METHOD OF PRODUCING REINFORCED, FORMED FABRICS

• US 20090173266A1
• Filed: 11/19/2008
• Published: 07/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Createx S.A.
• Original Assignee: Createx S.A.
• Inventors: Kessi, Edouard, Gautier, Gerard
• Application Number:
  US12/274,209
• Publication Number:
  US 20090173266A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 114/102.310
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 51/085 with at least one of the shaping surfaces being made of resilien material, e.g. rubber
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 51/145 having at least one layer of textile or fibrous material combined with at least one plastics layer
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 51/28 for applying pressure through the wall of an inflated bag or diaphragm
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 70/44 using isostatic pressure, e.g. pressure difference-moulding, vacuum bag-moulding, autoclave-moulding or expanding rubber-moulding
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 9/0671 Moulded sails
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 9/0678 Laminated sails
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1043 Subsequent to assembly
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/643 Including parallel strand or fiber material within the nonwoven fabric
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/696 Including strand or fiber material which is stated to have specific attributes [e.g., heat or fire resistance, chemical or solvent resistance, high absorption for aqueous compositions, water solubility, heat shrinkability, etc.]

Abstract

The invention relates to a method of producing reinforced, formed fabrics, consisting in producing a continuous fabric alternated with a membrane (34) containing embedded reinforcing elements, which is prepared in overlapping portions on a conveyor belt (29) which passes over a preparation table (25). The membrane (34) and the reinforcing elements are then positioned under a press consisting of an upper air-filled chamber (1), the lower part thereof comprising a flexible element (4), and a lower water-filled chamber (14), the upper part thereof comprising a flexible element (17). According to the invention, a forming bar (10) is adjustably mounted in the upper chamber (1). When the aforementioned forming bar (10) is adjusted to adopt a particular shape, the different flexible elements can deform at the forming bar and the membrane and the reinforcing elements are hot pressed with a portion corresponding to the forming bar having a three dimensional shape, thereby defining the form of the fabric produced.

Claims

1. A shaped fabric comprising:

reinforcing elements comprising filaments; and

an activated and polymerized resin encasing the filaments;

wherein the fabric comprises a first surface and an opposing second surface, and wherein both the first surface and the second surface are free of a separate polymerized plastic sheet.

2. The fabric of claim 1, wherein additional reinforcing elements are present along predicted lines of force to which the fabric will be subjected.

3. The fabric of claim 1, wherein additional reinforcing elements are present in a region of the fabric that is predicted to be subject to higher forces.

4. The fabric of claim 2, wherein the additional reinforcing elements are positioned substantially parallel to the predicted lines of force.

5. The fabric of claim 2, wherein the additional reinforcing elements are positioned substantially perpendicular to the predicted lines of force.

6. The fabric of claim 2, wherein the additional reinforcing elements are positioned substantially parallel and substantially perpendicular to the predicted lines of force.

7. The fabric of claim 1, wherein the fabric is formed primarily of reinforcing elements and resin.

8. A fabric consisting essentially of:

reinforcing elements comprising filaments; and

an activated and polymerized resin encasing the filaments.

9. A sail comprising a reinforced fabric, the reinforced fabric comprising:

reinforcing elements comprising filaments; and

an activated and polymerized resin encasing the filaments;

wherein the fabric comprises a first surface and an opposing second surface, and wherein both the first surface and the second surface are free of a separate polymerized plastic sheet.

10. The sail of claim 9, wherein additional reinforcing elements are present along predicted lines of force to which the sail will be subjected.

11. The sail of claim 9, wherein additional reinforcing elements are present in a region of the sail that is predicted to be subject to higher forces.

12. The sail of claim 10, wherein the additional reinforcing elements are positioned substantially parallel to the predicted lines of force.

13. The sail of claim 10, wherein the additional reinforcing elements are positioned substantially perpendicular to the predicted lines of force.

14. The sail of claim 10, wherein the additional reinforcing elements are positioned substantially parallel and substantially perpendicular to the predicted lines of force.

15. The sail of claim 9, wherein the fabric is formed primarily of reinforcing elements and resin.

16. A sail comprising a reinforced fabric, the reinforced fabric consisting essentially of:

reinforcing elements comprising filaments; and

an activated and polymerized resin encasing the filaments.