Filament Winding Guide Unit Dynamics for Curved Cores

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing filament winding apparatuses are not capable of efficiently winding fiber bundles onto core materials with curved or complex shapes, as they lack the necessary flexibility and adaptability to adjust to the shape of the core material during the winding process.

Innovation Solution

A filament winding apparatus with a rail and core material support system that includes a guide unit mounted on a main frame, which is movable and rotatable to adjust its position and orientation relative to the core material, allowing for precise winding of fiber bundles onto curved or complexly shaped core materials. This apparatus utilizes multiple drive sources and a control device to maintain the guide unit's posture in sync with the core material's shape, enabling three-dimensional winding capabilities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a fixed winding device is used for linear core materials, then the winding process is simple, but the apparatus cannot handle curved or complexly shaped core materials

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecapability to wind curved core materialsVSAvoidstructure of winding device
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The guide unit is mounted on a main frame that can move in multiple directions (first direction along the rail, second direction perpendicular to the rail) and rotate around a first rotational axis. This dynamic positioning capability allows the guide unit to adapt to curved and complexly shaped core materials, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and device complexity by introducing controlled mobility rather than fixed positioning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The main frame is configured to move not only in the first direction (along the rail) but also in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, and can rotate around a first rotational axis extending in a third direction. This multi-dimensional movement capability enables the winding device to access and wind fiber bundles onto three-dimensionally curved core materials, transforming a one-dimensional winding process into a multi-dimensional operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Manufacturing precision

If the guide unit position is fixed, then the device structure is simple, but the fiber bundle cannot be properly wound onto curved portions of the core material

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprecision of fiber placementVSAvoidmovability of main frame
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The guide unit's mounting on a movable main frame enables dynamic adjustment of the guide unit's position and orientation during the winding process. This allows the system to maintain precise fiber placement on curved portions of the core material by continuously adapting the guide unit's position, rather than relying on a fixed structure that would compromise precision on non-linear surfaces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The control device coordinates the movement of the main frame in the first and second directions, as well as its rotation around the first rotational axis, to maintain the guide unit's opening centered on the core material throughout the winding process. This feedback-controlled positioning ensures manufacturing precision is maintained even as the guide unit adapts to curved geometries.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3882190B1Filament winding device
Publication Date: 2024.10.09 MURATA MASCH LTD
  • EP3882190B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3882190B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3882190B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The filament winding apparatus (100) includes a rail (11) extending in a front-rear direction, a core material support device (2) for supporting a core material (10), and a winding device (3) winds the fiber bundle onto an outer peripheral surface of the core material (10). The winding device (3) includes a winding unit (6) and a main frame (32). The winding unit (6) has an opening (60) through which the core material (10) passes and guides the fiber bundle. The winding unit (6) is mounted on the main frame (32). The main frame (32) is movable relative to the core material (10) in the front-rear direction. The main frame (32) is movable in the left-right direction that is orthogonal to the front-rear direction. The main frame (32) is rotatable around a rotational axis (Al) extending in the vertical direction orthogonal to each of the front-rear direction and the left-right direction.