System and method for multiple surface water jet needling

• US 10,640,900 B2
• Filed: 06/08/2018
• Issued: 05/05/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Goodrich Corporation (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Original Assignee: Goodrich Corporation (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Inventors: Kirkpatrick, Christopher T
• Primary Examiner(s): Vanatta, Amy
• Application Number:
  US16/003,921
• Publication Number:
  US 20180291541A1
• Time in Patent Office: 697 Days
• Field of Search: 28104, 28105
• CPC Class Codes: D04H 1/492 by fluid jet D04H1/49 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: D04H 18/04 with water jets
• CPC Class Codes: D04H 3/002 Inorganic yarns or filaments
• CPC Class Codes: D04H 3/11 by fluid jet
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2200/0052 Carbon
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2250/00 Manufacturing; Assembly
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 65/12 Discs; Drums for disc brakes
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 65/126 the material being of low mechanical strength, e.g. carbon, beryllium; Torque transmitting members therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 65/127 characterised by properties of the disc surface; Discs lined with friction material

Abstract

A water entanglement system having a first rotatable surface comprises a first water jet which may be configured to water-entangle a preform in situ. The water-entanglement system may comprise a second rotatable surface disposed proximate the first rotatable surface. The second rotatable surface may comprise a second water jet configured to water-entangle the preform in situ. The first rotatable surface may be oriented substantially parallel to the second rotatable surface.

Claims

1. A water-entanglement process comprising:

feeding a substantially continuous spiral fabric to a space defined by a first rotatable surface comprising a first water jet and a second rotatable surface comprising a second water jet;

growing a preform based on the substantially continuous spiral fabric; and

imparting water to a surface of the preform from at least one of the first water jet or the second water jet, wherein the water entangles the preform.

2. The process of claim 1, further comprising receiving the substantially continuous spiral fabric from a first fabric source and a second fabric source.

3. The process of claim 2, wherein the first fabric source is at least one of a carbon fiber spiral manufacturing source or a helical fabric manufacturing source.

4. The process of claim 2, wherein the second fabric source is at least one of a carbon fiber spiral manufacturing source or a helical fabric manufacturing source.

5. The process of claim 1, wherein the imparting occurs during formation of the preform.

6. The process of claim 1, wherein during the imparting, water entangles the preform in situ.