Abstract: A composite structural component including a braided material embedded in a resin matrix, the braided material with multiple braided components formed of continuous tows and connected by one or more intersections are described. Each of the multiple braided components is formed by sets of tows. Each set of tows includes a respective plurality of tows, which are substantially adjacent and parallel to each other at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the braided material. Each set of tows is further composed of multiple subsets of tows. The subsets of tows separate at the intersections and combine with different subsets of tows in adjacent components of the multiple braided components.

Abstract: A mechanism for radially inserting a yarn into a 3D braided preform, including a first bracket, an upper linear actuator, a support mechanism, an upper yarn insertion device, a yarn carrying device, an upper gear ring, a lower yarn insertion device, a lower linear actuator, a second bracket, a lower gear ring, a lower gear, a lower motor, a lower circular track, an upper circular track, a base, an upper gear, a pneumatic transmission and control device and an upper motor.

Abstract: Braided material with multiple braided components formed of continuous tows and connected by one or more intersections are described. Each of the multiple braided components is formed by sets of tows. Each set of tows includes a respective plurality of tows, which are substantially adjacent and parallel to each other at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the braided material. Each set of tows is further composed of multiple subsets of tows. The subsets of tows separate at the intersections and combine with different subsets of tows in adjacent components of the multiple braided components.

Abstract: A braiding machine for that produces three-dimensional braided matrices with a suitable pore structure for even and random distribution and in-growth of cells for tissue growth and repair is described herein. Methods for making three-dimensional matrices with controlled thicknesses and porosity and the resulting matrices are also described. The machine contains curved arches that hold the plurality of carriers. At least two of the arches are moveable in a side-to-side direction. Additionally, a controlled pushing mechanism pushes the carriers up and down the slots in the arches. These motions allow one to form three-dimensional braided matrices that provide sufficient porosity and mechanical support for tissue growth and repair in a variety of sites in the body.

Abstract: A rotary braiding machine, in particular for producing wire mesh, includes a plurality of braiding spools, a braiding rotor, a braiding head, a draw-off disk, a machine frame. The braiding rotor rotates about an axis which coincides or nearly coincides with the draw-off direction of the braiding material. The draw-off direction of the braiding material runs obliquely in space, i.e. neither horizontally nor vertically. In this manner, advantages of the conventional horizontal and vertical design of such a rotary braiding machine are combined such that only one product variant must be produced and distributed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a circular carriage track guide for a braiding machine. The braiding machine has at least two supply spool support sets performing relative movement with respect to each other about its rotational axis during braiding, wherein the spool supports (16) of one of the spool support sets are guided by the carriage track guide and the carriage track guide comprises a carriage (20) for each spool support (16) for attachment thereof. The carriage track guide comprises a set of outer rollers (6) for the outer radial guidance of the carriages (20), said outer rollers being attached to a support plate (4) of the carriage track guide such that an outer surface (70) of the respective carriage (20) can roll on a surface (38) of the outer rollers (6) which is mounted so as to be able to rotate by means of at least one roller bearing.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a high-quality fiber reinforced resin member that enables a longitudinal yarn to be laid out, without slipping, around an outer periphery of a mandrel having at least a bent portion, thus allowing both the longitudinal yarn and a diagonal yarn to be evenly laid out, and a method of manufacturing the fiber reinforced resin member, as well as an apparatus manufacturing a fiber fabric for the fiber reinforced resin member. A fiber reinforced resin member 1 includes an elongate fiber fabric formed by braiding a plurality of longitudinal yarns Q, . . . extending in a longitudinal direction of the fiber fabric and a plurality of diagonal yarns P, . . . inclined at a predetermined angle to the longitudinal direction, the fiber fabric being impregnated with resin that is then hardened. The fiber reinforced resin member 1 has at least a bent portion 1?. The longitudinal yarns Q, . . .

Abstract: A hair braiding machine makes it possible to mechanically braid hair in a short period of time and to stably braid hair regardless of the state of hair.

Abstract: A machine for producing complex-shaped, three-dimensional engineered fiber preforms having unitary, integral and seamless structures and, a method for making the preforms on the machine, and preforms produced thereby. The integral design and structure of the preform is formed by a combination of interlacing and non-interlacing fiber systems that permits variable cross-sectional area and dimensions from a first end to a second end along an axis via selective activation and control of at least one module, preferably a plurality of moduli connected to each other in any desirable configuration.

Abstract: A braiding machine with components comprising a support table mounting a plurality of individual segments forming a bed having a substantially circular tracking groove. Each segment comprises a segment groove which comprises a pair of opposed transfer openings formed through the outer wall with the transfer openings of adjacent segments being in contact forming the tracking groove as an endless ring. The size of the endless ring is determined by the number and size of the segments used. The tracking groove may be coated with a selected material other than the material forming the segment.

Abstract: A method for producing packing for the stuffing of boxes, among other purposes. In one embodiment, the packing enables compressive forces to be transmitted uniformly from a gland along an entire winding of the packing so as to eliminate stresses within the packing itself. The method includes a step in which elementary yarns converge to form the packing at an assembly point and a step in which the packing is wound into a coil starting at the assembly point.

Abstract: A braiding machine carrier having a frame; a fiber spool mount attached to the frame; a fiber take-up assembly including a spiral spring; gear train on the frame for mechanically connecting the take-up spring assembly to the fiber spool mount for winding the spiral spring as a spool on the mount rotates; and a magnetic clutch, coupled to the take-up spring assembly, for preventing overwinding of the spiral spring.

Abstract: A fabric forming device including a stationary yarn supply and a rotating yarn supply, each delivering yarn to a common point along a vertical axis where they are interlaced. The stationary yarn supply includes a plurality of yarn carrying cones which are arranged along a common horizontal plane about the vertical axis. The rotating yarn supply includes a plurality of yarn spools mounted with a rotating plate about the vertical axis. A plurality of vertically moveable guide members which are adapted to engage with the yarns of the rotating yarn supply act to selectively alter the horizontal path along which the yarns travel. The guide members act to control the yarns of the rotating yarn supply to be selectively positioned to pass above or below the cones carrying the stationary yarns so that the yarns interlace in a desired manner.

Abstract: A machine for three-dimensional braiding of fibers is provided in which carrier members travel on a curved, segmented and movable braiding surface. The carrier members are capable of independent, self-propelled motion along the braiding surface. Carrier member position on the braiding surface is controlled and monitored by computer. Also disclosed is a yarn take-up device capable of maintaining tension in the braiding fiber.

Abstract: The invention concerns a braid structure comprising a plurality of braided layers of stranded material in which the layers are laid down in a single pass of a braiding machine, with at least one strand of each layer extending into a contiguous layer to form an interlock between the layers. The invention also concerns a machine and a method of making the structure by supplying groups of strands, (R, B, G, O, W), to a braid forming station, whereby each group of strands forms a braid layer. A strand (R) from one of the groups passes into or through the strands (B) of a group of an adjacent layer to form an interlock therebetween.

Abstract: A braider having a mandrel support member which is pivotable around a braiding point and linearly movable toward and away from the braiding point. Since control of the position of the mandrel is performed by pivotal motion around the braiding point and linear movement in a direction toward the braiding point, the mandrel can be moved to an arbitrary position without depending upon movement of the mandrel by a great distance in one direction.

Abstract: A braiding machine for braiding a three-dimensional braid formed of interlocked layers includes a plurality of yarn carriers with packages of yarn, tracks defining serpentine paths and a drive mechanism for driving the carriers along the paths. The drive mechanism includes a two-dimensional array of braiding horn-gears arranged in rows. At the ends of each rows turnaround horn gears are provided for turning the carriers around. Advantageously, a small turnaround horngear is provided at one end of each row and two turnaround horngears are provided at the other end, each horngear having less number of slots than the braiding horngears.

Abstract: A braiding method comprising moving bobbin carriers along tracks connecting a plurality of braiding regions to braid cords or strands in a specific braiding region, in another braiding region or in all the braiding regions. The braid may be used as core structure for fiber-reinforced plastics.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing braided reinforcement for tubular conduits such as hose is disclosed. The reinforcement is characterized by a three over, three under braid pattern. The apparatus comprises a Maypole type braider wherein each driver of the braider includes six pockets to accommodate carrier spindles, and the number of carriers is three times the number of drivers. The invention provides a braided product which can be produced at lower cost with increased output.

Abstract: A simple braiding machine readily adaptable to a variety of braiding tasks comprises self-propelled bobbin carriers guided by a track consisting of interchangeable units similar to the interchangeable track units of a toy train. Also disclosed is a simple yarn tensioner capable of maintaining constant tension in the braiding yarn and capable of taking up slack yarn.

Abstract: A braiding machine is to form a braid by rotating a plurality of horn dogs, respectively in synchronism and alternately each in reverse directions and running a plurality of carriers for yarn supply along carrier ways while transferring said carrier successively to neighboring horn dogs, and is provided with a belt drive system comprising plurality of synchro pulleys rotating each integrally with a plurality of said horn dogs, and a synchro belt for rotating each synchro pulley in synchronism and alternately each in reverse directions by being passed over between a plurality of said horn dogs.

Abstract: An apparatus automatically braids a plurality of rope forming strands onto a center core member in a braiding pattern that causes the resulting rope to have a generally square shaped cross section. The braiding strands are fed to a braiding point on the center core member from a plurality of eight strand feed assemblies which are transported on a mechanism in two distinct but crossing orbits that encircle the center core member. The constituent strands are themselves formed by prebraided or pretwisted substrands or filaments to cause the resulting rope to exhibit pronounced ribs along the corners of the square cross section for a secure hand-to-rope grip.

Abstract: A braiding machine of the maypole form having co-acting horngear assemblies positioned in a cylindrical housing and arranged to drive spool carriers along a double undulating and intersecting drive track groove as groups in opposed directions. The form of the groove is such as to avoid discontinuities both in normal and in tangential components of acceleration forces on the spool carriers. Drive is transmitted from the horngear assemblies to the spool carriers by drive forks each carried on a pivot shaft mounted for oscillating rotation through restricted arc on the respective horngear assembly. Oscillating rotation of the drive forks is effected by a cam follower arrangement engaging a cam track such that the drive forks propel the spool carriers along the guide track groove with constant or substantially constant linear velocity.

Abstract: The present speed control apparatus and method operates to progressively increase the speed of travel of the strand supply carrier shuttles of the braiding machine as the amount of strand material wound on the supply carriers is decreased and to thereby increase the efficiency of the braiding machine. The speed control includes an ultrasonic sensor supported adjacent the path of travel of the strand supply carrier shuttles and being operable to detect the amount of strand material remaining on the strand supply carriers during each serpentine path of travel of the strand supply carriers past the sensor. Computers are provided for progressively increasing the speed of travel of the strand supply carrier shuttles in response to detected decreases in the amount of strand material on the strand supply carriers.

Abstract: A drive mechanism for driving one or a plurality of displaceable elements around a closed path, such as a circle, constituted by a linear induction actuator associated with means for constraining the displaceable elements to move in the closed path. A capacitive feedback control system determines the position of the element or elements around the path and controls the windings of the linear induction actuator in dependence on an error signal generated therefrom. An open path drive mechanism having a plurality of linear induction actuators and a capacitive feedback control system is also encompassed by the invention as are hybrid linear induction motors using sets of arcuate linear induction actuators around the rim of a reaction member which drives an output shaft of the motor.

Abstract: Apparatus and method are disclosed for inserting an additive type thread along a surface area of a braided fabric. Base material containing bobbins are guided about the base material bobbin path, whereas bobbins containing the desired additive thread are only permitted to revolve around a portion of the base material bobbin path corresponding to the fabric surface. The base material containing bobbins and the additive thread containing bobbins are provided with different types of feet; the feet of the base material bobbins cooperating with stationary switch means located along the bobbin path to permit rotation of the base material bobbins about the entire bobbin path. In contrast, the feet of the additive type bobbins cooperate with the same stationary switch means in such manner that rotation of the additive thread containing bobbins is limited to a certain specified portion of the bobbin path; the portion corresponding to the desired fabric surface area.

Abstract: A plurality of bobbin supports is movable along an endless track and each has a guide portion which engages the track, and a motion-transmitting portion. An arrangement is provided for advancing the bobbin supports along the track and includes a plurality of rotary drivers which are arranged along the track and which each have an angularly movable circular plate provided in a circumferential margin thereof with angularly spaced recesses each located in a sector of the plate. The margins of adjacent ones of the plates overlap one another and the motion-transmitting portions are engageable in the respective recesses so as to share part of the angular movement of the respective plate prior to engaging the margin of the adjacent plate and entering into a recess of the latter. A sound-damping arrangement is provided at the margins so as to dampen sound when the margins are engaged by the bobbin supports.