Braiding machine and methods of use
First Claim
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1. A braiding system, comprising:
- a plurality of elongate members each having an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein individual elongate members are configured to receive individual filaments;
an upper drive unit configured to act against the upper portions of the elongate members; and
a lower drive unit configured to act against the lower portions of the elongate members,wherein the upper and lower drive units are configured to act against the upper and lower portions of the elongate members in synchronization, and wherein the upper and lower drive units are configured to act against the upper and lower portions of the elongate members to (i) drive the elongate members radially inward, (ii) drive the elongate members radially outward, and (iii) move the elongate members along an arcuate path with respect to a longitudinal axis coaxial with the upper and lower drive units.
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Abstract
Systems and methods for forming a tubular braid are disclosed herein. A braiding system configured in accordance with embodiments of the present technology can include, for example, an upper drive unit, a lower drive unit, a mandrel coaxial with the upper and lower drive units, and a plurality of tubes extending between the upper drive unit and the lower drive unit. Each tube can be configured to receive individual filaments for forming the tubular braid, and the upper drive unit and the lower drive unit can act against the tubes in synchronization to cross the filaments over and under one another to form the tubular braid on the mandrel.
178 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A braiding system, comprising:
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a plurality of elongate members each having an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein individual elongate members are configured to receive individual filaments; an upper drive unit configured to act against the upper portions of the elongate members; and a lower drive unit configured to act against the lower portions of the elongate members, wherein the upper and lower drive units are configured to act against the upper and lower portions of the elongate members in synchronization, and wherein the upper and lower drive units are configured to act against the upper and lower portions of the elongate members to (i) drive the elongate members radially inward, (ii) drive the elongate members radially outward, and (iii) move the elongate members along an arcuate path with respect to a longitudinal axis coaxial with the upper and lower drive units. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 8)
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5. A braiding system, comprising:
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a plurality of elongate members each having an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein individual elongate members are configured to receive individual filaments; an upper drive unit configured to act against the upper portions of the elongate members, wherein the upper drive unit includes (a) an outer assembly having outer slots and (b) an inner assembly having inner slots; and a lower drive unit configured to act against the lower portions of the elongate members, wherein the lower drive unit includes (a) an outer assembly having outer slots and (b) an inner assembly having inner slots, wherein the upper and lower drive units are configured to act against the upper and lower portions of the elongate members in synchronization, and wherein individual ones of the elongate members are constrained within individual ones of the inner and/or outer slots. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
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9. A braiding system, comprising:
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a drive unit including— an outer assembly including at least one outer cam and outer slots; an inner assembly coaxially aligned with the outer assembly, the inner assembly including an inner cam and inner slots; a plurality of elongate members, wherein individual elongate members are constrained within individual inner and/or outer slots; an outer drive mechanism configured to rotate the at least one outer cam to drive at least a subset of the elongate members from the outer slots to the inner slots; and an inner drive mechanism configured to rotate the inner cam to drive the subset of the elongate members from the inner slots to the outer slots. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of forming a tubular braid, comprising:
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driving upper end portions of a first set of elongate members of a plurality of elongate members radially inward, while synchronously driving lower end portions of the first set of elongate members radially inward; rotating the first set of elongate members in a first direction; and driving the upper end portions of the first set of elongate members radially outward, while synchronously driving the lower end portions of the first set of elongate members radially outward. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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Specification