rotating disk, corresponding to different cable positions (internal crown vs external crown). The teeth density or spacing can be varied locally to achieve the desired surface mass distribution without changing cable titles, thus maintaining implementation simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of tooth spacing or tooth density on the spreading disk to compensate for surface mass variation. Instead of using cables with different titles, the spreading device parameters (tooth configuration) are adjusted to achieve homogeneous surface mass distribution, keeping the cable specifications uniform.
3Area of moving object
If the cable is spread by air blowing, then the cable can be widened, but noise pollution is generated and the cable width cannot be frozen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the air blowing system with a mechanical teeth-based spreading device. This substitution eliminates noise pollution by using solid-to-solid contact instead of high-velocity air flow, while also enabling precise control and maintenance of cable width through the structured mechanical action of the teeth.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device effectively widens the carbon fiber cables while maintaining fiber homogeneity and preventing tension, facilitating the production of uniformly mass-distributed annular fibrous sheets for composite materials without noise pollution or complex implementation.
Implementation Method 1
the teeth of the comb which penetrate into the cable (or which are flush with it) to comb it in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the fibers or threads which constitute the cable make it possible to obtain a spreading of the cable in the direction of its width
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
AI summary
The invention relates to a device (10) for spreading a cable of carbon fibers or wires, comprising a disc (16) mounted on a rotating axis and equipped with at least one comb (22) having a plurality of teeth (24) projecting radially outward from the disc, means (20) for rotating the disc about its rotating axis, and means for adjusting the orientation of the comb teeth. The invention also relates to a method for spreading a cable of carbon fibers or wires, comprising at least making the teeth of the comb of the device flush with the cable in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the fibers or wires of said cable, the teeth of the comb of the device penetrating the cable without passing through it.