EP3957786A1 - Textile fabric and method of making the same - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed are a method for producing a textile fabric and a textile fabric in which a sealing edge is formed with a comparatively low weaving density and sealing compound is added during manufacture.

Description

The invention relates to a method for producing a textile fabric that has at least one chamber that can be filled, and a textile fabric that is preferably produced using such a method.

Such textile fabrics can be formed, for example, as walls of a spatial structure.

It is known from the state of the art to manufacture the shaping basic structure of such fabrics as OPW (One Piece Woven) fabric. In order to produce the necessary tightness of such fabric pockets or fabric bodies, it is known to provide the fabric with a fluid-tight coating. It is difficult to seal the textile contact areas adjacent to an air chamber, where two fabric layers are in contact and attached to each other.

The pamphlet DE 10 2014 015 376 A1 discloses a method for sealing these contact areas of a textile or film-based fabric, which can be designed as an OPW fabric, for example. In the peripheral area next to a main chamber, an auxiliary channel is formed by the two layers of fabric, which is filled with a sealing compound that hardens to form a tight barrier for the fluid.

The pamphlets EP 3 007 940 B1 and DE 10 2013 009 764 B4 each disclose a method for sealing these contact areas of two fabric layers of an OPW airbag. Here, too, an auxiliary channel is formed adjacent to the main chamber, which is filled with a sealing compound that hardens to form a tight barrier for the gas. The filling takes place in such a way that the sealing compound forms a connection with the gas-impermeable coating of the airbag.

In the post-published patent application DE 10 2020 110 551 It is proposed to the applicant to use this auxiliary channel as a welt for fastening a wall of a pop-up roof made of a textile fabric. The basic concept of using textile fabrics with a variety of fillable air chambers as a side wall for a pop-up roof of a camping vehicle is from WO 2019/197412 A1 famous.

The problem with the solutions described above is that the production of the auxiliary channel is relatively expensive and that this also has a negative effect on the appearance of the fabric.

In contrast, the invention is based on the object of creating a method for producing a textile fabric and a textile fabric that enables simple sealing of a fillable chamber.

With regard to the method, this object is achieved by the combination of features of patent claim 1 and with regard to the textile fabric by the features of the independent patent claim 9 .

Advantageous developments of the invention are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

The method according to the invention serves to produce a textile fabric which is designed with at least one fillable chamber and a textile sealing edge surrounding it. The fabric is preferably designed as an OPW (One Piece Woven) structure, with a flat sealing edge being designed with a lower weaving density than adjacent textile areas and the sealing compound then being added.

In other words, the flat sealing edge surrounding the chamber is designed with such a weave density on one side or preferably both sides that a suitable sealing compound, for example silicone, can penetrate the tissue, for example by pressure, diffusion or a capillary effect, and then after solidification / hardening, a reliable seal the fillable chamber allows. The sealing edge offset with the sealing compound is practically inconspicuous compared to the adjacent fabric structures, so that the surface structure also meets high aesthetic requirements with optimal sealing.

The adjacent textile areas, in particular the walls of the chamber, are designed with a higher weave density so that the sealant cannot penetrate into the adjacent textile areas - the seal is therefore precisely limited to the sealing edge specified by the weave density.

Such a concept with different weaving densities can be produced very easily using a jacquard weaving process.

The jacquard weaving process is also particularly advantageous if the textile fabric is designed with several chambers.

In one embodiment of the method, a filling channel is formed on the outer circumference of the sealing edge at a distance from the chamber, through which the sealing agent is fed to the sealing edge with the lower weave density.

Correspondingly, in a particularly preferred blank (intermediate product) of the fabric according to the invention, a filling channel is formed on the outer circumference of the sealing edge at a distance from the chamber, through which the sealant can be fed to the sealing edge with the lower weaving density.

In a preferred embodiment, this filling channel is then separated from the sealing edge after the sealant has been fed in. The filling channel is therefore used only for filling or passing through the "loosely woven" sealing edge.

In another exemplary embodiment, this filling channel remains on the sealing edge after the sealant has been fed in. The filling channel can then serve as a keder bead, by means of which the fabric is attached to a keder rail.

The filling channel is preferably formed in an expanded textile area of the sealing edge, with the textile fabric on the side of the filling channel facing away from the sealing edge (on the outside) being designed with a greater weave density than the sealing edge, so that the sealing compound is essentially only fed to the actual sealing edge.

As explained above, the weaving density of the sealing edge is designed in such a way that the penetration, for example diffusing, of the sealing compound into the weaving structure of the sealing edge is supported.

Silicone has proven to be a particularly well suited sealant.

In an exemplary embodiment of the method according to the invention, the OPW structure is provided with an airtight coating in the manner of an airbag, which can be applied, for example, as a film structure or the like. According to the invention, the material and the processing of this coating as well as the weaving density of the textile fabric are designed in such a way that the coating can partially penetrate into the textile structure in the area of the sealing edge and thus acts as a sealant. This means that the coating acts in a manner known per se as a gas-tight closure of the entire fabric, while in the area of the sealing edge it acts as a sealant.

Accordingly, in the textile fabric produced by this method according to the invention, the coating material is introduced into the textile structure in the area of the textile sealing edge, which is designed with a lower weave density than neighboring textile areas, so that the sealing edge and thus the fillable chamber are reliably sealed.

Such a concept has the advantage that the formation of the fluid channel described above and the use of an additional sealing compound is no longer necessary.

Penetration of the coating into the sealing edge designed with a lower weave density can be assisted mechanically, for example by applying pressure using a squeegee, a roller or the like.

It can be advantageous here if the coating material is heated, so that it can penetrate into the tissue structure as a highly viscous material in the broadest sense. The weave density in the other areas of the fabric is designed in such a way that the coating material does not penetrate in the direction of the fillable chamber.

• Figur 1 eine schematische Darstellung eines Rohlings während der Herstellung eines textilen Flächengebildes;
• Figur 2 einen Schnitt entlang der Linie A-A in Figur 1;
• Figur 3 ein nach dem erfindungsgemäßen Verfahren hergestelltes Flächengebilde;
• Figur 4 ein Schnitt entlang der Linie B-B in Figur 3 und
• Figur 5 eine Schnittdarstellung eines Ausführungsbeispiels, bei dem eine Beschichtung des Flächengebildes als Dichtmasse wirkt.

Preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below using schematic drawings. Show it:

• figure 1 a schematic representation of a blank during the production of a textile fabric;
• figure 2 a cut along the line AA in figure 1 ;
• figure 3 a fabric made by the process of the present invention;
• figure 4 a cut along line BB in figure 3 and
• figure 5 a sectional view of an embodiment in which a coating of the fabric acts as a sealant.

figure 1 shows a highly schematic representation of a textile fabric 1, which for example forms a wall of a spatial structure, for example a camping tent, an event tent, a medical tent or an inflatable display. The fabric 1 is preferably designed in one piece using a jacquard weaving process as an OPW structure and has a chamber 2 that can be filled with air via valves (not shown) (see also figure 2 ), which is surrounded by a textile edge flag 4.

The chamber 2 is usually delimited by a two-layer textile layer, which in principle consists of an inner sealing layer and an outer skin. The sealing layer is designed to be sufficiently robust with regard to its sealing and the outer skin with regard to its use.

figure 1 shows a blank (intermediate product) that occurs during the process. Accordingly, the edge flap 4 consists of a sealing edge 6 adjacent to the chamber 2, to which a peripheral filling channel 8 connects to the outside, which can be filled with a sealing compound 7. In the sealing edge 6, for example, four textile layers run together to form a seal, the weave density in the area of the sealing edge 6 being relatively low. This will be dealt with in more detail later on.

The filling channel 8 is connected to a sealing compound reservoir with a filling connection, so that the sealing compound 7 can be introduced into the filling channel 8 during production.

The filling channel 8 is sealed to the outside via a peripheral edge 10 of the edge flap 4, in which in turn the textile layers of the sealing channel 8 are brought together. However, the weaving density in the area of the peripheral edge 10 is greater than that of the sealing edge 6 .

The weaving density of the sealing edge 6 is designed such that when the filling channel 8 is filled, the sealing compound 7 can enter the fabric structure of the sealing edge 6 by pressure, diffusion, capillary action or the like and add sealing compound 7 to it. The weaving density in the area of the chamber 2 is in turn greater, so that the penetration of the sealing compound 7 into this area is prevented or at least made more difficult. Correspondingly, the weaving density of the peripheral edge 10 is also greater than that of the sealing edge 6 , so that the sealing compound 7 does not enter the peripheral edge 10 .

When the filling channel 8 is filled, the sealing edge 6 is then accordingly mixed with sealing compound 7 so that it reliably seals the chamber 2 after it has solidified/hardened.

After solidification / curing of the sealant 7 is in a next step according to Figures 3 and 4 the filling channel 8 is separated from the sealing edge 6 with the peripheral edge 10, so that a dense textile fabric 1 according to the invention is created, whose sealing surfaces forming the sealing edge 6 face outwards are practically invisible. The chamber(s) 2 also withstand high filling pressures, so that the textile fabric 1 produced by the method according to the invention or according to the invention also withstands high external loads such as wind power.

In contrast to the solutions described above, the sealing function per se is taken over by the fabric and not by an additionally formed filling channel 8 . In the particularly preferred first exemplary embodiment, the latter is used only for filling/impregnating the sealing edge 6. The penetration of the sealing compound 7 into the “loose tissue” can be assisted by applying pressure or by mechanical pressing. The resulting flat seal achieves a sealing effect that is better than that when using a conventional filling channel.

Since the geometric dimensions of the sealing edge 6 are comparatively small, adjacent elements can be assembled closer. Accordingly, the sewing tab is designed to be significantly smaller than in conventional solutions.

figure 5 1 shows a particularly simply designed embodiment of a textile fabric 1 in which, similarly to the previously described embodiments, a chamber 2 that can be filled with a fluid, for example air, is formed by a textile OPW structure 12 . In a manner known per se, this OPW structure is provided with a fluid-tight, preferably air-tight, coating 14 after weaving, which can consist of a suitable material, for example silicone or the like. This coating is materially bonded to the textile OPW structure 12 . The coating material can be provided in the form of a film.

According to this exemplary embodiment of the invention, the figure 5 Weaving density 16 indicated with crosses in the area of the sealing edge 6 to be sealed is significantly lower than a weaving density 18 in the area of the fabric 1 or the OPW structure 12 surrounding the chamber 2. The weaving density 16 is designed so openly that the coating 14 in this area the OPW structure 12 can pass through and thus forms a sealing zone 20 which reliably seals the OPW structure 12 to the outside.

In other words, the coating 14 or the coating material is pressed through the OPW structure 12 in the sealing edge area to form the sealing zone 20, so that no additional sealing compound has to be provided. This penetration of the coating material into the area with a lower weaving density 16 can be supported, for example, by heating the coating material, for example the film, to a softening temperature so that a force with a contact pressure F is applied, for example by doctor blades, rollers, rollers, presses or the like, the softened coating material is introduced into the area with the lower weaving density 16 and thus forms the sealing zone 20 . This is in the representation according to the figure 5 shown at an exaggerated size. It is quite possible that the woven lugs of the two OPW structural parts lie flat against one another in the area of the sealing edge 6 and are held together by the coating. The weaving density 18 in the rest of the area, in particular in the area of the chamber 2, is designed in such a way that penetration of the coating material into the chamber or complete penetration of the OPW structure with the coating is avoided. This means that this weave density 18 roughly corresponds to that used in conventional solutions, for example in airbags or the like.

Accordingly, according to this method according to the invention, the OPW structure 12 is coated with the coating 14 after the weaving process in a manner known per se, with a lower weave density 16 being formed in the region of the sealing edge 6 during the weaving process. After or during the coating, the coating material is introduced in a suitable manner, for example by squeegeeing or other pressure application, in a cohesive manner into the area with a lower weave density 16, so that the sealing edge 6 is sealed.

In principle, mixed forms of the exemplary embodiments described above can also be used.

In the embodiments according to Figures 1 to 4 the coating per se is not shown—of course, these fabrics are also usually provided with such a coating.

Disclosed are a method for producing a textile fabric and a textile fabric in which a sealing edge is formed with a comparatively low weaving density and sealing compound is added during manufacture.

reference list

1

fabric

2

chamber

4

edge flag

6

sealing edge

7

sealant

8th

filling channel

10

perimeter edge

12

OPW structure

14

coating

16

weave density

18

weave density

20

sealing zone

Claims (15)

Method for producing a textile fabric (1), which is designed with at least one fillable chamber (2) and a textile sealing edge (6) surrounding it, with the step: - Weaving of the fabric (1) as an OPW structure, the sealing edge (6) being designed with a lower weaving density than adjacent textile areas and a sealing compound (7) being added over the area. Method according to Patent Claim 1, in which the sealing edge (6) is previously formed at a distance from the chamber (2) with a filling channel (8) through which the sealing compound (7) is fed to the sealing edge (6) with the lower weave density. Method according to Patent Claim 2, in which the filling channel (8) is separated after the sealing compound (7) has been fed in. Method according to Patent Claim 3, in which, when the filling channel (8) is cut off, a peripheral edge (10) which is arranged on the outside of the filling channel (8) is also cut off. Method according to Patent Claim 2, in which the filling channel (8) hardens after the sealing compound (7) has been fed in and is used as a welt bead. Method according to claim 1, wherein the sealing compound is formed by a coating (14) of the fabric (1) which penetrates into the textile structure in an area with a lower weaving density (16) and as a coating in areas of the fabric with a higher weaving density (18). (14) works. Method according to claim 6, wherein the penetration of the coating (14) into the area with a lower weave density (16) is effected by pressurizing the coating (14) by doctor blades, rollers, rollers or in some other way. Method according to Patent Claim 6 or 7, in which the coating (14) is softened in the region of the sealing edge (6). Textile fabric with at least one chamber (2), which is surrounded on the circumference by a textile sealing edge (6), characterized in that the sealing edge (6) is designed with a lower weave density than adjacent textile areas and has a sealing compound (7) added to it. Flat structure according to patent claim 9, wherein the sealing edge (6) is surrounded by a filling channel (8). Flat structure according to Patent Claim 10, in which the filling channel (8) is designed to introduce the sealing compound (7) into the sealing edge (6) and then to be separated from the sealing edge (6). Flat structure according to claim 10 or 11, wherein a peripheral edge (10) of the flat structure (1) adjoining the filling channel (8) on the outside is designed with a greater weave density than the sealing edge (6). Flat structure according to one of Patent Claims 9 to 12, the weaving density of the sealing edge (6) being designed such that when the sealing compound (7) is fed in, it can penetrate into the weaving structure. Flat structure according to one of claims 9 to 13, wherein the sealing compound (7) is silicone. Flat structure according to claim 10, wherein the sealing compound is a coating (14) of the flat structure (1), which penetrates into the textile structure in an area with a lower weaving density (16) and which in areas with a higher weaving density (18) as a coating (14) works.

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