Abstract: A protective textile sleeve and method of construction thereof are provided. The sleeve has a tubular wall of braided yarns extending lengthwise along a central longitudinal axis between opposite ends. At least some of the braided yarns including heat-set yarns, and the wall has a plurality of annular first regions forming generally convex ridges and a plurality of annular second regions forming generally concave valleys. The first regions alternate with the second regions along the central longitudinal axis. The first regions include a plurality of twisted yarns forming a plurality of closed loops, wherein at least some of the braided yarns pass through at least some of the closed loops within the first regions to enhance the radial stiffness and resistance of the wall to kinking.

Abstract: A protective textile having at least one integrated opening and method of construction thereof is provided. The sleeve includes a braided, tubular wall extending lengthwise in relation to a central longitudinal axis between opposite ends. The wall has a first state with a decreased length, increased cross-sectional area and a second state with an increased length, decreased cross-sectional area, as viewed in cross-section taken generally transversely to the central longitudinal axis. The wall further includes braided, heat-set yarns imparting a bias on the wall, wherein the bias causes the wall to remain substantially in the first and second states absent some externally applied force. The wall also includes at least one opening having a circumferentially continuous periphery bounding the opening, wherein the periphery is formed, at least in part, by braided yarns reversing direction from one S or Z helical direction to the opposite S or Z helical direction.

Abstract: A self-wrapping protective textile sleeve and method of construction is provided. The sleeve includes a braided, tubular wall having opposite free edges extending lengthwise between opposite ends. The wall has a first state with a decreased length, increased cross-sectional area and a second state with an increased length, decreased cross-sectional area, as viewed in cross-section taken generally transversely to a central longitudinal axis. The wall further includes braided, heat-set yarns imparting a bias on the wall, wherein the bias causes the wall to self-wrap into a tubular configuration and to remain substantially in the first and second states absent some externally applied force.

Abstract: A knit sleeve for providing protection to elongate members and method of construction thereof is provided. The sleeve includes a tubular knit wall having opposite end regions extending to opposite free ends and an intermediate region extending between said end regions. The intermediate region is formed as a circumferentially continuous, single knit layer and the end regions are formed having knit inner and outer layers, wherein the knit inner and outer layers inhibit the end regions from curling outwardly.

Abstract: A textile sleeve and method of construction thereof is provided. The sleeve includes a braided, tubular wall extending lengthwise along a central longitudinal axis between opposite ends. The wall has a decreased length, increased cross-sectional area first state and an increased length, decreased cross-sectional area second state. Heat-set, yarns within the wall impart a bias on the wall, wherein the bias causes the wall to remain in each of the first and second states absent an externally applied force.

Abstract: A knit tubular sleeve for providing abrasion resistance and expansion restriction to an elastic elongate member extending therethrough and method of construction thereof is provided. The knit tubular sleeve includes a knit tubular wall extending along a longitudinal axis between opposite ends. The knit wall has a plurality of coaxially aligned first regions forming crests spaced axially from one another by intermediate second regions forming troughs between the crests. The first and second regions are knitted over a plurality of courses, with each of the courses comprising a plurality of knit stitches extending circumferentially around the longitudinal axis. The courses of the first regions are formed with a different pattern of knit stitches from the courses of the second regions, wherein the second regions provide the wall with a decreased capacity to expand radially relative to the first regions, thereby inhibiting the elongate member against radial expansion.

Abstract: A flexible, wrappable multilayered heat shield is provided. The heat shield includes a reflective metal outermost layer, an innermost layer of high temperature yarn capable of withstanding temperatures up to about 650 degrees° C. continuously, and about 750° C. intermittently, and an intermediate layer of nonwoven material capable of withstanding temperatures up to about 550° C. continuously sandwiched between the outermost and innermost layers.

Abstract: A knit tubular sleeve for providing abrasion resistance and expansion restriction to an elastic elongate member extending therethrough and method of construction thereof is provided. The knit tubular sleeve includes a knit tubular wall extending along a longitudinal axis between opposite ends. The knit wall has a plurality of coaxially aligned first regions forming crests spaced axially from one another by intermediate second regions forming troughs between the crests. The first and second regions are knitted over a plurality of courses, with each of the courses comprising a plurality of knit stitches extending circumferentially around the longitudinal axis. The courses of the first regions are formed with a different pattern of knit stitches from the courses of the second regions, wherein the second regions provide the wall with a decreased capacity to expand radially relative to the first regions, thereby inhibiting the elongate member against radial expansion.

Abstract: A tubular thermal sleeve assembly for providing protection to an elongate member and method of enhancing the robustness of a thermal sleeve with the assembly is provided. The thermal sleeve assembly includes a tubular wall of insulative material having an outer surface and an inner surface bounding a cavity extending along a longitudinal central axis for receipt of the elongate member. The assembly further includes a flexible outer layer of metallic material extending along the longitudinal central axis between opposite ends with the metallic material having a plurality of openings formed between the opposite ends.

Abstract: A knit fabric, protective sleeve and glove constructed therefrom has three knit layers knit constructed and knit to one another in a single knitting operation to provide the fabric as a single piece of knit material. The fabric includes an outer layer, an inner layer and an intermediate layer sandwiched between the outer and inner layers. The outer layer is knit with a first yarn, the inner layer is knit with a second yarn and the intermediate layer is knit with a third yarn in looped fashion about at least some of the first and second yarns to provide an integrally knit structure having three layers knit stitched together in a single knitting process.

Abstract: A multilayer textile sleeve and method of construction thereof is provided. The sleeve includes a textile wall having opposite edges extending lengthwise along a longitudinal axis of the sleeve between opposite ends. The opposite edges are configured to overlap one another to bound a central cavity of the sleeve. The wall has an inner layer with opposite inner and outer faces and an outer layer with opposite inner and outer faces. The inner and outer layers overlap one another and are constructed of interlinked yarn. The inner and outer layers are integrally connected to one another across interlinked portions adjacent the opposite edges by yarn common to each of the inner and outer layers.

Abstract: A knit sleeve and method of construction thereof is provided. The knit sleeve is constructed including a knit tubular wall and at least one knit tubular extension attached to the wall. Further, a barrier member is disposed in the at least one knit tubular extension. The at least one knit tubular extension and the barrier member are foldable at least partially about the knit tubular wall.

Abstract: A knit fabric, protective sleeve and glove constructed therefrom has three knit layers knit constructed and knit to one another in a single knitting operation to provide the fabric as a single piece of knit material. The fabric includes an outer layer, an inner layer and an intermediate layer sandwiched between the outer and inner layers. The outer layer is knit with a first yarn, the inner layer is knit with a second yarn and the intermediate layer is knit with a third yarn in looped fashion about at least some of the first and second yarns to provide an integrally knit structure having three layers knit stitched together in a single knitting process.

Abstract: A knit protective sleeve and method of construction thereof provides a continuous and seamless sleeve wall knit from one or more yarns extending between opposite open ends of the sleeve. At least one heat vent opening is integrally knit within the wall between the ends.

Abstract: A textile gasket and method of construction thereof for establishing a seal between mating members in a high temperature application is provided. The gasket has a knit, tubular body constructed at least in part of non-metallic, heat-resistant yarns. The body extends between opposite ends with at least one of the ends being rolled toward the other end to form a circumferentially extending rolled portion of a predetermined diameter for receipt between the mating members.

Abstract: A knit protective sleeve and method of construction thereof provides a continuous and seamless sleeve wall knit from one or more yarns extending between opposite open ends of the sleeve. At least one heat vent opening is integrally knit within the wall between the ends.

Abstract: A wrappable heat shield for an exhaust pipe and methods of construction and installation thereor includes an outer layer of metal having opposite inner and outer faces extending between opposite sides. An inner layer of non-woven insulation is attached to the the outer layer by a crimped portion extending along one of the opposite sides of the outer layer. The inner layer has a width sufficient to extend completely about a circumference of the exhaust pipe and is arranged in continuous contact with the exhaust pipe about its circumference while the outer layer remains spaced therefrom.

Abstract: Braider carriers for multiple yarn packages include separate supports for separate packages and separate guides for the yarns from each package. Insulating tubular gaskets having low porosity and comprised of an insulating yarn and wire are manufactured using the carriers. A circular braider used in the manufacture of the gaskets is loaded with a group of carriers each carrying a single yarn package of insulating yarn. The multiple package carriers, each of which is selectively positioned between carriers of the first group, supply insulating yarn and wire.

Abstract: Method of weaving a variable cross-sectional shaped three-dimensional fabric which utilizes different weft yarn insertion from at least one side of the warp layers for selectively inserting weft yarns into different portions of the fabric cross-sectional profile defined by the warp yarn layers during the weaving process. If inserted from both sides of the warp yarn layers, the weft yarns may be inserted simultaneously or alternately from each side of the warp yarn layers. The vertical yarn is then inserted into the fabric by reciprocation of a plurality of harnesses which separate the vertical yarn into a plurality of vertical yarn systems as required by the shape of the three-dimensional fabric being formed.