Woven composite fabric

• US 20040176007A1
• Filed: 03/11/2004
• Published: 09/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NV Bekaert SA
• Original Assignee: NV Bekaert SA
• Inventors: Braekevelt, Geert
• Granted Patent: US 7,304,007 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 442/229
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 70/22 oriented in at least two directions forming a two dimensional structure woven fabrics per se D03D; knitted fabrics per se D04D; braid per se D04C
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 70/26 Non-fibrous reinforcements only B29C35/0272, B29C61/0625, B29C70/887 take precedence; combined with fibres B29C70/023
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 70/885 with incorporated metallic wires, nets, films or plates as lost heating elements B29C35/0272, B29C61/0625
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2105/0809 Fabrics
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2305/00 Use of metals, their alloys or their compounds, as reinforcement
• CPC Class Codes: D03D 15/00 Woven fabrics characterised by the material, structure or properties of the fibres, filaments, yarns, threads or other warp or weft elements used
• CPC Class Codes: D03D 15/25 Metal
• CPC Class Codes: D03D 15/283 synthetic polymer-based, e.g. polyamide or polyester fibres cellulose-based artificial fibres D03D15/225
• CPC Class Codes: D03D 15/46 Flat yarns, e.g. tapes or films
• CPC Class Codes: D03D 15/67 Metal wires
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 1/14 Other fabrics or articles characterised primarily by the use of particular thread materials
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2101/20 Metallic fibres
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2321/021 polyethylene
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2321/022 polypropylene
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2321/041 polyvinyl chloride or polyvinylidene chloride
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2321/121 polystyrene
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2331/02 polyamides D10B2331/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2331/04 polyesters, e.g. polyethylene terephthalate [PET]
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2401/041 thermoplastic; thermosetting
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2401/061 elastic
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2401/062 : stiff, shape retention
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2505/02 : Reinforcing materials; Prepregs
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 11/086 : two layers
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 11/087 : three or more layers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24 : Structurally defined web or sheet [e.g., overall dimension, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24322 : Composite web or sheet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24785 : including layer embodying mechanically interengaged strands, strand portions or strand-like strips [e.g., weave, knit, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/3033 : Including a strip or ribbon
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/3049 : Including strand precoated with other than free metal or alloy
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/322 : Warp differs from weft
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/3252 : Including synthetic polymeric strand material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/326 : Including synthetic polymeric strand material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/3382 : Including a free metal or alloy constituent
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/339 : Metal or metal-coated strand
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/3715 : Nonwoven fabric layer comprises parallel arrays of strand material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/475 : Including a free metal or alloy constituent

Abstract

As subject of the present invention, a woven composite fabric, comprising metal elements and polymer elements is provided. The metal elements being metal wires, bundles of metal wires, metal strands or metal cords. According to the invention, the polymer elements are polymer tapes, having a substantially rectangular cross-section.

Claims

1. A woven composite fabric, said fabric comprising metal elements and polymer elements, said metal elements comprising at least one of metal wires, bundles of metal wires, metal strands and metal cords, wherein said polymer elements are polymer tapes, and wherein said metal elements have a diameter greater than approximately 40 μ

m.

2. A woven composite fabric as in claim 1, wherein each of said polymer tapes has an essentially rectangular cross-section.

3. A woven composite fabric as in claim 2, wherein said cross-section has a thickness less than approximately 1000 μ

m.

4. A woven composite fabric as in claim 2, wherein said cross-section has a width less than approximately 10 mm.

5. A woven composite fabric as in claim 1, wherein said fabric has a warp direction and a weft direction, wherein all of said metal elements are present in said warp direction.

6. A woven composite fabric as in claim 1, wherein said fabric has a warp direction and a weft direction, wherein said metal elements are present in said warp direction, and wherein said polymer tapes are present in said weft direction.

7. A woven composite fabric as in claim 1, wherein said metal elements have an inweaving factor substantially equal to 1.

8. A woven composite fabric as in claim 1, wherein said metal elements are steel cords.

9. A woven composite fabric as in claim 1, wherein said fabric has a plain woven structure.

10. A woven composite fabric as in claim 1, wherein said fabric has a double weft structure worked in a plain-weave manner.

11. A woven composite fabric as in claim 1, wherein each of said metal elements is coated with a polymer layer.

12. A reinforced hose comprising:

a hose; and

a woven composite fabric as in claim 1 connected to the hose.

13. A woven composite fabric as in claim 1, wherein said metal elements have a diameter greater than approximately 100 μ

m.

14. A woven composite fabric as in claim 1, wherein said metal elements have a diameter in the range of approximately 100 μ

m to 400 μ

m.

15. A woven composite fabric, said fabric comprising metal elements and polymer elements, said metal elements each comprising a plurality of metal wires, wherein said polymer elements are polymer tapes.

16. A woven composite fabric as in claim 15, wherein each of said polymer tapes has an essentially rectangular cross-section.

17. A woven composite fabric as in claim 16, wherein said cross-section has a thickness less than approximately 1000 μ

m.

18. A woven composite fabric as in claim 16, wherein said cross-section has a width less than approximately 10 mm.

19. A woven composite fabric as in claim 15, wherein said fabric has a warp direction and a weft direction, wherein all of said metal elements are present in said warp direction.

20. A woven composite fabric as in claim 15, wherein said fabric has a warp direction and a weft direction, wherein said metal elements are present in said warp direction, and wherein said polymer tapes are present in said weft direction.

21. A woven composite fabric as in claim 15, wherein said metal elements have an inweaving factor substantially equal to 1.

22. A woven composite fabric as in claim 15, wherein said fabric has a plain woven structure.

23. A woven composite fabric as in claim 15, wherein said fabric has a double weft structure worked in a plain-weave manner.

24. A woven composite fabric as in claim 15, wherein each of said metal elements is coated with a polymer layer.

25. A reinforced hose comprising:

a hose; and

a woven composite fabric as in claim 15 connected to the hose.

26. A woven composite fabric, said fabric comprising metal elements and polymer elements, said metal elements comprising at least one of metal wires, bundles of metal wires, metal strands and metal cords, wherein said polymer elements are polymer tapes, and wherein said metal elements are separated by a distance not greater than approximately 10 mm.

27. A woven composite fabric as in claim 26, wherein each of said polymer tapes has an essentially rectangular cross-section.

28. A woven composite fabric as in claim 27, wherein said cross-section has a thickness less than approximately 1000 μ

m.

29. A woven composite fabric as in claim 27, wherein said cross-section has a width less than approximately 10 mm.

30. A woven composite fabric as in claim 26, wherein said fabric has a warp direction and a weft direction, wherein all of said metal elements are present in said warp direction.

31. A woven composite fabric as in claim 26, wherein said fabric has a warp direction and a weft direction, wherein said metal elements are present in said warp direction, and wherein said polymer tapes are present in said weft direction.

32. A woven composite fabric as in claim 26, wherein said metal elements have an inweaving factor substantially equal to 1.

33. A woven composite fabric as in claim 26, wherein said metal elements are steel cords.

34. A woven composite fabric as in claim 26, wherein said fabric has a plain woven structure.

35. A woven composite fabric as in claim 26, wherein said fabric has a double weft structure worked in a plain-weave manner.

36. A woven composite fabric as in claim 26, wherein each of said metal elements is coated with a polymer layer.

37. A reinforced hose comprising:

a hose; and

a woven composite fabric as in claim 26 connected to the hose.

38. A woven composite fabric as in claim 26, wherein said metal elements are separated by a distance not greater than approximately 1000 μ

m.

39. A woven composite fabric, said fabric comprising metal elements and polymer elements, said metal elements comprising at least one of metal wires, bundles of metal wires, metal strands and metal cords, wherein said polymer elements are polymer tapes, and wherein a number of said metal elements present in one of a warp and a weft direction is not less than approximately one-third a number of said polymer elements present in said one of a warp and a weft direction.

40. A woven composite fabric as in claim 39, wherein each of said polymer tapes has an essentially rectangular cross-section.

41. A woven composite fabric as in claim 40, wherein said cross-section has a thickness less than approximately 1000 μ

m.

42. A woven composite fabric as in claim 40, wherein said cross-section has a width less than approximately 10 mm.

43. A woven composite fabric as in claim 39, wherein said fabric has a warp direction and a weft direction, wherein all of said metal elements are present in said warp direction.

44. A woven composite fabric as in claim 39, wherein said fabric has a warp direction and a weft direction, wherein said metal elements are present in said warp direction, and wherein said polymer tapes are present in said weft direction.

45. A woven composite fabric as in claim 39, wherein said metal elements have an inweaving factor substantially equal to 1.

46. A woven composite fabric as in claim 39, wherein said metal elements are steel cords.

47. A woven composite fabric as in claim 39, wherein said fabric has a plain woven structure.

48. A woven composite fabric as in claim 39, wherein said fabric has a double weft structure worked in a plain-weave manner.

49. A woven composite fabric as in claim 39, wherein each of said metal elements is coated with a polymer layer.

50. A reinforced hose comprising:

a hose; and

a woven composite fabric as in claim 39 connected to the hose.