Patent ID: 9528203
Filing Date: 2016-12-27
CPC Classification: B29C,B29D,D04C,Y10T

Claim Text:
1. A method of constructing a conformable braided tubular structure, the tubular structure comprising a plurality of axial sites in circular relation to one another, said axial sites being unbraided tows or braided tows; and a plurality of bias sites, comprising bias fibers interconnecting said axial sites; wherein the cross-section of the axial sites is greater than the cross-section of the bias sites, wherein the plurality of bias sites loosely interconnects said axial sites to form the tubular structure such that at least some of the axial sites are adapted to roll over each other semi-freely, the method comprising the steps of: calculating the perimeter of a gap or a complex shape to be filled; calculating the area of said gap or said complex shape to be filled; calculating a number of carriers on a braider based on said calculated perimeter and area of said gap or said complex shape to be filled; calculating a diameter of a circular axial tow based on said calculated perimeter and area of said gap or said complex shape to be filled; fabricating said conformable braid with a plurality of said axial sites having a plurality of circular axial tows of the calculated diameter, wherein said axial sites form a sheath of said conformable braid, said sheath satisfying said perimeter and said area requirements of said gap or said complex shape to be filled when conformed to said gap or said complex shape.