Classifications

• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D04—BRAIDING; LACE-MAKING; KNITTING; TRIMMINGS; NON-WOVEN FABRICS
  • D04B—KNITTING
  • D04B1/00—Weft knitting processes for the production of fabrics or articles not dependent on the use of particular machines; Fabrics or articles defined by such processes
  • D04B1/22—Weft knitting processes for the production of fabrics or articles not dependent on the use of particular machines; Fabrics or articles defined by such processes specially adapted for knitting goods of particular configuration
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D10—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBLASSES OF SECTION D, RELATING TO TEXTILES
  • D10B—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBLASSES OF SECTION D, RELATING TO TEXTILES
  • D10B2403/00—Details of fabric structure established in the fabric forming process
  • D10B2403/02—Cross-sectional features
  • D10B2403/021—Lofty fabric with equidistantly spaced front and back plies, e.g. spacer fabrics
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D10—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBLASSES OF SECTION D, RELATING TO TEXTILES
  • D10B—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBLASSES OF SECTION D, RELATING TO TEXTILES
  • D10B2505/00—Industrial
  • D10B2505/02—Reinforcing materials; Prepregs

Definitions

• the invention relates mainly to a textile structure formed in a single operation by means of one or more knitted threads and comprising two skins each of which consists of rows of stitches, as well as a core consisting of rows of connecting threads connecting the two skins.
• the invention also relates to a process for manufacturing such a textile structure.
• the knitted textile structure according to the invention can be used in many industrial fields.
• this composite material can in particular be used to form sandv / ich panels of any shape, ⁇ evelopoables or ron
• Such panel / can in particular be used to convey ⁇ U "flui ⁇ e such as a refrigeration fluid
• They can also be used to make an inflatable structure or an anti-ballistic oliodaqe structure Filling the core of the structure with an appropriate material also makes it possible to produce particularly effective thermal protections.
• this material can in particular be used to produce support structures for optical devices (carbon composites- carbon) in the space industry, or refractory radomes for high resolution radars.
• Sandwich structures have been produced for many years comprising a honeycomb or foam core, the two faces of which are covered with a skin consisting of several layers of fabric impregnated with polymerized resin. These sandwich structures are very light while providing good mechanical resistance to compression and bending. However, their manufacture by assembling three distinct elements limits their cohesion and it is not possible to adapt the mechanical properties of the structure to a precise specification. In addition, these traditional sandwich structures are necessarily flat.
• such a knitted textile structure has the advantage of being able to be shaped, which allows the manufacture of non-planar panels, developable or not. Indeed, the knitting technique results in the formation of stitches which give flexibility to the skins of the textile structure.
• the structure described in document WO-A-92 13125 is manufactured according to a cycle which consists in knitting a row of stitches on each of the skins and in connecting them by a row of yarns. binding, on a double needle machine.
• This has the consequence that the connecting threads are oriented practically at right angles to the two textile surfaces forming the skins of the structure, in the warp direction of the latter.
• the textile structure described in this document therefore does not allow its mechanical properties to be adapted to precise specifications while fully controlling the orientation of the connecting wires.
• a textile structure is knitted by means of a Raschel type loom comprising two needle supports. All the needles are integral and make the same movement simultaneously.
• the textile structure obtained with the aid of such a loom comprises two skins connected by connecting threads.
• one of the connecting wire networks is necessarily perpendicular to the planes of the skins.
• most of the connecting wires are hung on two different rows of one of the skins.
• the main object of the invention is a knitted textile structure, the particular design of which allows it to control the orientation of the connecting threads practically at will and, consequently, to adapt the mechanical properties of the structure to the specifications. , while preserving the shaping possibilities arising from the use of a knitting technique.
• this result is obtained by means of a textile structure formed of at least one knitted yarn and comprising two / skins each of which consists of rows of stitches, and a core consisting of rows of connecting threads connecting the two skins, each row of connecting threads being hung, alternately on each of the skins, on a different mesh of the same row of meshes, so as to form a first non-zero angle between the consecutive connecting wires of the same row of connecting wires; characterized by the fact that two consecutive rows of connecting threads are attached to the same row of stitches of one of the skins and to two non-consecutive rows of stitches of the other skin, so as to form a second non-zero angle between the consecutive rows of connecting wires, the first angle and the second angle being measured in planes, both forming angles different from 90 °, with the planes of the skins.
• the first angle formed between the connecting threads of the same row, in a weft direction of the structure, and the second angle formed between the connecting threads of different rows, in a warp direction of the structure can be controlled practically at will.
• the first angle can be modified by changing the spacing between the needles of the knitting machine and / or by hooking the connecting threads with consecutive or non-consecutive stitches.
• the second angle depends on the number of rows of stitches that are knitted on each of the skins of the textile structure between two consecutive rows of connecting threads.
• Two families of textile structures in accordance with the invention can be obtained, depending on whether the rows of connecting threads are attached to the rows of stitches without forming stitches, that is to say without knitting the connecting thread by the machine needles, or that the rows of connecting threads are attached to the rows of stitches by forming stitches, that is to say by knitting the connecting thread.
• the connecting thread is fixed by knitting on each of the skins and an increment of skin is thus formed on each skin during the production of each row of connecting threads.
• Another distinction between the different textile structures according to the invention can be made by observing, in a chain direction of the textile structure, the stitches of the rows of stitches on which the rows of connecting threads are hung.
• the connecting threads constituting the core of the textile structure have a pyramid structure when the meshes on which the rows of connecting threads are hung are aligned in the chain direction of the structure.
• the connecting threads can also form an X-shaped network when the textile structure is observed along the warp direction. This result is obtained by attaching the consecutive rows of connecting threads to stitches offset in a weft direction of the textile structure and by attaching one row of two connecting threads to stitches aligned in the warp direction. As previously observed, the first angle can be modified, in order to meet the specifications, by choosing the meshes on which each row of connecting wires is hung.
• a first relatively small angle is obtained by hooking each row of connecting threads, alternately on each of the skins, to all the consecutive stitches of the same row of stitches.
• each row of connecting wires can be hung, alternately on each of the skins, on non-consecutive stitches of the same row of stitches.
• These non-consecutive meshes can then be separated by a constant number of meshes, at least equal to one, or even be separated by a number of meshes which varies between two different values, to form a regular pattern.
• the connecting wires have different inclinations with respect to the skins, while in the first case, the inclinations of the connecting wires can be identical or not, as the case may be.
• the inclination of the connecting wires also depends on the relative position of the meshes of the two skins.
• the meshes of the two skins can be either arranged opposite one another, or offset so that each mesh of one of the skins is located between two meshes of the other skin, in the direction frame structure.
• the textile structure according to the invention can be used in the dry state, that is to say without impregnating the knitted yarn or threads which constitute it. However, certain applications require the presence of an impregnation and shaping matrix for the knitted yarn. In this case, the core of the structure forms an open space between the connecting wires.
• the open space formed between the connecting wires contains a filling matrix which can be made of the same material or of a different material than that of the impregnation matrix.
• the invention also has ob] and a method of manufacturing a textile structure of the type defined above. More specifically, the invention relates to a method of manufacturing a textile structure formed of at least one knitted yarn and comprising two skins, each of which is made up of rows of stitches, and a core made up of rows of connecting threads connecting the two skins, characterized in that it consists in repeating the following cycle:
• the different rows of connecting threads can be produced either by hanging the knitted thread on the needles without forming stitches, or by hanging the knitted thread on the needles so as to form stitches.
• Different textile structures are obtained depending on whether the first and second rows of connecting threads are made by hooking the knitted thread on the same needles on the first and on the second rows of needles or whether the first and the second row of connecting threads by hooking the knitted thread to different needles, on at least one of the first and second rows of needles.
• Different textile structures are also obtained by making the first and second rows of connecting threads by hooking the knitted thread either to all the consecutive needles of the first and second rows of needles or to non-consecutive needles of these.
• the two rows of needles are preferably offset relative to each other according to the weft direction of the structure to be manufactured.
• the non-consecutive needles on which the knitted thread is hung can be separated by a constant number of needles or by a number of needles which varies between two distinct values, to form a regular pattern.
• the needles of the two rows of needles can either be offset relative to each other in a weft direction of the structure, or arranged opposite one another.
• the textile structure When the textile structure is not used dry, it is then shaped by applying it to a forming surface, impregnating the knitted yarn with an impregnation material, keeping the two skins of the structure apart one from the other, then ensuring the hardening of the impregnation material so that the core of the structure forms an open space, devoid of impregnation material between the connecting wires. In some applications, the open space is then filled with a filling material.
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view which very schematically represents a cell elementary of a textile structure according to a first embodiment of the invention
• FIG. 2 is a perspective view comparable to Figure 1, schematically illustrating a second embodiment of the textile structure according to the invention
• FIG. 3 is a schematic view which shows, respectively in a and b, sections of a textile structure according to Figure 1, in the weft direction and in the warp direction of the structure;
• Figure 4 is a schematic view comparable to Figure 3, which shows respectively in a and b sections in the weft direction and in the warp direction of a textile structure having a first angle of greater value than on the Figure 3;
• FIG. 5 is a schematic view which shows, in a section of a textile structure according to Figure 2 in the weft direction at a given row of connecting son, in b, a section of this structure textile in the same direction, at a row of connecting threads adjacent to the previous one and, in c, the superposition of sections a and b;
• Figure 6 is a schematic view comparable to Figure 5, which shows respectively in a_ and b sections of a textile structure slightly different from that of Figure 5, at two rows of consecutive connecting son, according to the frame direction of the structure and, in c, the superposition of sections a and b;
• FIG. 7 is a schematic view which respectively represents a, b, c and d four stages main of a cycle for manufacturing the textile structure according to the invention
• FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view which very schematically illustrates the active part of a knitting machine used for the manufacture of the textile structure according to the invention
• FIG. 9 is a top view which schematically illustrates the formation of a stitch on one of the rows of needles, during the passage of the carriage of the machine;
• FIG. 10 is a top view which schematically illustrates the attachment of a thread on one of the rows of needles, without forming a mesh when passing the carriage;
• FIG. 18 is a perspective view showing a section of the textile structure obtained by the manufacturing cycle illustrated in Figure 11
• the textile structure according to the invention comprises two skins 10a and 10b connected by a core essentially consisting of connecting wires 12.
• each of the two skins 10a and 10b of the textile structure is made up of rows of knitted stitches oriented in the weft direction of the structure, identified by the axis OY in FIG. 1. Each row of stitches is illustrated by a dashed line in the figure and designated by the reference 11a or 11b, depending on whether it belongs to the skins 10a or 10b.
• the chain direction of the structure is identified by the axis OX while the axis OZ is oriented in the direction of the thickness of the structure.
• the connecting wires 12 are arranged in rows of connecting wires oriented in the weft direction OY of the structure. Each of these rows of connecting threads is hung alternately on each of the skins 10a and
• angles ⁇ and ⁇ are measured in the planes containing the connecting wires 12 and that these planes can form any angles, different from 90 °, with the planes of the skins 10a and 10b.
• FIG. 1 four connecting wires 12 belonging to two rows of consecutive connecting wires of the structure are attached to the same mesh of one of the skins (for example, a mesh 14a of the skin 10a on FIG. 1) and with four meshes belonging to two non-consecutive rows of meshes of the other skin (for example, four meshes 14b of the skin 10b in FIG. 1), so as to form a square or a rectangle.
• Each group of four adjacent connecting wires 12 thus forms an elementary mesh in the form of a pyramid.
• two consecutive rows of connecting threads 12 are hung alternately on different stitches on the same row of stitches of one of the skins (for example, stitches 14a of the skin 10a on Figure 2). Furthermore, these two rows of connecting wires 12 are hung on meshes situated on non-consecutive rows of meshes of the second skin (for example, meshes 14b of the skin 10b in FIG. 2), so as to form isosceles triangles on the latter.
• FIGS. 1 and 2 shows that the textile structure in accordance with the invention makes it possible to give the connecting threads 12 any orientations and relative arrangements, to satisfy any notebook. of charges imposed by a specific application.
• FIG. 3 a section along the weft direction and a section along the warp direction of a textile structure whose basic mesh size is comparable to that which has been described above with reference to Figure 1.
• the angles ⁇ and ⁇ of inclination of the connecting son 12 respectively in the weft direction and in the warp direction of the textile structure are substantially equal.
• the bisectors of these angles ⁇ and ⁇ are perpendicular to the skins 10a and 10b of the structure.
• a a and b represent sections comparable to those of FIG. 3, in the case of a textile structure whose elementary mesh is also of the same type as that which is illustrated in perspective in FIG. 1
• This structure is distinguished from that of FIG. 3, however, by the fact that the value of the angle ⁇ y is significantly higher, while that of the angle ⁇ is practically unchanged.
• FIG. 5 relates to a structure comparable to that which is illustrated in perspective on Figure 2.
• a and b two sections of the structure in the weft direction passing through two rows of connecting son 12 consecutive.
• the attachment of these two consecutive rows of connecting son 12 on the meshes of the skins 10a and 10b is carried out, in each of the skins, on meshes offset by a half-step in the direction frame structure.
• the connecting wires 12 are aligned along the chain direction of the structure. It is the same for the meshes of each of the skins 10a and 10b to which these connecting wires are attached.
• the superposition of two consecutive rows of connecting threads 12, illustrated at c in FIG. 5, gives the core of the textile structure an X-shaped configuration when it is observed along its warp direction.
• the bisectors of the angles ⁇ are perpendicular to the skins 10a and 10b of the structure, as in the embodiments of Figures 3 and 4.
• the angle formed between each connecting wires 12 and the skins 10a and 10b, according to the weft direction of the structure is the same for all the connecting wires 12.
• FIG. 6 differs precisely from the previous ones by the fact that the bisectors of the angles ⁇ formed by the connecting wires 12 are not perpendicular to the skins 10a and 10b of the structure. Furthermore, the structure illustrated in FIG. 6 constitutes a variant of that which has just been described with reference to FIG. 5. Thus, it has been illustrated in a, b and c in this FIG. 6 sections comparable to those which are illustrated in a, b and c in FIG. 5.
• the consecutive connecting wires 12 of the same row of connecting wires have two different inclinations with respect to the skins 10a and 10b.
• the superposition of sections a and b which correspond to two rows of consecutive connecting threads leads to giving the web of the textile structure a relatively complex geometry when it is observed according to the chain direction. It is thus possible to produce textile structures making it possible to meet any type of specification, whatever the application envisaged.
• FIG. 7 A cycle of the process making it possible to produce the textile structure in accordance with the invention is illustrated very schematically in FIG. 7. More precisely, the four main stages of a, b, c and d have been represented in this FIG. such a cycle. The realization of a complete textile structure supposes the repetition of this cycle a great number of times.
• the first step of the cycle consists in making a row of connecting threads 12 by alternately hooking these connecting threads to stitches 14a situated on the same row of stitches of the skin 10a and on meshes 14b situated on the same row of meshes of the skin 10b.
• the second stage of the cycle illustrated diagrammatically in b in FIG. 7, consists in making one or more rows of stitches on only one of the skins of the structure. In the example illustrated in b, several rows of stitches 14b are produced on the skin 10b.
• the third stage of the cycle illustrated diagrammatically in c in FIG. 7, consists in making a new row of connecting threads 12.
• This row of connecting threads 12 is hung alternately on the stitches of the last two rows of stitches produced on the skins 10a and 10b.
• this new row of connecting threads 12 is hung on the skin 10a in the row of stitches 14a to which the previous row of connecting threads 12 is hung and, on the skin 10b, in the last row of stitches 14b made during the previous step illustrated in b.
• the fourth stage of the cycle illustrated in d in FIG. 7, consists in making one or more rows of stitches on the other skin.
• one or more rows of stitches 14a are thus produced on the skin 10a.
• this cycle is repeated as many times as necessary in order to obtain the desired length of textile structure.
• the description which has just been made with reference to FIG. 7 shows that the angle ⁇ formed between the connecting threads 12 in the direction of the warp of the textile structure essentially depends on the number of rows of stitches 14a and 14b which are knitted on each of the skins 10a and 10b between the making of two rows of 12 consecutive connecting threads. This angle ⁇ can therefore also be adapted at will according to the specifications.
• FIGS. 8 to 10 Since the knitting machine used for the manufacture of the textile structure according to the invention is an existing machine, only a brief description of the elements essential to understanding its operation will be made. For more details, we will usefully refer to the technical description of existing machines.
• the knitting machine used here is a straight type machine with selection of needles and threads. It should be noted that a machine of the circular type can also be used, without departing from the scope of the invention. As illustrated very diagrammatically in FIG. 8, this machine comprises two needle support guides or needle beds 16a and 16b.
• the two needle beds 16a and l ⁇ b are inclined and arranged symmetrically with respect to a vertical plane, in which the textile structure is produced. More specifically, the needle beds 16a and 16b are arranged so that their nearest upper ends are separated by an adjustable spacing e, which determines the thickness of the fabric structure produced.
• the machine used during the tests carried out by the applicant had a variable spacing between 4.5 mm and 8 mm.
• the needle beds 16a and 16b have rectilinear grooves 18a and 18b regularly spaced. These grooves are located in planes perpendicular to the vertical plane of symmetry of the needle beds. It should be noted that an adjustment of the relative position of the needle beds 16a and l ⁇ b is also possible in a weft direction, that is to say perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 8. This adjustment allows the grooves to be placed at will. 18a and 18b respectively of the two needle beds either in an alignment position in which these grooves are located opposite one another, or in an offset position in which the grooves of one of the needle beds are located midway between the grooves the other needle bed.
• Each of the grooves 18a and 18b formed on the needle beds ⁇ a and 16b respectively receives a needle 20a and 20b. More precisely, each of the needles 20a and 20b is received in one of the grooves 18a and 18b so as to be able to slide inside the latter.
• the ends of the needles 20a and 20b capable of projecting beyond the upper ends of the needle beds 16a and 16b are all identical. They are characterized by the presence of a hook 22a, 22b open upwards and a valve 24a, 24b.
• Each of the valves 24a and 24b is articulated on the corresponding needle near the hook 22a and 22b, so that it can occupy either an open position, in which the valve is tilted down the needle as illustrated in the figure 8, or a closed position, in which the valve is tilted towards the top of the needle and closes the corresponding hook 22a, 22b.
• Each of the needles 20a and 20b further comprises, at its lower end opposite the hook 24a, 24b, a heel 26a and 26b respectively.
• This heel is oriented upwards so as to project from the upper face of the corresponding needle bed 16a or 16b. This arrangement makes it possible to control the movements of the needles 20a and 20b in their grooves 18a and 18b, necessary for knitting.
• the knitting machine also includes a carriage 28 which overlaps the needle beds l ⁇ a and l ⁇ b. This carriage 28 is moved back and forth in a direction perpendicular to the plane of Figure 8, that is to say in the weft direction of the textile structure.
• the carriage 28 In its part located in the vertical plane of symmetry of the needle beds l ⁇ a and 16b, the carriage 28 comprises a thread guide 30 which is located immediately above the line along which the needles 20a and 20 can cross as shown in FIG. 8
• the knitting yarn 32 used to manufacture the textile structure travels between the structure in the course of manufacture and the spool of yarn (not shown) through this yarn guide 30. It should be noted that if several yarns are used, which may in particular be the case when it is desired to use different threads to produce the skins and the connecting threads of the textile structure, each of these threads passes through a different thread guide 30 carried by the carriage 28.
• the main function of the carriage 28 is to control the movement of the needles 20a and 20b in their grooves 18a and 18b, when it passes over these needles during its reciprocating movement.
• the carriage 28 is equipped with a system of cams 34a and 34b above each of the needle beds 16a and 16b.
• each of the cam systems 34a and 34b comprises several cams capable of occupying an active or inactive position
• a selector mechanism acts on each of the cam systems 34a and 34b, so as to make operative one of the cams of each of these systems, according to the type of operations which it is desired to carry out during the following journey of the carriage 28. This selection is carried out automatically, according to a pre-established program.
• FIG 9 there is shown a first cam 36a of the cam system 34a.
• This first cam 36a is in the form of a groove into which the pins 26a of the needles 20a penetrate opposite which the carriage 28 is located.
• the cam 36a is designed to allow the production of a row of stitches on the textile structure .
• FIG. 9 illustrates the case where the carriage moves upwards, so that the action of the cam 36a on the needles 20a is read from top to bottom.
• the needles 20a are numbered 20a (1) to 20a (5) from top to bottom, in FIG. 9.
• the needle 20a (l) is in the waiting position, that is to say that its heel 26a (l) has penetrated into the cam 36a but that the latter has not yet caused any displacement of this needle 20a (1).
• This the latter is therefore in the low position in the groove 18a which corresponds to it, its hook 22a (1) being practically retracted in the needle bed l ⁇ a.
• This hook 22a (1) carries a mesh M produced during a previous passage of the carriage.
• the valve 24a (1) is open.
• the needle 20a (2) has started to be displaced upwards in its groove 18a by the action of the cam 36a on its heel 26a (2). Due to the inclination of the needles 20a illustrated in FIG. 8 and the tensile force usually exerted on the textile structure during manufacture, the mesh M has escaped from the hook 22a (2) and has been placed on the valve 24a (2), the end of which it has not yet crossed.
• the needle 20a (3) undergoes the maximum action of the cam 36a. It then occupies an extreme high position in its groove 18a, which is characterized by the fact that the mesh M has crossed the end of the valve 24a (3) and is directly in contact with the body of the needle.
• the needle 20a (4) has started to descend in its groove 18a, under the action of the cam 36a, and occupies a position comparable to that of the needle 20a (2).
• the preceding mesh M is always located beyond the end of the valve 24a.
• the essential difference with respect to the needle 20a (3) results from the fact that the thread guide 30 (FIG. 8) has deposited a new knitting thread 32 in the hook 22a (4) of this needle 20a (4).
• the needle 20a (5) has returned to the low position retracted in its groove 18a, corresponding to the waiting position of the needles, under the action of the cam 36a.
• the downward movement of the needle 20a (5) resulted in the sliding of stitch M towards the top of the needle.
• This sliding had the effect of tilting the valve 24a (5) in its closed position and bringing the mesh M beyond the hook 22a (5), on the knitting yarn 32 which has just been deposited in this hook. Consequently, a new mesh M 'is formed.
• a mechanism (not shown) automatically brings the valve into the open position illustrated for the needle 20a (1).
• FIG. 10 another cam 38a of the cam system 34a has been shown.
• This cam 38a is also constituted by a groove in which the heels 26a of the needles 20a penetrate located opposite the carriage 28. It is distinguished from the cam 36a by the fact that it allows the knitted yarn to be hung on the needles without forming any mesh.
• the needles illustrated in FIG. 10 have been designated by the references 20a (1) 'to 20a (3)', from top to bottom.
• the position of the needle 20a (l) ' is similar to that of the needle 20a (l) in Figure 9. In other words, this needle 20a (l)' is retracted in its groove, a mesh M is suspended from its hook 22a (l) 'and its valve 24a (l)' is open.
• the needle 20a (2) 'starting from the top constitutes, in the case of FIG. 10, the central needle on which the cam 38a acts. Its position in the groove 18a corresponds to that of the needles 20a (2) and 20a (2) in FIG. 9, that is to say that this needle 20a (2) 'is not in the extreme upper position but only in an intermediate position, in which the mesh M remains on the valve 24a (2) 'without crossing its end. Knitting yarn 32 is deposited at this stage in the hook 22a (2) 'of this needle 20a (2)' by the thread guide 30 of the carriage 28.
• the needle In the course of the carriage movement, the needle returns to its retracted position as illustrated for the needle 20a (3) 'in Figure 10. Under these conditions, the mesh M descends into the hook 22a (3 ) 'on which are therefore hung both this mesh M and the knitting yarn 32 which has just been deposited in the hook.
• the cam systems 34a and 34b can also occupy positions in which the passage of the carriage 28 does not control any movement of the needles carried by the corresponding needle bed l ⁇ a or 16b.
• the heels 26a and 26b of the needles 20a and 20b are all identical when it is desired that a passage of the carriage 28 controls all the needles without distinction.
• the needles 20a and 20b of each row of needles may have heels 26a and 26b of different lengths if it is desired that certain passages of the carriage 28 selectively control the movement of only part of the needles.
• the cam systems 34a and 34b comprise a first series of cams whose position allows them to act only on the needles whose heels are very long and a second series of cams whose position allows them to act on all needles.
• FIGS. 11 to 17 the manufacture of different textile structures in accordance with the invention, these different textile structures being distinguished from one another by their geometry, as described previously with particular reference to Figures 3 to 6.
• FIGS. 11 to 17 there is shown in a to f_ the effect of each of the successive passages to the carriage 28 during a manufacturing cycle of the textile structure as 'It has been described previously with reference to Figure 7.
• Figures 11 to 17 there are shown by points in Figures 11 to 17 the ends of the hooks 22a and 22b of the needles 20a and 20b.
• only the knitting yarn deposited during the last passage of the carriage is shown each time.
• FIG. 11 corresponds to the manufacture of a textile structure whose architecture is comparable to that which has been described previously with reference to FIGS. 1 and 3.
• the needles 20a and 20b are offset relative to the others according to the weft direction of the textile structure to be manufactured. This is obtained by shifting the needle beds l ⁇ a and l ⁇ b by half a step with respect to each other perpendicular to the plane of Figure 8, as noted previously.
• the first step of the manufacturing cycle is shown at a, corresponding to the production of a row of connecting wires 12, as also illustrated in a in FIG. 7.
• the passage of the carriage 28 has the effect of alternately depositing the knitting yarn 32 in the successive hooks 22a and 22b of the two rows of needles, so that the yarn is hung on all the needles in each row.
• the knitting yarn 32 is deposited in the hooks 22a and 22b of the needles without forming a loop. This is achieved by placing in the active position in each of the cam systems 34a and 34b a cam of the type of cam 38a in FIG. 10.
• the passages of the carriage 28 illustrated in b and c in FIG. 11 correspond to the formation of two rows of meshes 14b on the skin 10b of the structure. These two passages of the carriage therefore correspond to the second stage of the cycle, represented at b in FIG. 7. As already noted, the number of these passages can be any number, at least equal to one, depending on the value sought for the angle ⁇ .
• the knitting yarn 32 forms a row of stitches 14b on the hooks 22b of the needles 20b.
• no thread is deposited on the hooks of the needles 20a.
• a cam similar to the cam 36a illustrated in FIG. 9 is selected on the cam system 34b, while the cam system 34a is brought into a position such that the passage of the carriage 28 has no effect on needles 20a.
• the next passage of the carriage 28, illustrated at d in FIG. 11, corresponds to the third stage of the cycle, illustrated at c in FIG. 7.
• This passage has an effect identical to that illustrated at a in FIG. 11, it is that is, the knitting yarn 32 is again deposited alternately on the hooks 22a and 22b of the needles 20a and 20b, without forming a loop.
• the cam systems 34a and 34b are given a symmetrical configuration with respect to that which they occupied during the passages illustrated in b and c in FIG. 11. More precisely, the cam system 34b occupies then a position such that the carriage 28 does not act on the needles 20b during its passage. On the contrary, the cam 36a illustrated in FIG. 9 is selected on the cam system 34a.
• FIG. 12 illustrates an alternative embodiment which differs from the embodiment described with reference to FIG. 11 only by the passages of the carriage 28 corresponding to the production of each of the rows of connecting wires 12. These passages are illustrated in a and d in figure 12.
• each row of connecting threads 12 is hung on each of the skins of the textile structure, also forming meshes 14 'a, 14' b.
• the passage of the carriage 28 corresponding to the carrying out of the steps illustrated in a and d in FIG. 12 is preceded by the selection of the cams corresponding to the cam 36a in FIG. 9, on the cam systems 34a and 34b.
• FIG. 13 the various passages of the carriage 28 corresponding to the manufacture of a textile structure of the type illustrated schematically in FIG. 4 have been illustrated.
• This embodiment differs from that which was described previously with reference to FIG. 11 only by the relative arrangement of the two rows of needles 20a, 20b and by the two passages of the carriage 28 corresponding to the production of the rows of threads. 12.
• the needles 20a and 20b of the two rows of needles are aligned, this that is to say arranged opposite one another.
• the knitting thread 32 which is always deposited alternately on the needles 20a and 20b of the two rows of needles, is not deposited on all the needles in each of the rows. More specifically, the embodiment of Figure 13 illustrates the case where the wire 32 is hung alternately in each of the two rows of needles 20a and 20b on one of two needles of this row. Thus, since the needles 20a and 20b are arranged face to face, the knitting yarn 32 is deposited only on one of the needles of each pair of needles 20a and 20b thus formed. As already described with reference to FIG.
• this arrangement of the rows of connecting threads 12 makes it possible to give the angle ⁇ formed by these threads in a weft direction of the textile structure a significantly higher value. only when the connecting threads are hooked to all the needles.
• two different types of needles are used in each of the rows of needles 20a and 20b arranged alternately in each row so that a needle of a given type is between two needles of the other type.
• the mounting of the needles 20a and 20b is such that the needles located opposite one another are always of different types.
• the two types of needles essentially differ in the length of their heels, as described above.
• the cam systems 34a and 34b of the carriage 28 are actuated so as to select cams comparable to the cam 38a in FIG. 10 and whose position is such that it acts only on the needles 20a and 20b having heels of great length (that is to say on one needle out of two in each row of needles).
• each of the passages of the carriage 28 corresponding to the production of a row of connecting wires 12 leads to hook the wire 32 on the same needles 20a and 20b in each of the two rows of needles. All the connecting threads 32 are therefore aligned when the textile structure is observed in the warp direction.
• the needles 20a and 20b of the two rows of needles are placed opposite one another as in the embodiment of FIG. 13.
• the first passage of the carriage illustrated in a in FIG. 14 has the effect of hooking the knitting thread 32 alternately on a needle of the row of needles 20a and on a needle of the row of needles 20b, leaving each time an empty needle in each of the two rows of needles.
• the knitting yarn 32 is deposited alternately on the needles of each of the two rows of needles 20a and 20b left free during the passage of the carriage illustrated in a on this same figure.
• a cam of the type of cam 38a in FIG. 10 acts on the needles 20a and 20b of a given type without acting on the needles of the other type, during the passage illustrated in a_ in FIG. 14.
• another cam similar to the cam 38a in FIG. 10 is selected on each of the cam systems 34a and 34b, so as to act only on the needles of the other type when the carriage 28 passes.
• one or the other of the cam systems 34a and 34b is equipped at the same time with two cams comparable to the cam 36a in FIG. 9, in order to act simultaneously on the two series of needles of the row of needles concerned by the row of stitches 14a in 14b to be produced.
• FIG. 15 concretely illustrates the different stages of production of a textile structure as described above with reference to FIG. 6.
• This embodiment is not distinguished of the previous one only by the passages of the carriage 28 illustrated in a and d in this figure, which correspond to the production of the rows of connecting threads 12.
• the needles of the two rows of needles 20a and 20b are placed in screws -to each other.
• the thread guide 30 alternately deposits the thread 32 on a needle 20a and on a needle 20b, leaving each time two needles unoccupied in each of the rows of needles .
• the thread guide 30 deposits the thread 32 alternately on different selected needles 20a and 20b from each of the two rows d 'needles. These needles are chosen such that they are located opposite the needles on which the wire 32 has been deposited during the passage of the carriage illustrated in a in FIG. 15, corresponding to the deposition of the previous row of connecting wires 12.
• the textile structure obtained in this case is characterized by the fact that the connecting threads 12 are arranged in a cross when the textile structure is observed in the warp direction and that these connecting wires are oriented at two different inclinations with respect to the skins 10a and 10b of the structure.
• FIG. 15 shows how a structure comparable to that of FIG. 6 can be obtained with angles ⁇ of lower value than in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 15.
• the needles of the two rows of needles 20a and 20b are no longer arranged face to face but offset as in the embodiment described above with reference to FIG. 11.
• the thread guide 30 deposits the thread 32 alternately on a needle 20a and on a needle 20b, leaving each time a free needle in each of the rows needles.
• the wire guide 30 deposits the wire 32 on the same needles 20b as during the passage of the carriage illustrated at a, and on the needles 20a left free during the passage of the carriage illustrated in a.
• FIG. 17 shows how a geometry not yet described until now can be obtained for the connecting threads 12 of the textile structure. This geometry is essentially distinguished from the previous ones by the fact that the attachment points of the connecting wires on the skins 10a and 10b are separated by distances which periodically vary between two different values.
• the needles of the two rows of needles 20a and 20b are again arranged opposite one another.
• the thread guide 30 alternately deposits the thread 32 on a needle 20a and on a needle 20b on each of the two rows of needles, leaving two free needles twice in succession , then once a free needle on each of the two rows. More specifically, the path of the filter 32 is such that it is hooked to a needle of one of the two rows of needles on either side of which there are two free needles in this row and opposite which is from a single free needle on the other row of needles.
• each of the embodiments of FIGS. 13 to 17 admits a variant in which the attachment of the connecting wires 12 on each of the skins 20a and 20b is carried out by forming meshes, by means of cams comparable to the cam 36a in FIG. 9.
• FIG. 18 part of a textile structure obtained by implementing the operations described above with reference to FIG. 11 is shown in perspective in FIG. 18.
• This textile structure also corresponds to that which has been described previously schematically with reference to FIGS. 1 and 3.
• the two skins of the textile structure according to the invention are constructed in turn, after the completion of a row of connecting threads.
• the knitting machine can be equipped with a traction system pulling on the textile structure in a direction opposite to the skin under construction, with respect to the vertical plane of symmetry of the needle beds.
• the textile structure according to the invention may consist of a single thread 32 or of different threads, making it possible in particular to produce the two skins 10a and 10b as well as the connecting threads 12 in materials different.
• the knitted threads can be made up indifferently of different materials such as glass, "KEVLAR” (registered trademark), carbon, silicon carbide, etc.
• the textile structure thus obtained has great flexibility which makes it possible in particular to shape it according to a developable surface or not depending on the envisaged application.
• the original design of the textile structure according to the invention allows, as we have seen, to control at will the orientation of the connecting threads 12, both in the weft direction and in the warp direction of the structure .
• This characteristic gives the textile structure an ability to adapt to any type of required mechanical properties, which did not exist until now.
• the textile structure obtained at the outlet of the knitting machine can be used as it is or associated with a matrix in order to constitute a composite material.
• the textile structure When the textile structure is used directly in the dry state, that is to say without impregnation, it can in particular be used in the manufacture of clothing or fire barriers.
• the use of suitable threads makes it possible to give the textile structure excellent properties thermal insulation. These properties are due on the one hand to the yarns used which can in particular consist of extremely divided microfibers and, on the other hand, to the abundance and the swelling character of these textile structures. These last two characteristics are also appreciable in the manufacture of splinter-resistant textiles used to make protective clothing suitable for this type of attack.
• the textile structure according to the invention when used as a reinforcing element in a composite material, it can be used either for the production of a material which can be used at moderate temperature (less than 400 ° C.) in the case of a matrix d organic impregnation, or the manufacture of a refractory composite material from a ceramic or carbon impregnation matrix.
• _wire networks core connecting son and skin reinforcement son.
• core connecting son and skin reinforcement son By way of non-limiting example, one can in particular envisage carrying out a flat sandwich panel made of glass fibers embedded in an epoxy resin.
• the textile structure produced for example from a carbon thread, is applied to a shape such as a cylinder trunk or cone element, for example by a back pressure applied using an inflatable bladder .
• a shape such as a cylinder trunk or cone element
• an inflatable bladder for example, polytetrafluoroethylene bars can be used which are inserted between the connecting wires.
• One can also pressurize the space between the two skins or use the vacuum, as taught in documents EP-A-0 449 033 and WO-A-92 21541.
• the assembly constituted by the textile structure and by the shaping tool is then immersed in a dilute epoxy resin in order to provide the fibers with the quantity of resin necessary for the production of the composite material.
• the polymerization of the resin then makes it possible to obtain the structure having the desired shape.
• the mesh structure of the skins of the textile structure according to the invention allows a transferable medium such as a gas, a liquid or a powder, to be introduced inside the structure to be there immobilized or to circulate there.
• a textile structure according to the invention made of glass fibers, is impregnated with polyester resin in the manner described above, then polymerized.
• the textile structure is then stiffened, but permeable because only the glass fibers have been impregnated with polyester.
• a filling matrix consisting for example of carbon black is then introduced into the volume left free between the connecting wires. The complete filling of this volume can in particular be facilitated by ultrasonic vibration.
• the filling matrix can be trapped in situ either by an appropriate formulation, or by clogging of the skins obtained, for example, by bonding two waterproof skins to the outside of the skins of the sandwich.
• the advantage of a structure thus obtained is that it has excellent resistance to high temperature.
• a textile structure in accordance with the invention made of glass fibers subsequently impregnated with polyester resin, can be traversed internally by a refrigeration fluid making it possible to cool a structure in contact with one of the skins. , the latter being produced from a thermally conductive wire such as a carbon wire.
• the textile structure is made from flexible threads ("KEVLAR” - Registered trademark, polyethylene, etc.). These threads are impregnated with an elastomeric impregnation matrix with a low glass transition point (butyl, isobutyl, polychloroprene rubbers, etc.).
• KEVLAR - Registered trademark, polyethylene, etc.
• elastomeric impregnation matrix with a low glass transition point (butyl, isobutyl, polychloroprene rubbers, etc.).
• the use of such materials makes it possible to freeze a priori (by textile construction) the shape of the structure developed during inflation while reducing its bulk in the deflated state. This allows a significant gain in mass (by eliminating the usual structural elements such as metal reinforcements) and a reduced bulk.
• the textile structure according to the invention When the textile structure according to the invention is integrated in a composite material, it can be applied advantageously to the manufacture of anti-ballistic armor thanks to the possibility of adapting at will the thickness and the shape of the screen.
• the association of the textile structure with the usual thermal screens arranged in external layers makes it possible to optimize the design of these shields, from the point of view of the mass / efficiency ratio, in order to better exploit the destabilizing effect of the external layer
• the textile structure according to the invention can also be used in the manufacture of refractory composite materials.
• the wires like the matrix used belong to the family of ceramics or carbonaceous materials.
• a first example of this particular field of application relates to carbon-carbon composite materials obtained from the textile structure according to the invention, made of carbon fibers, then impregnated with dilute phenolic resin and pyrolyzed under argon.
• the carbon-carbon composite obtained has an apparent density close to 0.08 g / cm 3 , which can be increased up to 0.20 g / cm 3 by chemical vapor deposition.
• the compressive strength at 20 ° C of such a material and 2 MPa for a density of 0.08 g / cm 3 - £ - he properties allow in particular to consider the use of such materials in the manufacture of support structures for optical devices usable in the space field.
• silica-silica composite materials from textile structures in accordance with the invention.
• Such materials have exceptional radioelectric characteristics from the transparency point of view due to the nature of the constituents (silica) and the very porous architecture (90 to 95% porosity), while retaining the mechanical characteristics attached to the geometry. of the sandwich soul. All applications in which the best radio transparency is sought, as is the case in particular with refractory radomes for high resolution radars, are all concerned with this type of material.
• the textile structure according to the invention can also be used in the production of ceramic-ceramic composite materials produced from glass or ceramic fibers and from a matrix for impregnating these fibers by liquid or gas route capable of resist high temperature.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Textile Engineering (AREA)
• Knitting Of Fabric (AREA)
• Laminated Bodies (AREA)

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• 1996
  • 1996-06-04 FR FR9606879A patent/FR2749327B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 1997
  • 1997-06-03 US US09/194,982 patent/US6105401A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1997-06-03 DE DE69716063T patent/DE69716063T2/de not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1997-06-03 CA CA002270904A patent/CA2270904C/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1997-06-03 EP EP97926080A patent/EP0906462B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1997-06-03 AU AU30981/97A patent/AU3098197A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1997-06-03 WO PCT/FR1997/000964 patent/WO1997046749A1/fr active IP Right Grant
  • 1997-06-03 AT AT97926080T patent/ATE225424T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation

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