Method and a machine for making hollow reinforcing members

Claim 3

The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of in the method, positioning the bent ends of said plurality of flexible rods so as to lie at the same position along the axis of said mandrel.

Claim 4

The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of in the method, staggering the bent ends of said plurality of flexible rods along the axis of said mandrel.

Claim 5

The method according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of flexible rods comprises several sets of rods, and further comprising the step of, in the method, locating the bent ends of the rods in a set all so as to be at the same position along the axis of said mandrel, but locating each of the sets so as to have the bent ends of its rods at a position that differs from the positions of the other sets.

Claim 6

The method according to claim 2, 1, further comprising the step of, in the method, forming the flexible rods of several sets into radial groups in which said flexible rods are superposed radially.

Claim 7

The method according to claim 5, further comprising the step of in the method, positioning the groups of radially superposed rods, which comprise different numbers of superposed rods, in alternation around the periphery of said mandrel.

Claim 8

The method according to claim 6, further comprising the step of in the method, radially offsetting the rods of peripherally consecutive groups.

Claim 9

The method according to claim 7, further comprising the step of in the method, in two peripherally consecutive groups, radially disposing the rods of the less numerous group between pairs of rods of the more numerous group.

Claim 10

The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of, during step (d), holding the flexible rods in place in order to form an integral portion of said reinforcing member.

Claim 11

The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of in the method, rotating said mandrel about its axis.

Claim 12

The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of providing an abutment surface for the extremities of said rods opposite to said bent ends prior to step (a), and displacing said mandrel towards said abutment surface during step (d).

Claim 13

A machine for weaving a hollow reinforcing member formed by fibers by means of a mandrel having a periphery and an axis of rotating, the machine comprising: (a) a plurality of flexible rods, each having a straight shank portion, and each being provided at one extremity with a bent end wherein said bent end is substantially linear and occupies a plane which forms an angle of not less that 90° with said flexible rod, said angle facing the non-bent end of said flexible rod, the flexible rods being distributed around the periphery of said mandrel, at least said extremities with bent ends being disposed against said mandrel with their bent ends projecting outwardly; (b) means for interlocking at least one continuous strand of filaments around the bent ends of said flexible rods, said means for interlocking said continuous strand of filaments comprising means for rotating said mandrel about its axis, and non-rotating means for placing said strand of filaments around said bent ends of the rods; and (c) means for displacing said flexible rods along said mandrel as said strand of filaments is being interlocked, said means for displacing said rods along the mandrels as said strand of filaments is being interlocked comprising an abutment surface for the extremities of said rods opposite to said bent ends and means for displacing said mandrel towards said abutment surface while said strand of filaments is being interlocked.

Claim 14

A machine for weaving a hollow reinforcing member formed by fibers by means of a mandrel having a periphery and an axis of rotating, the machine comprising: (a) a plurality of flexible rods, each having a straight shank portion, and each being provided at one extremity with a bent end wherein said bent end is substantially linear and occupies a plane which forms an angle of not less that 90° with said flexible rod, said angle facing the non-bent end of said flexible rod, the flexible rods being distributed around the periphery of said mandrel, at least said extremities with bent ends being disposed against said mandrel with their bent ends projecting outwardly; (b) means for interlocking at least one continuous strand of filaments around the bent ends of said flexible rods, said means for interlocking said continuous strand of filaments comprising means for rotating said mandrel about its axis, and non-rotating means for placing said strand of filaments around said bent ends of the rods; and (c) means for displacing said flexible rods along said mandrel as said strand of filaments is being interlocked, said means for displacing said rods along the mandrels as said strand of filaments is being interlocked comprising an abutment surface for the extremities of said rods opposite to said bent ends and means for displacing said mandrel towards said abutment surface while said strand of filaments is being interlocked.

Claim 15

The machine according to claim 12, wherein the axis of rotation of said mandrel is vertical.

Claim 16

The machine according to claim 12, wherein said means for rotating said mandrel about its axis together with said means for displacing said mandrel towards said abutment surface comprise an actuator, which is rotated about its own axis.

Claim 17

The machine according to claim 12, wherein said means for rotating said mandrel about its axis together with said means for displacing said mandrel towards said abutment surface comprise a disk mounted to rotate relative to a plate, said plate having a surface and said plate being adapted to be displaced in a direction perpendicular to said surface.

Claim 18

The machine according to claim 12, wherein said plurality of flexible rods is constituted of several sets of rods, the bent ends of the rods in a set all being at the same position along the axis of said mandrel, but each of said sets having the bent ends of its rods at a position which is different from the positions of the other sets, and wherein said machine includes a plurality of thread-guides, each of which is adapted for putting one of the at least one continuous strand of filaments down on said mandrel around the curved ends of said rods.

Claim 19

The machine according to claim 16 wherein said thread-guides are secured mechanically relative to one another.

Claim 20

The machine according to claim 12, wherein said non-rotating means for putting the strand of filaments down on the rotary mandrel comprise a head facing the mandrel including a sensor measuring the distance between said head and said mandrel, a sensor detecting the peripheral travel of said rods, and a sensor detecting said curved ends of the rods.

Claim 21

The machine according to claim 18, wherein said head includes at least one thread-guide together with means for displacing said thread-guide parallel to said rods.