Closed Tubular Fibre Construct with Continuous Yarns

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current braiding techniques face limitations in closing tubular braided structures at one or both ends and achieving shapes with smaller diameters, often requiring metal inserts or gluing, which do not allow for continuous yarns or effective closure.

Innovation Solution

A method involving pairs of coils wound on spools, arranged according to a desired geometry, with a support to maintain yarns during interlacing, allowing for continuous geometry transition and closure of tubular parts, using techniques like braiding, weaving, or lapping to create a fibrous architecture with continuous yarns.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If traditional braiding techniques are used to close tubular structures, then the structure can be closed at ends, but continuous yarn continuity is lost and metal inserts or gluing are required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveyarn continuityVSAvoidclosure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention divides the braiding process into two distinct phases: first forming a primary structure with radial yarns on coils, then performing secondary braiding to create the tubular body. This segmentation allows each phase to optimize for its specific function, with the primary structure providing continuous yarn paths that can be seamlessly extended into the tubular section.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The primary structure is formed in advance with yarns arranged radially on coils, creating a pre-configured foundation that ensures continuous yarn paths before the actual tubular braiding begins. This preliminary arrangement of yarns on spools enables the subsequent braiding to maintain continuity without requiring inserts or additional closing operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Shape

If tubular braided structures are closed at ends using conventional methods, then closure is achieved, but the diameter cannot be reduced effectively

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvediameter reductionVSAvoidclosure precision
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention employs dynamic control of the braiding process, allowing the diameter to vary continuously during fabrication. The braiding machine can adjust parameters in real-time to achieve smooth transitions from larger to smaller diameters, creating tapered or contoured sections without compromising structural integrity or requiring separate closing operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Strength

If metal inserts or gluing are used to close tubular braided structures, then closure is achieved, but the reinforcing thread continuity is interrupted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidclosure structure
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges the primary structure formation with the tubular body fabrication into a single continuous braiding process. The yarns that form the radial pattern on the coils are the same yarns that continue into the tubular section, eliminating the need for separate closing components and maintaining uninterrupted reinforcing threads throughout the entire structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP2501848B1Closed tubular fibre construct and method of making same
Publication Date: 2018.02.21 COMMISSARIAT A LENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES
  • EP2501848B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP2501848B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5
  • EP2501848B1 patent drawingFigure 6~7

AI summary

The invention relates to a tubular fibrous architecture having a tubular portion closed at least at one of the ends or the bottom thereof, in which: the tubular portion consists of an architecture in which each wire, strand, ribbon or bundle of wires, hereinafter referred to using the generic term wire, comes continuously from the bottom; each wire from the bottom is continuously located, by each one of the ends thereof, in the tubular portion; the joint between the bottom and the rest of the tubular portion has continuity of the set of wires and a transition with constant geometry between the architecture of the bottom and that of the rest of the tubular portion; the wires of the tubular portion crossing one another, preferably in a plaiting or weaving manner. The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing such a tubular fibrous architecture.