EP0138294A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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method and apparatus for producing blends of resinuous thermoplastic fiber and laminated structures produced therefrom
Assignee: Textile Products Inc
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Filing: 1984-06-26
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2004-06-26
Abstract
Abstract Reinforced structures of graphite, fiberglass, and the like, together with thermoplastic resinous fibers such as in ribbon, filament and monofilament form are produced. The graphite fiber is combined or blended with a resinous fiber to form a single yarn. The blended yarn is then woven into a soft, supple and flexible fabric having the appropriate concentration of graphite and resin, and with good uniform characteristics. Hybrid fabrics produced by interweaving graphite and the polymeric fibers, ribbon, etc., may be utilized instead of the blended yarn. The fabric is finally shaped to conform with a mold or substrate and heated to melt the resin and produce the resin-graphite laminate.
Inventors
- 👤 Frederick H. Curzio
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 04:12
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C70/00; B29C70/04; B29C70/06; B29C70/10; B29C70/16; B29B; B29B15/00; B29B15/08; B29B15/10; B29B15/12; C; C08; C08J; C08J5/00; C08J5/04; C08J5/047; C08J5/048; D; D02; D02G; D02G3/00; D02G3/22; D02G3/40; D02G3/402; D03; D03D; D03D15/00; D03D15/20; D03D15/242; D03D15/247; D03D15/267; D03D15/275; D03D15/283; D03D15/40; D03D15/47; D03D15/50; D03D15/587; D10; D10B; D10B2101/00; D10B2101/02; D10B2101/08; D10B2101/10; D10B2101/12; D10B2101/20; D10B2321/00; D10B2321/02; D10B2321/022; D10B2331/00; D10B2331/02; D10B2331/021; D10B2331/04; D10B2331/06; D10B2331/061; D10B2401/00; D10B2401/04; D10B2401/041; D10B2505/00; D10B2505/02; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/24; Y10T428/24628; Y10T428/24636; Y10T428/29; Y10T428/2913; Y10T428/2918; Y10T428/30; Y10T442/00; Y10T442/30; Y10T442/3179; Y10T442/322; Y10T442/3228; Y10T442/3236; Y10T442/3252; Y10T442/3293
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
98 words
CLAIM 1. A process for producing laminates from graphite fibers, and the like, and a plurality of resinous polymeric fibers, comprising: a.) combining or blending the graphite and polymeric fibers into yarn; b.) controlling the graphite/resin weight ratio during the blending step; c.) weaving the yarn into a flexible, dry fabric; d.) shaping the fabric in a dry, solvent-free form onto a mold or substrate; and, e.) heating the fabric under pressure to melt the resin and produce a shaped, graphite-resin laminate in which the graphite and resin are intimately combined in the laminate to produce uniform characteristics.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
33 words
CLAIM 2. The process of Claim 1, in which the fibers are selected from the class consisting of graphite, fiberglass, ceramics, aramid, quartz, boron, SiC, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, nylon, and polyether ether ketone.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
CLAIM 3. The process of Claim 2, in which reinforcing fibers selected from the class consisting of aluminum and steel are woven into the fabric.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
CLAIM 4. The process of Claim 1, in which an overwrapping of fiber is applied to the yarn during the combining step.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
180 words
CLAIM 5. An apparatus for producing a yarn containing graphite Ifibers, and the like and a resinous, polymeric fiber, comprising: a.) a plurality of reels bearing respective graphite and polymeric fibers, the graphite/resin ratio being controlled by varying the number of graphite and polymeric fiber bearing reels; b.) a perforated plate, each perforation being adapted to receive an individual fiber from a said reel; c.) at least one tube for combining the fibers from the plate into yarn; d.) a fiber bearing reel surrounding the said tube for overwrapping fiber around the yarn; and, e.) wind up means for the yarn; whereby, i. the graphite fibers are surrounded by at least a portion of the polymeric fibers; ii. the yarn is adapted to be woven into a flexible, dry fabric; iii. the fabric is adapted to be shaped in a dry, solvent-free form onto a mold or substrate, and formed into a graphite-resin laminate by melting the resin in the fabric under heat and pressure; and, iv. the graphite and resin are intimately combined in the laminate toproduce uniform characteristics
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
CLAIM 6. The apparatus of Claim 5, in which the fibers are selected from the class consisting of graphite, fiberglass, aramid, ceramics, quartz, boron, SiC, polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon, polyester, and polyether ether ketone.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
CLAIM 7. The apparatus of Claim 5, in which reinforcing fibers are woven into the fabric.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
CLAIM 8. The apparatus of Claim 7, in which the reinforcing fibers are selected from the class consisting of aluminum and steel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
96 words
CLAIM 9. A woven fabric for conversion into a laminate, the fabric being produced by: a.) combining or blending graphite and polymeric fibers into yarn; b.) controlling the graphite/resin weight ratio; and, c.) weaving the yarn into a flexible, dry fabric; whereby, i. the fabric is adapted to be shaped in a dry, solvent-free form onto a mold or substrate; ii. the resin in the fabric is adapted to melt under heat and pressure to produce a graphite- resin laminate; and, iii. the graphite and resin are intimately combined in the laminate to produce uniform characteristics.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
CLAIM 10. The woven fabric of Claim 9, in which an overwrapping of fiber is applied to the yarn in the combining step.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
CLAIM 11. The woven fabric of Claim 9, in which reinforcing fibers are woven into the fabric.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
CLAIM 12. The woven fabric of Claim 11, in which the reinforcing fibers are selected from the class consisting of aluminum and steel.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
CLAIM 13. The woven fabric of Claim 9, in which the fibers are selected from the class consisting of graphite, fiberglass, ceramics, aramid, quartz, boron, SiC, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, nylon, and polyether ether ketone.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
CLAIM 14. The woven fabric of Claim 9, in which the graphite fibers, and the like, are surrounded by at least a portion of the polymeric fibers.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
120 words
CLAIM 15. A laminate containing a fabric of woven graphite fibers, and the like, and a resinous, polymeric, thermoplastic fiber, the laminate being formed by the steps of: a.) combining or blending the graphite and polymeric fibers into yarn, the graphite fibers being surrounded by at least a portion of the polymeric fibers; b.) weaving the yarn into a dry, flexible fabric; c.) shaping the fabric in a dry, solvent-free form onto a mold or substrate; and, d.) heating the fabric under pressure to melt the resin and produc a graphite-resin laminate; whereby, i. the combining or blending step includes controlling the graphite-resin ratio; and, ii. the graphite and resin are intimately combined in the laminate to produce uniform characteristics.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
CLAIM 16. The laminate of Claim 15, in which the fibers are sleected from the class consisting of graphite, fiberglass, ceramics, aramid, quartz, boron, SiC, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, nylon, and polyether ether ketone.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
CLAIM 17. The laminate of Claim 16, in which reinforcing fibers are woven into the fabric.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
CLAIM 18. The laminate of Claim 17, in which an overwrapping of fiber is applied to the yarn during the combining step.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
CLAIM 19. The woven fabric of Claim 9, in which the graphite and polymeric fibers are woven directly into a fabric weaving machine.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
31 words
CLAIM 20. The process of Claim 2, in which a hybrid fabric is formed by interweaving thermoplastic fibers or ribbon with graphite fibers or ribbon with graphite fibers, and the like.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
26 words
CLAIM 21. The process of Claim 20, in which the thermoplastic ribbon is about 3/4 - 5 mils thick, and about 60 - 70 mils wide.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
CLAIM 22. The woven fabric of Claim 9, comprising a hybrid fabric formed by interweaving thermoplastic fibers or ribbon with graphite fibers, and the like.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
27 words
CLAIM 23. The woven fabric of Claim 22, in which the thermoplastic ribbon is about 3/4 - 5 mils thick and about 60 - 70 mils wide.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
26 words
CLAIM 24. The laminate of Claim 15, in which a hybrid fabric is formed by interweaving thermoplastic fibers or ribbon with graphite fibers, and the like.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
24 words
CLAIM 25. The laminate of Claim 24, in which the thermoplastic ribbon is about 3/4 mils thick, and about 60 - 70 mils wide.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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