INDIVIDUAL ZONE TENSION CONTROL

A system for controlling tension on textile material used in forming a preform is disclosed herein. The system includes a sensor and a controller, where the controller is configured to: receive a signal, from the sensor, indicative of a compressive force applied by the textile material feeding into the system; determine whether the compressive force is within range of a setpoint of the tension for the textile material; and responsive to the compressive force being outside the range, send a command of at least one of an increase or a decrease of the tension on the textile material.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to controlling individual tensioning of textile material in respective zones when forming a preform.

BACKGROUND

Composite bodies are utilized in various industries, including the aerospace industry. The composite bodies start with a preform that is formed using layers of textile material. When running through the preform forming machine, textile material naturally arrives at the preform forming machine with varying tensions causing variation in the final preform product.

SUMMARY

According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, a system for controlling tension on textile material used in forming a preform is provided. The system includes a sensor; and a controller, where the controller is configured to: receive a signal, from the sensor, indicative of a compressive force applied by the textile material feeding into the system; determine whether the compressive force is within range of a setpoint of the tension for the textile material; and responsive to the compressive force being outside the range, send a command of at least one of an increase or a decrease of the tension on the textile material.

In various embodiments, the sensor is at least one of a load cell or a strain gauge. In various embodiments, the sensor is located between a front bar and a back bar of a forming machine and the compressive force is the textile material acting on at least one of the back bar, the front bar, a structure associated with the back bar, or a structure associated with the front bar.

In various embodiments, the system further includes a double bar tensioner, where the tension is provided by the double bar tensioner. In various embodiments, the double bar tensioner comprises a first cylindrically shaped portion and a second cylindrically shaped portion, where a first end of the first cylindrically shaped portion and a first end of the second cylindrically shaped portion are coupled to a first side structure, and where a second end of the first cylindrically shaped portion and a second end of the second cylindrically shaped portion are coupled to a second side structure.

In various embodiments, the system further includes a tensioner motor, where the double bar tensioner is coupled to the tensioner motor and where the tensioner motor rotates the double bar tensioner along a central axis between the first cylindrically shaped portion and the second cylindrically shaped portion to either increase or decrease the tension on the textile material. In various embodiments, rotating the double bar tensioner clockwise along the central axis increases the tension on the textile material and rotating the double bar tensioner counterclockwise along the central axis decreases the tension on the textile material. In various embodiments, rotating the double bar tensioner counterclockwise along the central axis increases the tension on the textile material and rotating the double bar tensioner clockwise along the central axis decreases the tension on the textile material.

In various embodiments, the system further includes a signal amplifier, where the signal is an analog signal and where the signal amplifier amplifies the analog signal prior to being received by the controller. In various embodiments, the system further includes a digital-to-analog converter; and a signal amplifier, where the signal is a digital signal, where the digital-to-analog converter converts the digital signal to an analog signal, and where signal amplifier amplifies the analog signal prior to being received by the controller.

Also disclose herein is a method for controlling tension on textile material used in forming a product. The method includes receiving, by a controller, a signal indicative of a compressive force applied by the textile material feeding into a forming machine; determining, by the controller, whether the compressive force is within range of a setpoint of a tension for the textile material; and responsive to the compressive force being outside the range, sending, by the controller, a command of at least one of an increase or a decrease of the tension on the textile material.

In various embodiments, the signal is received from a sensor and the sensor is at least one of a load cell or a strain gauge. In various embodiments, the sensor is located between a front bar and a back bar of the forming machine and the compressive force is the textile material acting on at least one of the back bar, the front bar, a structure associated with the back bar, or a structure associated with the front bar.

In various embodiments, the tension is provided by a double bar tensioner. In various embodiments, the double bar tensioner comprises a first cylindrically shaped portion and a second cylindrically shaped portion, where a first end of the first cylindrically shaped portion and a first end of the second cylindrically shaped portion are coupled to a first side structure, and where a second end of the first cylindrically shaped portion and a second end of the second cylindrically shaped portion are coupled to a second side structure. In various embodiments, the double bar tensioner is coupled to a tensioner motor, where the tensioner motor rotates the double bar tensioner along a central axis between the first cylindrically shaped portion and the second cylindrically shaped portion to either increase or decrease the tension on the textile material. In various embodiments, rotating the double bar tensioner clockwise along the central axis increases the tension on the textile material and rotating the double bar tensioner counterclockwise along the central axis decreases the tension on the textile material. In various embodiments, rotating the double bar tensioner counterclockwise along the central axis increases the tension on the textile material and rotating the double bar tensioner clockwise along the central axis decreases the tension on the textile material.

In various embodiments, the signal is an analog signal and the analog signal is amplified prior to being received by the controller. In various embodiments, the signal is a digital signal and the digital signal is converted to an analog signal and then amplified prior to being received by the controller.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In some current preform forming systems, textile material may pass over a set of rollers designed to keep the textile material at a same tension as the preform material travels through the preform forming machinery. However, in such preform forming machinery, textile material wrapping may occur where the textile material wraps around the rollers causing tears in the textile material and thereby creating poor quality preforms, breaking rollers, etc. In some current preform forming systems, such rollers have been removed and the textile material is routed through a series of directional changes to provide tensioning. However, anytime the textile material routing is changed, the textile material properties may change. The effects of changing the routing are amplified if an inlet roller is in an undesirable position while the preform forming machinery is running. If the inlet roller is not properly adjusted to help guide the textile material through a loom of the preform forming machinery, an outlet roller may pull the textile material through the preform forming machinery without the inlet rollers grabbing the textile material. Also, if the tension on the textile material is greater than the gripping force of the inlet roller, the textile material may slip between the inlet roller changing a needling effect on the textile material as it passes through the loom of the preform forming machinery.

Disclosed herein are systems and methods for individually tensioning each textile material used in forming a preform. In current preform forming systems, tensioning may be applied to all textile materials used in forming the preform at a predetermined setpoint, which fails to account for differences and variation in each of the textile materials. Accordingly, in various embodiments, the systems and methods disclosed herein monitor a compressive force applied by each textile material as the textile material is pulled into the preform forming machinery. In various embodiment, the systems and methods analyze the compressive force of each textile material and apply individual tensioning, where desired, to account for variations in the textile material so that the materials are pulled into the preform forming machinery thereby reducing variations in the formed preform.

Referring now toFIG.1, in accordance with various embodiments, aircraft wheel braking assembly such as may be found on an aircraft, is illustrated. In various embodiments, aircraft wheel braking assembly10may include a bogie axle12, a wheel14including a hub16and a wheel well18, a web20, a torque take-out assembly22, one or more torque bars24, a wheel rotational axis26, a wheel well recess28, an actuator30, multiple brake rotors32, multiple brake stators34, a pressure plate36, an end plate38, a heat shield40, multiple heat shield sections42, multiple heat shield carriers44, an air gap46, multiple torque bar bolts48, a torque bar pin50, a wheel web hole52, multiple heat shield fasteners53, multiple rotor lugs54, and multiple stator slots56.

In various embodiments, the various components of aircraft wheel braking assembly10may be subjected to the application of compositions and methods for protecting the components from oxidation.

Brake disks (e.g., interleaved rotors32and stators34) are disposed in wheel well recess28of wheel well18. Rotors32are secured to torque bars24for rotation with wheel14, while stators34are engaged with torque take-out assembly22. At least one actuator30is operable to compress interleaved rotors32and stators34for stopping the aircraft. In this example, actuator30is shown as a hydraulically actuated piston, but many types of actuators are suitable, such as an electromechanical actuator. Pressure plate36and end plate38are disposed at opposite ends of the interleaved rotors32and stators34. Rotors32and stators34can comprise any material suitable for friction disks, including ceramics or carbon materials, such as a carbon/carbon composite.

Through compression of interleaved rotors32and stators34between pressure plates36and end plate38, the resulting frictional contact slows rotation of wheel14. Torque take-out assembly22is secured to a stationary portion of the landing gear truck such as a bogie beam or other landing gear strut, such that torque take-out assembly22and stators34are prevented from rotating during braking of the aircraft.

Carbon-carbon composites (also referred to herein as composite structures, composite substrates, and carbon-carbon composite structures, interchangeably) in the friction disks may operate as a heat sink to absorb large amounts of kinetic energy converted to heat during slowing of the aircraft. Heat shield40may reflect thermal energy away from wheel well18and back toward rotors32and stators34. Heat shield40is attached to wheel14and is concentric with wheel well18. Individual heat shield sections42may be secured in place between wheel well18and rotors32by respective heat shield carriers44fixed to wheel well18. Air gap46is defined annularly between heat shield segments42and wheel well18.

Torque bars24and heat shield carriers44can be secured to wheel14using bolts or other fasteners. Torque bar bolts48can extend through a hole formed in a flange or other mounting surface on wheel14. Each torque bar24can optionally include at least one torque bar pin50at an end opposite torque bar bolts48, such that torque bar pin50can be received through wheel web hole52in web20. Heat shield sections42and respective heat shield carriers44can then be fastened to wheel well18by heat shield fasteners53.

Referring now toFIG.2A, in accordance with various embodiments, a fibrous preform is illustrated. Fibrous preform110may comprise a plurality of sheets of fabric100stacked together. Sheets of fabric100may all be oriented in a common direction so that their respective plurality of fibers (i.e., first plurality of fibers102, second plurality of fibers104, third plurality of fibers106, and/or fourth plurality of fibers108) are commonly oriented, or may be alternatingly rotated so that their respective plurality of fibers extend in different direction in a crisscross pattern. Fibrous preform110may comprise one or more layers of a non-woven fabric, one or more layers of a woven fabric (e.g., plain weave, 5-harness satin weave, 8-harness satin weave, etc.), or combinations thereof. Fibrous preform110may comprise PAN or OPF fibers extending in three directions and leaving a plurality of pores or open spaces and may be prepared for shape-forming, compression, and carbonization. In various embodiments, fibrous preform110is formed by stacking layers of PAN or OPF fibers and superimposing the layers (e.g., by stacking sheets of fabric100). The layers may be needled perpendicularly to each other (i.e., along the Z-direction) with barbed, textile needles or barbless, structuring needles. In various embodiments, the layers are needled at an angle of between 0° and 60° (e.g., 0°, 30°, 45°, and/or) 60° with respect to the Z-direction to each other. The needling process generates a series of z-fibers through fibrous preform110that extend perpendicularly to the fibrous layers. The z-fibers are generated through the action of the needles pushing fibers from within the layer (x-y or in-plane) and reorienting them in the z-direction (through-thickness). Needling of the fibrous preform may be done as one or more layers are added to the stack or may be done after the entire stack of layers is formed. The needles may also penetrate through only a portion of fibrous preform110, or may penetrate through the entire fibrous preform110. In addition, resins are sometimes added to fibrous preform110by either injecting the resin into the preform following construction or coating the fibers or layers prior to forming the fibrous preform110. The needling process may take into account needling parameters optimized to maintain fiber orientation, minimize in-plane fiber damage, and maintain target interlaminar properties. After needling the fibrous preform110, the fibrous preform110may be both compressed to higher fiber volume ratio and formed to shape in a single-step shape-forming process; though it is also contemplated that in various embodiments the fibrous preform110is compressed and shape formed without undergoing the needling process.

Referring now toFIG.2B, in accordance with various embodiments, a fibrous preform200is illustrated. Fibrous preform200may be employed to form a leading-edge surface or other aerospace component, as described above. Although illustrated as comprising a round shape, it is contemplated and understood that fibrous preform200may comprise any desired shape, such as square, rectangular, polygonal, ovular, circular, or any other shape as desired. Fibrous preform200may comprise a stacked plurality of textile layers202. Each textile layer in the textile layers202has a first dimension in the thickness direction (e.g., as measured along the direction of the Y-axis) that may be substantially less than the dimensions of the textile layer in the textile layers202in the lateral and transverse directions (e.g., as measured along directions of the X-axis and Z-axis, respectively).

In accordance with various embodiments, textile layers202include woven, braided, entangled, or knitted carbon fibers. In various embodiments, one or more of the textile layers202may comprise silicon carbide fibers or boron fibers. In various embodiments, one or more of the textile layers202may comprise carbon fibers in an open weave pattern (i.e., a weave where there is increased distance between the warp tows and between the weft tows). In various embodiments, one or more of the textile layers202may comprise stretch-broken carbon fibers. Stretch-broken fibers are generally made by stretching a fiber bundle until the individual fibers break or fracture into multiple fragments. During the stretch-breaking process, the fibers in a carbon tow are pulled, causing a more or less regular pattern of breakage. The individual filaments, still quite long and aligned with one another, have some freedom to move independently. As a result, individual tows may be conformed to a contour or wrapped around a corner more easily, because fibers on the tow's outside radius can separate at the breaks, allowing the material to be conformed to deep draws and complex contours. Stretch-broken fibers may take a form of aligned discontinuous fiber. Stretch-broken fibers provide flexibility to form complex shapes while maintaining comparable strength and stiffness to that of continuous fibers. Employing stretch-broken fibers tends to increase the bonding or securing of the matrix material during CVI/CVD within the textile layers of the fibrous preform. Employing stretch-broken carbon fibers tends to increase the bonding or securing of the ceramic particles (e.g., SiC) within the textile layer and the composite part. In various embodiments, the carbon fibers may be derived from polyacrylonitrile (PAN), rayon (synthetic fiber derived from cellulose), oxidized polyacrylonitrile fiber (OPF), carbon pitch, or the like. The starting fiber may be pre-oxidized PAN or fully carbonized commercial carbon fiber. The textile layers202may be formed or cut having any desired shape or form. For example, although illustrated as having a round shape, it is contemplated and understood that the textile layers202may have any desired shape such as, for example, a polygon, circular, triangular, square, rectangular, pentagonal, hexagonal, octagonal, among others. In various embodiments, textile layers202and fibrous preform200may have a generally planar geometry or a non-planar geometry (e.g., a complex 3D shape).

Fibrous preform200is a lay-up of textile layers202. In accordance with various embodiments, fibrous preform200includes one or more ceramic particle layers204. Each ceramic particle layer in the one or more ceramic particle layers204is located between a pair of textile layers202adjacent to one another. In various embodiments, ceramic particle layers204may be comprised of silicon carbide particles. A range of particle sizes (or powder sizes) may be employed in the ceramic powders used to fabricate the ceramic particle layers204. For example, in various embodiments, a silicon carbide powder between 100 grit and 500 grit may be selected for ceramic particle layers204. In various embodiments, a silicon carbide powder between 200 grit and 500 grit may be selected for ceramic particle layers204. In various embodiments, a silicon carbide powder between 250 grit and 450 grit may be selected for ceramic particle layers204. In various embodiments, a silicon carbide powder between 400 grit and 500 grit may be selected for ceramic particle layers204. Stated differently, the silicon carbide particles may have an average particle size between about 35 micrometers (μm) and about 163 μm, between about 35 μm and about 85 μm, between about 39 μm and about 68 μm, and/or between about 35 μm and about 44 μm (i.e., between about 0.00137 inches and about 0.0064 inches, between about 0.00137 inches and about 0.0033 inches, between about 0.0015 inches and about 0.00267 inches, and/or between about 0.00137 inches and about 0.0017 inches). As used in the previous context only, the term “about” means plus or minus ten percent of the associated value.

Turning toFIG.3, in accordance with various embodiments, a system for controlling individual tensions of textile material, such as textile layers202ofFIG.2B, in respective zones when forming a preform is illustrated. The system300may include a set of sensors302, a set of signal amplifiers304, a controller306, and a set of tensioner motors308. In various embodiments, as textile material is loaded into the preform forming machinery, each textile material is routed through a respective double bar tensioner coupled to respective one of the set of tensioner motors308. In various embodiments, the system uses a positioning frame as a cantilever such that each textile material changes direction just prior to entering the preform forming machine by an angle that allows each textile material to compress an associated one of the set of sensors302. In various embodiments, each sensor in the set of sensors302may be a load cell, strain gauge, among others. In various embodiments, the angle may be between 75 degrees and 105 degrees. In various embodiments, the angle may be within 85 degrees and 95 degrees. In various embodiments, the angle may be substantially 90 degrees. The terms “substantially,” “about,” or “approximately” as used herein represent an amount close to the stated amount that still performs a desired function or achieves a desired result. For example, the term “substantially,” “about,” or “approximately” may refer to an amount that is within 5 degrees, within 3 degrees, within 2 degrees, or within 1 degree of a stated amount or value.

In various embodiments, as the preform forming machinery starts up, the textile material is pulled into the preform forming machinery by an inlet roller. In various embodiments, the textile material passes over a front bar or a structure associated with the front bar at the previously described angle compressing the front bar toward a back bar. In various embodiments, the textile material passes over the back bar or a structure associated with the back bar at the previously described angle compressing the back bar toward the front bar. In various embodiments, for each material, an associated sensor in the set of sensors302is located between the front bar and the back bar. In various embodiments, the sensor in the set of sensors302, when a desired compressive force is detected, sends a signal to a respective signal amplifier in the set of signal amplifiers304. In various embodiments, a desired compressive force may be between 10 and 200 pounds (lbs.). In various embodiments, the desired compressive force may be between 30 and 150 pounds (lbs.). In various embodiments, the desired compressive force may be between 50 and 100 pounds (lbs.). In various embodiments, the desired compressive force may be between 70 and 80 pounds (lbs.). In various embodiments, each signal amplifier in the set of signal amplifiers304amplifies or converts the signal received from the respective sensor of the set of sensors302into a signal recognizable by the controller306.

The controller306may include a logic device such as one or more of a central processing unit (CPU), an accelerated processing unit (APU), a digital signal processor (DSP), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or the like. In various embodiments, the controller306may further include any non-transitory memory known in the art. The memory may store instructions usable by the controller306to perform operations as described herein. In various embodiments, where the controller306is an analog controller and where the received signal is an analog signal, the signal amplifier amplifies the signal recognizable by the controller306. In various embodiments, where the controller306is an analog controller and where the received signal is a digital signal, the signal amplifier may include a digital-to-analog converter that converts the digital signal to an analog signal and then the signal amplifier amplifies the signal recognizable by the controller306. In various embodiments, where the controller306is a digital controller and the receive signal is a digital signal, the signal amplifier may be omitted and the digital signal is sent directly to the controller306. In various embodiments, where the controller306is a digital controller and the receive signal is an analog signal, an analog-to-digital converter may be provided that converts the analog signal to a digital signal that is then sent to the controller306.

In various embodiments, the controller306compares the received signal to a predetermined tension setpoint. In various embodiments, the controller306utilizes respective tension setpoints for each textile material that is used to form the preform. In that regard, in various embodiments, one tension setpoint of one textile material may differ from another tension setpoint of another textile material. Likewise, in various embodiments, the tension setpoint of one textile material may be the same as a tension setpoint of another textile material. In various embodiment, if the controller306determines that the received signal fails to be within a range of the associated tension setpoint, then the controller sends a signal to the associated tensioner motor in the set of tensioner motors308to either increase tension or decrease tension using the associated double bar tensioner. In various embodiments, the tensioner motor may rotate the associated double bar tensioner along a central axis in a clockwise direction to increase tension and in a counterclockwise direction to decrease tension, depending on implementation. In various embodiment, the tensioner motor may rotate the associated double bar tensioner along the central axis in a counterclockwise direction to increase tension and in a clockwise direction to decrease tension, depending on implementation.

Turning toFIG.4, in accordance with various embodiments, a front structure400of a preform forming machine is illustrated. In various embodiments, the front structure400, along the x-axis, includes a cantilever carriage402mounted on support structure404. In various embodiments, the textile material406exits the front structure400at the bottom where the textile material406changes direction by the previously described angle around a lower structure, i.e., a circular bar502, illustrated inFIG.5, associated with the cantilever carriage402, such that the textile material406travels in a downward direction, i.e., a negative y-direction, around the lower structure, and then in a negative x-direction after changing direction, as indicated by arrow412. In various embodiments, as the textile material406passes over the lower structure associated with the cantilever carriage402, a compression force is applied by moving the lower portion of the cantilever carriage402and the back bar408mounted to the cantilever carriage402toward a front bar410. In various embodiments, sensor414is mounted between the back bar408and, as the bottom of the cantilever carriage402is forced forward by the textile material406toward the front bar410, the sensor414detects the compressive force which is then sent to a controller, such as controller306through signal amplifier304shown inFIG.3, as a signal. In various embodiments, the signal may be either an analog signal or a digital signal.

Turning toFIG.5, in accordance with various embodiments, a portion of the front structure400of a preform forming machine is illustrated. In various embodiments, as the textile material406passes the back bar408or, as depicted, a circular bar502associated with the back bar408, cantilever carriage402, to which both the back bar408and the circular bar502are coupled, traverses toward front bar410applying a compressive force to the front bar410, which is detected by sensor414mounted between the back bar408and the front bar410. The compressive force is then sent to a controller as a signal. In that regard, in various embodiments, sensor412measures a horizontal stress force. In various embodiments, the signal may be either an analog signal or a digital signal.

Turning toFIG.6, in accordance with various embodiments, a tensioning mechanism600of a preform forming machine is illustrated. As previously described, in various embodiments, as textile material406is loaded into the preform forming machine, the textile material406is routed through a respective double bar tensioner602coupled to a respective tensioner motor604, such as one of the set of tensioner motors308ofFIG.3. In various embodiments, the double bar tensioner602includes a first cylindrically shaped portion606and a second cylindrically shaped portion608. In various embodiments, a first end of the first cylindrically shaped portion606and a first end of the second cylindrically shaped portion608are coupled to a first side structure610. In various embodiments, a second end of the first cylindrically shaped portion606and a second end of the second cylindrically shaped portion608are coupled to a second side structure612. In various embodiments, the first cylindrically shaped portion606and the second cylindrically shaped portion608are separated by a first distance. In various embodiments, the first side structure610and the second side structure612are separated by a second distance. In various embodiments, the first cylindrically shaped portion606and the second cylindrically shaped portion608are substantially perpendicular to the first side structure610and the second side structure612. In various embodiment, the term “substantially,” as used herein, represents an amount close to the stated amount that still performs a desired function or achieves a desired result. For example, the term “substantially” may refer to an amount that is within 10% of, within 5% of, within 1% of, within 0.1% of, and within 0.01% of a stated amount or value.

In various embodiments, as illustrated, tensioner motor604may be mounted to the preform forming machine substantially horizontally. In various embodiments, tensioner motor604may be mounted to the preform forming machine substantially vertically. In various embodiments, tensioner motor604may be mounted to the preform forming machine at an angle that differs from a horizontal or vertical angle. In various embodiments, as illustrated, the tensioner motor604may be coupled to an outside of the second side structure612of the double bar tensioner602such that the tensioner motor604is at substantially a 90-degree angle to the second side structure612. In various embodiments, the tensioner motor604may be coupled to an outside of the second side structure612of the double bar tensioner602such that the tensioner motor604is at substantially a 180-degree angle to the second side structure612. In various embodiments, tensioner motor604may be coupled to an outside of the second side structure612of the double bar tensioner602at substantially a center614of the second side structure612. In that regard, in various embodiments, when the controller sends a signal to the tensioner motor604to either increase tension or decrease tension using the associated double bar tensioner, the tensioner motor604may rotate the double bar tensioner602in a clockwise direction along a central axis between the first cylindrically shaped portion606and the second cylindrically shaped portion608to increase tension and in a counterclockwise direction to decrease tension, depending on implementation. In various embodiments, in response to the controller sending a signal to the tensioner motor604to either increase tension or decrease tension using the associated double bar tensioner, the tensioner motor604may rotate the double bar tensioner602in a counterclockwise direction to increase tension and in a clockwise direction to decrease tension, depending on implementation.

Turning toFIG.7, in accordance with various embodiments, a tensioning mechanism600of a preform forming machine is illustrated. In various embodiment, as described previously, tensioner motor604may be mounted to the preform forming machine substantially horizontally, i.e., in an x direction. In various embodiments, as illustrated, tensioner motor604may be mounted to the preform forming machine substantially vertically, i.e., in a y-direction. In various embodiments, tensioner motor604may be mounted to the preform forming machine at an angle that differs from a horizontal or vertical angle. In various embodiments, as illustrated, the tensioner motor604may be coupled to an outside of the second side structure612of the double bar tensioner602such that the tensioner motor604is at substantially a 90-degree angle to the second side structure612. In various embodiments, the tensioner motor604may be coupled to an outside of the second side structure612of the double bar tensioner602such that the tensioner motor604is at substantially a 180-degree angle to the second side structure612.

Referring now toFIG.8, in accordance with various embodiments, a method for tensioning textile material being fed into a preform forming machine is illustrated. For ease of description, the method800is described with reference to elements shown inFIGS.1thru7. At block802, the system300monitors a set of compressive forces induced on a set of sensors302associated with a set of textile material406feeds passing around a structure associated with the preform forming machine. At block804, the system300evaluates the one or more signals to determine whether the received signal within a range of an associated tension setpoint. At block806, if the one or more signals is outside the range of the associated tension setpoint, i.e., below, indicating more tension should be applied, then, at block808, the system300may send a command to a respective tensioner motor308,604to rotate a respective double bar tensioner602to increase tension on the associated textile material406. At block806, if the one or more signals is outside the range of the associated tension setpoint, i.e., above, indicating less tension should be applied, then, at block810, the system300may send a command to a respective tensioner motor308,604to rotate a respective double bar tensioner602to decrease tension on the associated textile material406.