US5979288A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Helical braider
Assignee: Fiberspar Corp
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Filing: 1998-05-18
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Granted: 1999-11-09
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Expires: 2018-05-18
Abstract
Abstract A helical braider for constructing a triaxially braided tubular member in which the angle formed by primary fiber relative to the longitudinal axis of the tubular member can be controlled independently of the corresponding angles formed by the remaining fibers. The helical braider includes a winder that applies a primary fiber at a selected winding rate and a braider that applies two helical fibers at a selected spin rate. The winder can include a winder motor and a winding station rotatable around the mandrel, while the braider can include a braider motor and a braiding station independently rotatable around the mandrel.
Inventors
- 👤 James L. Gallagher
- 👤 Stephen C. Nolet
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 15:28
CPC Classifications
D; D04; D04C; D04C3/00; D04C3/02; D04C3/08; D04C1/00; D04C1/06; D04C3/36; D04C3/40; D04C3/48; D10; D10B; D10B2403/00; D10B2403/02; D10B2403/024; D10B2403/0241; D10B2403/02411
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
134 words
A helical braider for forming a braided tubular member by wrapping fibers around a mandrel extending along a longitudinal axis, said helical braider comprising: a winding station rotatable about the longitudinal axis for applying a primary fiber to the mandrel, a winder rotator operatively coupled to said winding station for rotating said winding station at a selectable winding rate such that said primary fiber is oriented at a winding angle relative to said longitudinal axis, a braiding station rotatable about the longitudinal axis for applying a clockwise helically-oriented fiber and a counter-clockwise helically-oriented fiber about the mandrel, and a braider rotator operatively coupled to said braiding station for spinning said braiding station at a selected spin rate such that said clockwise and counter-clockwise fibers can rotate relative to the rotational frame of said winder.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
134 words
A helical braider for forming a braided tubular member by wrapping fibers around a mandrel extending along a longitudinal axis, said helical braider comprising: a winding station rotatable about the longitudinal axis for applying a primary fiber to the mandrel, a winder rotator operatively coupled to said winding station for rotating said winding station at a selectable winding rate such that said primary fiber is oriented at a winding angle relative to said longitudinal axis, a braiding station rotatable about the longitudinal axis for applying a clockwise helically-oriented fiber and a counter-clockwise helically-oriented fiber about the mandrel, and a braider rotator operatively coupled to said braiding station for spinning said braiding station at a selected spin rate such that said clockwise and counter-clockwise fibers can rotate relative to the rotational frame of said winder.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The helical braider of claim 1, wherein said braider rotator comprises a variable speed motor operably coupled with said braiding station by a drive belt and a pulley.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The helical braider of claim 2, further comprising a braider controller operably coupled with said motor for controlling the spin rate, the spin rate being determined as a function of the winding rate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
60 words
The helical braider of claim 1, wherein said braiding station comprises a braider pulley centered at the longitudinal axis and first and second pinions coupled with said braider pulley, said first pinion propelling a first bobbin around the longitudinal axis in a clockwise direction and said second pinion propelling a second bobbin around the longitudinal axis in a counter-clockwise direction.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The helical braider of claim 1, wherein said winder rotator comprises a variable speed motor operably coupled with said winding station by a drive belt and a pulley.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The helical braider of claim 5, further comprising a winder controller for controlling the selectable winding rate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The helical braider of claim 1, wherein said winding station comprises a winder pulley centered at the longitudinal axis for propelling a bobbin holding said primary fiber around the longitudinal axis.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
155 words
A helical braider for forming a braided tubular member by wrapping fibers around a mandrel extending along a longitudinal axis, said helical braider comprising: a winding station rotatable about the longitudinal axis for applying a primary fiber to said mandrel, a winder rotator operatively coupled to said winding station for rotating said winding station at a selectable winding rate such that said primary fiber is oriented at a winding angle relative to said longitudinal axis, a braiding station rotatable about the longitudinal axis for applying a clockwise helically-oriented fiber and a counter-clockwise helically-oriented fiber about the mandrel, said braiding station being operably coupled with said winding station such that said braiding station and said winding station rotate together, and a braider rotator operatively coupled to said braiding station for spinning said braiding station at a selected spin rate such that said clockwise and counter-clockwise fibers can rotate relative to the rotational frame of said winder.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
155 words
A helical braider for forming a braided tubular member by wrapping fibers around a mandrel extending along a longitudinal axis, said helical braider comprising: a winding station rotatable about the longitudinal axis for applying a primary fiber to said mandrel, a winder rotator operatively coupled to said winding station for rotating said winding station at a selectable winding rate such that said primary fiber is oriented at a winding angle relative to said longitudinal axis, a braiding station rotatable about the longitudinal axis for applying a clockwise helically-oriented fiber and a counter-clockwise helically-oriented fiber about the mandrel, said braiding station being operably coupled with said winding station such that said braiding station and said winding station rotate together, and a braider rotator operatively coupled to said braiding station for spinning said braiding station at a selected spin rate such that said clockwise and counter-clockwise fibers can rotate relative to the rotational frame of said winder.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The helical braider according to claim 8, wherein said braiding station is concentrically positioned relative to said winding station.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
154 words
A helical braider for forming a braided tubular member by wrapping fibers around a mandrel extending along a longitudinal axis, said helical braider comprising: winding means rotatable about the longitudinal axis for applying a primary fiber to said mandrel, winder rotating means operatively coupled to said winding means for rotating said winding means at a selectable winding rate such that said primary fiber is oriented at a winding angle relative to said longitudinal axis, braiding means rotatable about the longitudinal axis for applying a clockwise helically-oriented fiber and a counter-clockwise helically-oriented fiber about the mandrel, said braiding means being operably coupled with said winding means such that said braiding means and said winding means rotate together, and braider rotating means operatively coupled to said braiding means for spinning said braiding means at a selected spin rate such that said clockwise and counter-clockwise fibers can rotate relative to the rotational frame of said winding means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
154 words
A helical braider for forming a braided tubular member by wrapping fibers around a mandrel extending along a longitudinal axis, said helical braider comprising: winding means rotatable about the longitudinal axis for applying a primary fiber to said mandrel, winder rotating means operatively coupled to said winding means for rotating said winding means at a selectable winding rate such that said primary fiber is oriented at a winding angle relative to said longitudinal axis, braiding means rotatable about the longitudinal axis for applying a clockwise helically-oriented fiber and a counter-clockwise helically-oriented fiber about the mandrel, said braiding means being operably coupled with said winding means such that said braiding means and said winding means rotate together, and braider rotating means operatively coupled to said braiding means for spinning said braiding means at a selected spin rate such that said clockwise and counter-clockwise fibers can rotate relative to the rotational frame of said winding means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-11-08 | 2003-05-10 | 2003-11-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-11-08 | 2007-05-10 | 2007-11-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-11-08 | 2011-05-10 | 2011-11-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |