NASA CASE NO.

PRINT FIG. _ /_/ ?

NO_T_lCE

The invention disclosed in this document resulted from research in aeronautical and

space activities performed under programs of the National Aeronautics and Space

Administration. The invention is owned by NASA and is, therefore, available for

licensing in accordance with the NASA Patent Licensing Regulation (14 Code of

Federal Regulations 1245.2).

To encourage commercial utilization of NASA-owned inventions, it is NASA policy to

grant licenses to commercial concerns. Although NASA encourages nonexclusive

licensing to promote competition and achieve the widest possible utilization, NASA

will provide the necessary incentive to the licensee to achieve early practical

application of the invention.

Address inquiries and all applications for license for this invention to NASA Patent

Counsel, Langley Research Center, Code 143, Hampton, Virginia 23681-0001.

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1_R151322_-

Serial No.: 08/260,162

06/10/94 LaRC

(NASA-Case-LAR-15072-1) ADJUSTABLE

REED FOR WEAVING NET-SHAPED

TAILORED FABRICS Patent Application

(NASA. Langley Research Center)

19 p

N95-14186

Unclas

G3/37 0029861
NASA Case No. LAR 15072-1 

ADJUSTABLE REED FOR WEAVING NET-SHAPED TAILORED FABRICS 

AWARDS ABSTRACT 

The ability to weave fabrics with variable widths and fill yarn 

angles is a critical capability for forming net-shaped tailored 

fabrics. Traditionally, it has been possible to modify fabric 

widths by halting production and exchanging fixed reeds. In 

addition, fill yarn angle was typically modified by canted reeds, 

Neither of these approaches permitted fabric width and fill yarn 

angle to be modified dynamically and simultaneously. The present 

invention overcomes these limitations through the use of an 

adjustable reed. 

The invention comprises an adjustable reed in which groups of 

reed wires are attached to sliders mounted on reed rails. The 

distance between groups of reed wires can be varied during 

weaving. Also, the distances between the reed wires within a 

group can be varied. This ability permits the fabric width to be 

changed dynamically, without the need to halt production to 

exchange fixed reeds. In addition, the reed wires within each 

group can be skewed during weaving to dynamically and 

simultaneously modify the fill yarn angle. 

Novel aspects of the present invention include a fully adjustable 

reed comprised of reed groups in which the distance between reeds 

and the angular positions of the reed wires within a group can be 

varied to modify fabric width and fill yarn angle simultaneously 

during weaving. 

Inventor: Gary L. Farley 

Address: .- '205 Terry's Run 

Yorktown, Virginia 23693 

SS : 

Employer: U.S. Army Vehicle Structures Directorate 

Initial Evaluator: Charles J. Camarda 

Serial NO. : 081260,162 

Filed: June 10, 1994 
LAR 15072-1 -1- PATENT APPLICATION

ADJUSTABLE REED FOR WEAVING NET-SHAPED TAILORED FABRICS

Origin of the Invention

5 The invention described herein was made by an employee of the

United States Government and may be manufactured and used by or for

the Government for governmental purposes without the payment of any

royalties thereon or therefor.

10 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

15

The present invention relates generally to weaving and more

particularly to an adjustable reed capable of tailoring the fill yarn angle

and width of woven fabrics.

2. Description of the Related Art

20 The traditional role of the reed in the weaving of net-shaped

fabrics is to tailor the fill yarn angle, control the width of the fabric and

beat the fill yarn into the fell of the fabric. Increased flexibility in the

design and fabrication of fabrics could be obtained if the ability to control

the location of each reed wire were achieved. Conventional reeds,

25 including fixed reeds and width adjustable reeds offer some flexibility in

fabrication, but are still severely limited.

Fixed reeds such as fan reeds, in which the shape of the reed is

unalterable, typically have been used to tailor fabric width. However, the

fixed reed constrains the tailoring of fabric width based upon the fixed
LAR 15072-1 -2- PATENT APPLICATION

reed's original shape since the location of the warp yarn is set by the

design of the reed. This makes use of such reeds impracticable or

impossible in applications where the design requires a high level of

tailorability. Even where it is possible to produce the desired fixed reed

5 geometry, the reed may only be applicable to that specific application.

Producing new reeds for each application is expensive and time

consuming especially when prototyping a new structure where a design

may still be in a state of flux. Adjustable width reeds are known, but

offer only limited variations in reed spacing. U.S. Patent No. 5,067,215

10 to Behl et al. discloses an expanding reed comprised of a number of

hinged points which can be moved in a guide to uniformly pull apart the

individual reed teeth to a greater or lesser extent to change the width of

a yarn sheet. U.S. Patent No. 5,158,116 to Kazuo et al. discloses

several means for moving dents toward and away from each other,

15 including: 1) a guide plate with a pattern of elongated slits to guide the

dents, 2) an expander in which individual dents are mounted to crossing

portions, and 3) an elastic member to which individual dents are attached

at equal intervals.

The ultimate in tailorability of fill yarn angle and fabric width would

20 require the ability to dynamically change the location of each individual

reed wire during the weaving process. However, for most structural

applications it would be more practical to control the position of groups

of reed wires. In the present invention, reed wires are grouped and each

group can be moved parallel and perpendicular to the warp yarns. The

25 profile of the reed wires within the groups can be skewed to tailor fill

yarn fiber angle and the reed wires within each group can be

simultaneously spread or contracted to locally control fabric width. In

addition, the spacing between reed groups can be individually varied.

This dual capability to vary fill yarn angle and fabric width does not exist
LAR 15072-1 -3- PATENT APPLICATION

in typical fixed reeds or adjustable width reeds. Presently, if variations of

width or fill yarn angle are desired in a finished article it is generally

necessary to exchange reeds or halt the production to adjust the reed.

The tailorability possible with the present invention may offer

5 benefits in the fabrication of a variety of materials. Laminated composite

materials have typically been difficult to fabricate because they exhibit

many unique failure modes. Delamination induced failures initiated at the

free edge of the composite laminate are frequently produced. This failure

is created from the high interlaminar stresses that only occur adjacent to

10 the free edge. The creation and magnitude of these interlaminar stresses

near the free edge can be partially attributed to the mismatch in

Poisson's ratio between adjacent layers of material having different fiber

orientation. The ability to tailor the fiber angle in each layer near the free

edge could result in a significant reduction in the magnitude of these

15 interlaminar and intralaminar stresses. Utilizing the adjustable reed of the

present invention, it will be possible to readily tailor the fiber orientation

of each layer at the free edge.

An adjustable reed with the ability to control the fiber angle and

fabric width dynamically during the weaving process greatly increases

20 the level of tailoring that is achievable by facilitating the simultaneous

local tailoring of fill yarn angle and fabric width along the length of the

fabric. This adjustability results in higher levels of structural efficiency

and reduced structural cost through more optimal use of materials and

the elimination of the need for secondary steps such as cutting. An

25 adjustable reed will also significantly reduce material prototyping cost

because new reeds will not have to be produced for each design and

through reducing setup time required to redraw the warp yarns through

the loom.
LAR 15072-1

Summary of the Invention

-4- PATENT APPLICATION

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to form fabrics

using an adjustable reed wherein the fill yarn angle can be modified.

5 It is another object of the present invention to form fabrics using

an adjustable reed wherein the fill yarn angle can be modified during

fabrication without the need to halt production to adjust the reed.

It is another object of the present invention to form fabrics using

an adjustable reed to modify the fabric width.

10 It is another object of the present invention to form fabrics using

an adjustable reed to modify the fabric width during fabrication without

the need to halt production to adjust the reed.

It is another object of the present invention to form fabrics using

an adjustable reed by simultaneously controlling the local fill yarn fiber

15 angle and the fabric width.

It is another object of the present invention to form fabrics using

an adjustable reed wherein the fill yarn fiber angle and the fabric width

can be modified simultaneously and continuously during fabrication,

without the need to halt production to adjust the reed.

20 The above and numerous other objects are achieved by an

adjustable reed which generally includes a reed frame which supports a

number of reed groups. Each reed group has a number of slotted reed

wires which are supported on reed wire sliders. The reed wire sliders are

supported by reed wire rails and are capable of movement along the reed

25 wire rails. Fill yarns are positioned within the slots of the reed wires.

The position of the fill yarns can be modified by motion of the sliders

which can be translated as a group or skewed to create a local change in

fill yarn angle. The width of the fabric can be changed by spreading the

reed rails which support the reed wire sliders.
LAR 15072-1 -5-

10

PATENT APPLICATION

The flexibility in adjusting the fill yarn angle by translation or

skewing of the reed wire sliders, combined with the ability to modify

fabric width by spreading of the reed wire rails, permits the formation of

a variety of net shape fabrics with desired mechanical properties related

to fill yarn angle. This adjustable reed offers the additional advantage of

being able to modify fabric width and fill yarn angle without the need to

halt production, i.e., it is not necessary to stop production to exchange

reeds of various designs in order to get various configurations in the

finished fabric.

Brief Desc.ription of the Drawings

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention

will become more fully apparent from the following detailed description of

15 the preferred embodiment, the appended claims and the accompanying

drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a reed frame with three reed groups

in accordance with this invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a reed group mounted in a reed frame.

20 FIG. 3(a) is an end view of a reed wire group.

FIG. 3(b) is a side view of a reed wire group.

FIG. 4(a) is a top view of reed wire sliders mounted on reed rails.

FIG. 4(b) is a top view of reed wire sliders mounted on reed rails

and skewed with respect to each other.

25 FIG. 5(a) is a top view of an expanded end bracket.

FIG. 5(b) is a top view of a retracted end bracket.

FIG. 6(a) is a top view of an expanded end bracket with reed rails.

FIG. 6(b) is a top view of a retracted end bracket with reed rails.
LAR 15072-1 -6- PATENT APPLICATION

FIG. 7(a) is a top view of an expanded end bracket with rail

expanders.

FIG. 7(b) is a top view of a retracted end bracket with rail

expanders.

5

Deseriptinn of the Preferred Emhndiments

Referring to FIG. 1, an adjustable reed includes a reed frame 8

which supports a plurality of reed group frames 95. Each reed group

10 frame 95 is comprised of two elongated, vertical end pieces. Each of the

end pieces is connected at the top to a linear actuator 40 which is any

conventional device that converts power, such as electric, pneumatic or

hydraulic, into linear motion. Interposed between each bottom portion of

each end piece and the top surface of the reed frame 8 is a bearing 115,

15 such that the reed group frame 95 can move along parallel to the edge of

the reed frame 8 upon which it is supported. A plurality of reed rails 30

are expandably connected to the inner face of each of the reed group

frames 95. Details of the expanding means 79 are provided below in

reference to FIGS. 5-7. A rail slider 20 is slidably disposed on each reed

20 rail 30. The tops of each rail slider 20 within each reed group frame 95

are rotatably interconnected by a telescoping rod 70. A reed wire 10 is

attached to the bottom of each rail slider 20 and hangs beneath it. A

fiber angle motor 50 is connected at one end to the linear actuator 40

and is rotatably connected at the other end to the telescoping rod 70

25 whereby movement of the linear actuator 40 pulls the fiber angle motor

50 parallel to the length of the reed rails 30, along with the reed wires

10 and rail sliders 20 which are attached to the telescoping rod 70.

For illustration purposes only, three reed group frames 95 are

shown, with each reed group frame 95 holding a group of five reed rails
LAR 15072-1 -7- PATENT APPLICATION

30 which support a corresponding number of rail sliders 20 with attached

reed wires 10. The number of reed group frames 95 may vary to

accomodate fabrication of a specific fabric. In addition, the number of

rail sliders 20 with attached reed wires 10 in each group may vary.

5 Although the preferred embodiment illustrates a group with five reed

wires 10 spaced at about four wires per inch, any number of reed wires

10 may be used at any convenient spacing sufficient to produce a fabric

of a desired width with the desired fill yarn angle.

Referring now to FIG. 2, rail expanding means 79 are

10 interconnected between each reed rail 30 and the reed group frame 95.

Details of the expanding means are discussed below in reference to FIGS.

5-7. Each expanding means 79 is connected to a rail spreader motor

105 by means of a shaft 100, such that rotation of the shaft causes the

expanding means 79 to expand or contract to vary the distance between

15 the reed rails 30 within each reed group. A reed group motor 110 is

attached to one end of each reed group frame 95. The lower end of the

reed group motor 110 is attached to a bearing 116 which interacts with

a worm gear (not shown) attached to the outer edge of one side of the

reed frame 8 along which the reed group frame 95 travels, such that

20 activation of the reed group motor 110 causes the reed group frame 95

to travel along the edge of the reed frame 8.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b), each rail slider 20 within a

reed group is rotatably connected to a telescoping rod 70. The rail

sliders 20 are slotted to accomodate the reed rails 30 and slider bearings

25 113 are interposed between the rail sliders 20 and the reed rails 30 to

facilitate movement of the rail sliders 20 along the reed rails 30. The

reed wires 10 are suspended beneath the rail sliders 20 and are slotted

to accomodate the warp yarns 14. In alternate embodiments of the

present invention, the reed wires 10 may be substantially solid with the
LAR 15072-1 -8- PATENT APPLICATION

warp yarns 14 positioned between and guided by the reed wires 10 or

there may be a combination or slotted and solid wires with warp yarns

positioned both in the slots and between the wires.

As shown in FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b), each reed slider 20 is connected

5 to a segment of a telescoping rod 70. The telescoping rod 70 is further

connected at the center segment of the rod to the fiber angle motor 50,

as shown in FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b). Activation of the fiber angle motor 50

causes rotation of the center segment and expansion of the telescoping

rod 70 which results in skewing of the rail sliders 20 on the reed rails 30

10 to produce variations in fiber yarn angle. Regardless of whether the

telescoping rod 70 is expanded or contracted, the reed sliders 20

attached to the telescoping rod 70 are moved along the reed rails 30 as a

group as the fiber angle motor 50 is pulled along the linear actuator 40.

The expanding means 79 is shown in FIGS. 5-7 and is comprised

15 of a telescoping end bracket 80 and rail expanders 90. A telescoping

end bracket 80 is interposed between the reed group frame 95 and is

attached at each end of each reed rail 30 within each reed rail group.

The telescoping end bracket 80 has a segment attached to each reed rail

30 to keep the reed rails 30 in a vertical position and to facilitate the

20 spacing of the reed rails 30. A hinged, segmented rail expander 90 is

rotatably attached to each segment of the telescoping end bracket 80.

The rail spreader motor 105, see FIG. 2, is attached to the center

segment of the rail expander 90, such that as the motor 105 turns, the

center segment of the rail expanders 90 rotate causing the end bracket

25 80 to expand or contract laterally.

The operation of all the motors disclosed in the above illustration

of the preferred embodiment can be controlled by any convenient,

conventional means, ranging from manual to computer control.
LAR 15072-1 -9- PATENT APPLICATION

While the present invention has been disclosed in connection with

the preferred embodiment thereof, it should be understood that there

may be other embodiments which fall within the spirit and scope of the

invention. All such modifications are intended to be encompassed within

the following claims.

What is claimed is:
LAR 15072-1 PATENT APPLICATION

ADJUSTABLE REED FOR WEAVING NET-SHAPED TAILORED FABRICS

Abstract

5 The invention is an apparatus and method for forming woven

fabrics through the use of an adjustable reed. The adjustable reed has

multiple groups of reed wires that guide the warp yarns. The groups of

reed wires move on reed rails parallel to the warp direction. In addition,

rail expanders permit the space between the reed wires to be modified

10 and telescoping rods attached to the rail sliders can be turned to permit

the reed wires to be skewed to alter the fill yarn angle. These

adjustments to the reed permit simultaneous variation of fill yarn angles

and fabric widths and allow these variations to be made during

fabrication, without the need to halt production.
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