Abstract: In a method of making a carbon fibre preform such as for use in the manufacture of a friction disc a compressible body of carbon fibre or carbon fibre precursor material is acted upon by compressing means to compress the body to a required thickness and then operated upon by means such as a barbed needle-punch needle for a stitching thread which penetrates substantially the whole thickness of the body whereby the compressed preform may be removed from action by the compressing means in a free-standing and compressed state. If the method uses carbon fibre precursor material, that is then subjected to carbonization.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 28, 1994
Date of Patent:
February 4, 1997
Assignee:
Dunlop Limited, A British Company
Inventors:
Maurice J. Evans, Keith A. Williams, Ronald Fisher