Manufacturing multidirectionally-laid material from carbon fibers for e.g. aerospace applications, employs cascade guide with wedge termination at end of winding plate

摘要

The plate on which the unidirectionally-laid band of fibers (210) is wound to form a multidirectionally-laid material (200), has devices compensating friction. The winding (220) is drawn off the plate using a cascade guide located at the end of the plate. The plate also includes an extended wedge profile (6). The base cross sectional area of the wedge is identical to that of the plate. The remainder of the wedge projects on both sides, beyond the edges of the plate. The plane faces of the plate are prolonged by trapezoidal faces of the wedge. The downstream length of the trapezoidal faces, is increased to the same extent as the thickness of the plate, in comparison with the width of the plate. Rollers are used in the cascade guide, driven at the speed of the laid material, neither braking nor driving it. The material presses against the wedge. There are two or more roller assemblies, each with a common axis. Each runs at a different speed, locally matching the velocity of the material being drawn off. Roller axes are aligned with the direction of flow of the material. A strip at the thin end of the wedge, guides the material into the laid configuration. Edges of the wedge are rounded. Its sides terminate in a beaded edge. Edges of the strip are also beaded. These beads taper to the terminal edge of the strip. Strip width tapers, approaching this edge. Parts of the cascade guide contacting the material, have friction-reduced surfaces. The surfaces are formed by a polyfluorinated polymer, or are made from diamond-like carbon (DLC). In the cross-sectional base surface of the wedge, cavities accommodate mechanically-moved parts at the end of the winding table. An independent claim IS INCLUDED FOR the corresponding cascade guide.