Abstract: A method for stretch breaking fibers to produce a staple yarn and operating a staple fiber spinning machine that enables the production of a plurality of products of lot size smaller than a large denier tow product. The process includes at least two break zones and a consolidation zone downstream from a second break zone to form a staple yarn. The filaments are broken in a second break zone downstream from the first break zone by increasing the speed of the fiber fed into the process.

Abstract: A method for stretch breaking fibers to produce a staple yarn and operating a staple fiber spinning machine, and an apparatus for performing such method, that enables the production of a plurality of products of lot size smaller than a large denier tow product. The process includes at least two break zones and a consolidation zone downstream from a second break zone to form a staple yarn. The filaments are broken in a second break zone downstream from the first break zone by increasing the speed of the fiber fed into the process.

Abstract: A method for stretch breaking fibers to produce a staple yarn and operating a staple fiber spinning machine that enables the production of a plurality of products of lot size smaller than a large denier tow product. The process includes at least two break zones and a consolidation zone downstream from a second break zone to form a staple yarn. The filaments are broken in a second break zone downstream from the first break zone by increasing the speed of the fiber fed into the process.

Abstract: A method for stretch breaking fibers to produce a staple yarn and operating a staple fiber spinning machine that enables the production of a plurality of products of lot size smaller than a large denier tow product. The process includes at least two break zones and a consolidation zone downstream from a second break zone to form a staple yarn. The filaments are broken in a second break zone downstream from the first break zone by increasing the speed of the fiber fed into the process.

Abstract: A method for stretch breaking fibers to produce a staple yarn and operating a staple fiber spinning machine that enables the production of a plurality of products of lot size smaller than a large denier tow product. The process includes at least two break zones and a consolidation zone downstream from a second break zone to form a staple yarn. The filaments are broken in a second break zone downstream from the first break zone by increasing the speed of the fiber fed into the process. The yarn includes discontinuous and, optionally, continuous filaments.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method of forming a fabric of interlaced yarn by arranging on a surface a plurality of yarn guide blocks, each guide block adapted to guide yarn from a yarn source to the surface and wherein the relative motion of the yarn guide blocks and surface serves to deposit yarn from the guides onto the surface in such a way that when said yarns are deposited on a surface, the diagonal positions of the yarns from one block are offset from a direct overlapping alignment with the yarns from the remaining blocks to thereby densely cover the surface during repeated cycles of such motion.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a flexible penetration resistant stabilized composite, that includes an interlaced yarn structure of yarns having a tenacity of at least 8 g/d, a tensile modulus of at least 150 g/d and an energy to break of at least 10 j/g. The yarn structure includes yarn subgroups alternately stacked together. There is also provided a polymeric web coextensive with, in contact with, and bound to the surface of one of the subgroups that at least partially contacts and is bound to the yarns in all the subgroups in the stack to thereby contain the subgroups in the stack in an interlaced yarn structure.

Abstract: The invention comprises a flat or shaped fabric structure of yarn groups each yarn group comprising a plurality of yarn subgroups, each group positioned for covering an area. The structure comprises at least a first group of flexible yarns densely covering an area , the yarns within the first group following substantially parallel paths in a first direction and forming a stack with at least a second group of flexible yarns densely covering substantially the same area, the yarns within the second group following substantially parallel paths in a second direction; the yarns in the first group arranged to cross the yarns in the second group, optionally containing other groups of yarn, the yarns in the upper-most subgroup of the stack are connected to the yarns in the bottom-most subgroup of the stack either directly of through the yarns in other subgroups providing an interlaced fabric structure.

Abstract: A control architecture involves two control loops, one for controlling heat input to a moving composite structure and the other controlling the speed of the structure to control quality of the product being formed. Since velocity and heat input affect the temperature of the composite there is cross coupling between the control loops so that either or both can be used to control the temperature. Preferably the invention uses the velocity or speed of the composite as the primary control, i.e., the controller automatically seeks the proper laydown velocity for the current heat input. If the energy source is not providing sufficient heat, the process slows down until the proper temperature is reached. This ensures that the composite material passing through the process is always at the proper temperature.

Abstract: A thermoplastic composite sheet is used as a tool or tool liner for thermoforming thermoplastic composite sheets into parts having uneven sections. A more uniform consolidation of the part is achieved that has not been previously attainable in open mold processing at high forming temperatures.