Patent ID: 6315007
Filing Date: 2001-11-13
Classification: D03D,Y10S

Abstract:
A method for forming a three-dimensional woven fiber structure comprising the steps of:providing at least two X-direction warp yarn systems drawn through at least 2 harnesses having approximately zero crimp and at least three Y-direction filling insertions including a pair of filling yarns in each insertion having approximately zero crimp, wherein the warp and filling yarns are non-interlacing with each other;introducing each of the at least three filling insertions in series, each introduced within a unique shed opening and separated by a plane of X-direction warp yarns, the insertions forming a substantially vertical alignment with each other;completing a filling insertion cycle without advancing the X-direction warp yarns;advancing a reed in a beat-up motion toward a fabric being formed by the yarns, wherein each filling insertion is followed by the reed beat-up and changing the position of the X-direction harnesses controlling the X-direction warp yarns to form a new shed opening;changing the position of the Z-direction yarns by moving the Z-direction harnesses to cross each other from top to bottom and vice versa;advancing the warp yarn systems at a predetermined rate coordinated with a fabric take-up rate;securing the X-direction warp yarns and Y-direction filling insertions together an integral fabric via at least one vertical or Z yarn system provided via two harness frames; andrepeating the previous steps, thereby forming a 3-dimensional orthogonal woven fabric.