Method of producing textile preforms for fiber reinforced composite products from textile semi-finished articles
First Claim
1. A method of producing a textile preform for the subsequent manufacture of a fiber reinforced plastic composite product, comprising the steps:
- a) producing a semi-finished textile material including unfixed fibers that are not yet entirely finally fixed, by a textile production process;
b) carrying out a reforming and/or draping process involving reforming and/or draping said semi-finished textile material to re-orient said unfixed fibers into a desired fiber orientation of said preform; and
c) applying said semi-finished textile material onto a carrier having a geometry adapted to a final intended geometry of said preform, to thereby form said preform having said final intended geometry, wherein said carrier comprises a reforming tool that comprises a curved matrix die onto and around which said semi-finished textile material is draped;
wherein said steps b) and c) together comprise drawing said semi-finished textile material through or along said reforming tool, which changes a cross-sectional shape of said semi-finished textile material into said final intended geometry and at least partially changes an orientation of at least a portion of said unfixed fibers whereby said unfixed fibers are re-oriented into said desired fiber orientation of said preform.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of producing a textile preform to be used for making a fiber reinforced plastic composite product involves the following steps. A two- or three-dimensional semi-finished textile material or article is produced by essentially any textile production process, such as weaving, knitting or braiding. A binder is applied to the textile material, which is then subjected to a reforming and/or draping process by being applied onto a carrier and reforming tool having a contour or geometry adapted to that of the desired preform that is to be produced. Thereby, the previously unfixed fibers of the textile material are brought into the desired finished orientation and are then fixed, and the cross-sectional shape of the material is changed. This produces the preform having the desired contour, geometry and fiber orientation. The preform may then be subjected to further processing steps to form the finished composite product.
27 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method of producing a textile preform for the subsequent manufacture of a fiber reinforced plastic composite product, comprising the steps:
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a) producing a semi-finished textile material including unfixed fibers that are not yet entirely finally fixed, by a textile production process; b) carrying out a reforming and/or draping process involving reforming and/or draping said semi-finished textile material to re-orient said unfixed fibers into a desired fiber orientation of said preform; and c) applying said semi-finished textile material onto a carrier having a geometry adapted to a final intended geometry of said preform, to thereby form said preform having said final intended geometry, wherein said carrier comprises a reforming tool that comprises a curved matrix die onto and around which said semi-finished textile material is draped; wherein said steps b) and c) together comprise drawing said semi-finished textile material through or along said reforming tool, which changes a cross-sectional shape of said semi-finished textile material into said final intended geometry and at least partially changes an orientation of at least a portion of said unfixed fibers whereby said unfixed fibers are re-oriented into said desired fiber orientation of said preform. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of producing a textile preform for the subsequent manufacture of a fiber reinforced plastic composite product, comprising the steps:
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a) producing a semi-finished textile material including unfixed fibers that are not yet entirely finally fixed, by a textile production process; b) carrying out a reforming and/or draping process involving reforming and/or draping said semi-finished textile material to re-orient said unfixed fibers into a desired fiber orientation of said preform; and c) applying said semi-finished textile material onto a carrier having a geometry adapted to a final intended geometry of said preform, to thereby form said preform having said final intended geometry; wherein said carrier comprises a reforming tool, and wherein said steps b) and c) together comprise pushing, pressing or squeezing said semi-finished textile material into, onto or along said reforming tool by pressing said semi-finished textile material onto said reforming tool using a counter-pressing roller, which changes a cross-sectional shape of said semi-finished textile material into said final intended geometry and at least partially changes an orientation of at least a portion of said unfixed fibers, whereby said unfixed fibers are reoriented into said desired fiber orientation of said preform. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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23. A method of producing a textile preform for the subsequent manufacture of a fiber reinforced plastic composite product, comprising the steps:
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a) producing a semi-finished textile material including unfixed fibers that are not yet entirely finally fixed, by a textile production process; b) carrying out a reforming and/or draping process involving reforming and/or draping said semi-finished textile material to re-orient said unfixed fibers into a desired fiber orientation of said preform; and c) applying said semi-finished textile material onto a carrier having a geometry adapted to a final intended geometry of said preform, to thereby form said preform having said final intended geometry; wherein said step a) includes providing respective longitudinally extending fibers of varying lengths in said semi-finished textile material, and said steps b) and c) include forming a curve in said final intended geometry with said varying lengths of said longitudinally extending fibers respectively adapted to varying arc lengths at different radial positions in said curve.
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Specification