Method and machine for producing a woven structure

• US 10,246,801 B2
• Filed: 07/13/2016
• Issued: 04/02/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ets A. Deschamps et Fils
• Original Assignee: Ets A. Deschamps et Fils
• Inventors: Deschamps, Georges-Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Muromoto, Jr., Bobby
• Application Number:
  US15/208,821
• Publication Number:
  US 20170016154A1
• Time in Patent Office: 993 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 61/55 Baskets therefor
• CPC Class Codes: D03D 1/0043 for elongated members, i.e. sleeves
• CPC Class Codes: D03D 1/0088 Fabrics having an electronic function
• CPC Class Codes: D03D 1/04 Sack- or bag-like articles
• CPC Class Codes: D03D 13/00 Woven fabrics characterised by the special disposition of the warp or weft threads, e.g. with curved weft threads, with discontinuous warp threads, with diagonal warp or weft
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2101/20 Metallic fibres
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2507/02 Nets
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 40/81 Aquaculture, e.g. of fish

Abstract

A method is provided that includes: weaving one first portion including warp and weft threads intertwined according to the fundamental weave of each portion of woven wall corresponding to this first portion, stopping introduction of weft threads after insertion of a weft thread associated with the positioning of one elongated element having a main axis, the weft thread being intertwined with the warp threads of each portion of woven wall, introducing each elongated element between the warp threads defining with the associated weft thread, the insertion position of this elongated element, and maintaining in position each elongated element and introducing one new weft thread intertwining warp threads of the structure according to the fundamental weave of each wall portion or according to at least one new weave, to resume production of the structure, with each elongated element not being taken in the structure.

Claims

1. Method for producing a woven structure comprising at least one woven wall, wherein the following steps are carried out:

a) weaving at least one first portion of said woven structure, said first portion comprising warp threads and weft threads intertwined according to the fundamental weave of each portion of woven wall corresponding to this first portion,

b) stopping the introduction of the weft threads after the insertion of a weft thread associated with the positioning of at least one elongated element in said woven structure, with this weft thread being intertwined with the warp threads of each portion of woven wall according to the fundamental weave of said portion of wall,

c) said at least one elongated element having a longitudinal axis, introducing each elongated element between the warp threads defining with the associated said weft thread, the position of insertion of this elongated element into the woven structure, with the longitudinal axis of said elongated element cutting the plane parallel to the warp threads of each portion of wall into which said elongated element is introduced,

d) maintaining in position each elongated element and introducing at least one new weft thread intertwining the warp threads of said woven structure according to said fundamental weave of each portion of wall or according to at least one new weave, in order to resume the production of said woven structure; and

with each elongated element not being taken in said woven structure.

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein at the end of the step c), the longitudinal axis of each elongated element is perpendicular, or substantially perpendicular, to the plane passing through the warp threads of each portion of wall into which it is introduced.

3. Method according to claim 1, wherein several elongated elements are introduced along the same weft thread of the woven structure.

5. Method according to claim 1, wherein said woven structure comprising at least two woven walls, said elongated element or at least one of said elongated elements traverse at least two walls.

6. Method according to claim 1, wherein said woven wall comprising at least two woven walls and elongated elements being introduced into separate walls, at least some of the latter are placed opposite each other.

7. Method according to claim 1, wherein after the step d), a tightening of the weft threads is provoked in the woven structure carried out as such, said at least one elongated element as such being imprisoned between two consecutive weft threads in the lengthwise direction of the woven structure.

8. Method according to claim 1, wherein the portions of each elongated element which are placed protruding from said woven structure are cut in such a way that the ends of each elongated element shortened as such are placed below, or flush with, the corresponding external surface of said woven structure.

9. Method according to claim 1, wherein said or at least one of said elongated elements is assembled to the woven structure.

10. Method according to claim 9, wherein said or at least one of said elongated elements is impregnated beforehand with an adhesive or with a thermosetting resin in order to ensure its fastening to said woven structure.

11. Method according to claim 9, wherein each elongated element is chosen or is formed beforehand in such a way that its external surface has a surface relief in order to ensure the maintaining of it in position in said woven structure.

12. Method according to claim 1, wherein in the steps c) and d), said at least one elongated element is stretched in order to ensure that the entire said elongated element placed in said structure is straight.

13. Method according to claim 1, wherein a three-dimensional woven structure is formed from a single piece.

14. Method according to claim 1, wherein carrying out a woven structure that has the shape of a hollow tube, elongated elements are integrated into said woven structure by being aligned on the periphery of said tube in order to form at least one circumferential line or a helix.

15. Method according to claim 1, wherein said elongated element is a solid wire, a metal thread, an insert, a stiffening rod, a tube, a tube provided with at least one cross-flow sealing membrane, a tube of which the inner wall is tapped and combinations of these elements.

16. Method according to claim 1, wherein said elongated element being a tube, into the interior channel of said tube, either beforehand, or after the introduction of said tube into said woven structure during its weaving, is introduced a measuring device, a sensor provided with a transmitting/receiving element, an electrode, a fastening member, a thread, a data storage device, an identification element such as an RFID chip, an electronic unit for receiving and processing the data measured by other sensors, and combinations of these elements.

17. Method according to claim 1, wherein at least some electricity-conducting threads and/or light-conducting threads are introduced in order to form the warp and/or weft threads in such a way as to define an electrical supply circuit and/or a data transmission circuit in said woven structure.

18. Smart clothing of which at least one portion is a woven structure according to claim 1.

19. Shaft or hollow duct of which at least one portion is constituted by a woven structure according to claim 1.

20. Device for farming seashell such as oysters, comprising at least one element forming a support plate of said seashell intended to be received inside a net of tubular shape, characterised in that at least a portion of said net is formed by a woven structure according to claim 1.

21. Machine for producing a woven structure according to claim 1, comprising a weaving area in which are introduced into at least one channel, weft threads, each one of said weft threads being inserted between at least two warp threads by at least one weft insertion element, means for managing said or one of said channels and determining the position of said warp threads with respect to said weft thread, characterised in that it comprises at least one device for gripping of one or several elongated elements and means for displacing this device for gripping outside of and in the weaving zone in order to bring and place one or several elongated elements in position in said woven structure during production.

22. Machine according to claim 21, wherein said device for gripping is configured to make it possible to vary the angle of inclination of the longitudinal axis of each elongated element with respect to the plane passing through the warp threads of at least one of said channels.

4. Method according to several elongated elements being introduced along the same warp thread, the steps b) to d) are repeated.