Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C70/00—Shaping composites, i.e. plastics material comprising reinforcements, fillers or preformed parts, e.g. inserts
  • B29C70/04—Shaping composites, i.e. plastics material comprising reinforcements, fillers or preformed parts, e.g. inserts comprising reinforcements only, e.g. self-reinforcing plastics
  • B29C70/28—Shaping operations therefor
  • B29C70/54—Component parts, details or accessories; Auxiliary operations, e.g. feeding or storage of prepregs or SMC after impregnation or during ageing
  • B29C70/542—Placing or positioning the reinforcement in a covering or packaging element before or during moulding, e.g. drawing in a sleeve
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C53/00—Shaping by bending, folding, twisting, straightening or flattening; Apparatus therefor
  • B29C53/02—Bending or folding
  • B29C53/12—Bending or folding helically, e.g. for making springs
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C53/00—Shaping by bending, folding, twisting, straightening or flattening; Apparatus therefor
  • B29C53/80—Component parts, details or accessories; Auxiliary operations
  • B29C53/82—Cores or mandrels
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C70/00—Shaping composites, i.e. plastics material comprising reinforcements, fillers or preformed parts, e.g. inserts
  • B29C70/04—Shaping composites, i.e. plastics material comprising reinforcements, fillers or preformed parts, e.g. inserts comprising reinforcements only, e.g. self-reinforcing plastics
  • B29C70/06—Fibrous reinforcements only
  • B29C70/10—Fibrous reinforcements only characterised by the structure of fibrous reinforcements, e.g. hollow fibres
  • B29C70/16—Fibrous reinforcements only characterised by the structure of fibrous reinforcements, e.g. hollow fibres using fibres of substantial or continuous length
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C70/00—Shaping composites, i.e. plastics material comprising reinforcements, fillers or preformed parts, e.g. inserts
  • B29C70/04—Shaping composites, i.e. plastics material comprising reinforcements, fillers or preformed parts, e.g. inserts comprising reinforcements only, e.g. self-reinforcing plastics
  • B29C70/28—Shaping operations therefor
  • B29C70/30—Shaping by lay-up, i.e. applying fibres, tape or broadsheet on a mould, former or core; Shaping by spray-up, i.e. spraying of fibres on a mould, former or core
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16F—SPRINGS; SHOCK-ABSORBERS; MEANS FOR DAMPING VIBRATION
  • F16F1/00—Springs
  • F16F1/36—Springs made of rubber or other material having high internal friction, e.g. thermoplastic elastomers
  • F16F1/366—Springs made of rubber or other material having high internal friction, e.g. thermoplastic elastomers made of fibre-reinforced plastics, i.e. characterised by their special construction from such materials
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C53/00—Shaping by bending, folding, twisting, straightening or flattening; Apparatus therefor
  • B29C53/80—Component parts, details or accessories; Auxiliary operations
  • B29C53/84—Heating or cooling
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C63/00—Lining or sheathing, i.e. applying preformed layers or sheathings of plastics; Apparatus therefor
  • B29C63/02—Lining or sheathing, i.e. applying preformed layers or sheathings of plastics; Apparatus therefor using sheet or web-like material
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29L—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES
  • B29L2031/00—Other particular articles
  • B29L2031/30—Vehicles, e.g. ships or aircraft, or body parts thereof
  • B29L2031/3055—Cars
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29L—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES
  • B29L2031/00—Other particular articles
  • B29L2031/774—Springs
  • B29L2031/7742—Springs helical springs
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16F—SPRINGS; SHOCK-ABSORBERS; MEANS FOR DAMPING VIBRATION
  • F16F1/00—Springs
  • F16F1/36—Springs made of rubber or other material having high internal friction, e.g. thermoplastic elastomers
  • F16F1/366—Springs made of rubber or other material having high internal friction, e.g. thermoplastic elastomers made of fibre-reinforced plastics, i.e. characterised by their special construction from such materials
  • F16F1/3665—Wound springs
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16F—SPRINGS; SHOCK-ABSORBERS; MEANS FOR DAMPING VIBRATION
  • F16F2226/00—Manufacturing; Treatments

Definitions

• the present disclosure relates to a method of manufacturing a composite body having a given shape.
• Such a method is particularly particularly useful for manufacturing a composite body forming an element for vehicle suspension, such as a spring for vehicle suspension or a stabilizer bar for vehicle suspension.
• Such composite springs are thus produced from a composite cord, formed from a plurality of fibrous layers impregnated with resin, wound around one another, shaped and then solidified by polymerization of the resin.
• the rope passes through a resin bath after each new fibrous layer is wound.
• the fibrous ribbons wound around the rope during manufacture are pre-impregnated with resin.
• the present disclosure relates to a method of manufacturing a composite body, in particular an element for vehicle suspension, the composite body having a given shape, the method comprising the following steps:
• the sheath installed around the rope tends to protect the rope during the later stages of the process, that is to say during the shaping step and the cooking step, and during any movements or handling the rope between these steps.
• the sheathing material is deformable and tends to return to its original shape after extension.
• the sheath tends to resume the initial shape it presented before the installation step. It will be understood that the sheath therefore tends to compress the cord, before and during the cooking step.
• the fiber network and / or the crosslinked matrix of the composite are less porous and denser. This induces a significant improvement in the mechanical properties of the composite body.
• the sheath can be left in place on the composite, and therefore provide protection for the composite during storage and transport of the composite body. It can also remain in place on the composite during its use, which can increase the life of the composite body, in particular when the latter is a vehicle suspension element.
• the sheath can adhere to the composite via the crosslinked matrix of the composite, which improves the protection it provides to the composite.
• the installation step comprises applying a thermosetting resin on the rope and making said thermosetting resin harden so as to obtain the sheath.
• the installation step comprises applying a rubber to the cord and vulcanizing said rubber so as to get the sheath.
• the installation step comprises winding one or more films or one or more ribbons comprising said elastic sheathing material around the rope.
• the installation step can then be carried out using known taping machines.
• the installation step comprises braiding or knitting ribbons comprising said elastic sheathing material around the rope.
• the installation step includes co-extruding the sheath with the rope.
• the installation step comprises fitting the sheath onto the rope.
• the sheath has a first face, a second face and an end, and in which the installation step comprises the fact of:
• the fact of unwinding the sheath in the direction of the length of the rope includes the fact of moving the rope in the direction of its length.
• the fact of unwinding the sheath in the direction of the length of the rope comprises passing the sheath through a removal device, the removal device comprising a fixed ring and an assembly of balls mounted for rotation, the sheath passing between the fixed ring and the balls.
• the rope is kept fixed and tensioned while the removal device is mobile, traveling along the rope to unwind the sheath in the direction of the length of the rope.
• the rope is kept fixed while the sheath is unwound in the direction of the length of the rope.
• the fact of unwinding the sheath in the direction of the length of the rope comprises the fact of projecting a pressurized fluid on the second face of the sheath in the direction of the length of the rope.
• This fluid can be sprayed at an ambient temperature, a temperature lower than the ambient temperature or else at a temperature higher than the ambient temperature but nevertheless lower than the firing temperature of the resin of the rope.
• said end of the sheath is provided with a clamping element, and the clamping element is held tight while the sheath is unwound in the direction of the length of the rope.
• the sheath has a first face, a second face and an end provided with a clamping element, and in which the installation step comprises the fact of:
• the pressurized fluid can be sprayed at room temperature, a temperature below room temperature or even at a temperature above room temperature but nevertheless below the curing temperature of the resin. the rope.
• the fact of unwinding the sheath in the direction of the length of the rope further comprises passing the sheath through at least one set of rollers, the rollers exerting mechanical pressure on the first side of the sheath.
• the at least one set of rollers described above avoids the formation of undulations in the sheath material, which would harm satisfactory contact between the sheath and the rope. As a result, the sheath compresses the cord better, which improves the mechanical properties of the final composite body.
• a combined fitting and blowing device comprising a nozzle, which is capable of receiving said end of the rope and said end sheath, and a gas blowing element secured to the nozzle;
• the fact of unwinding the sheath in the direction of the length of the rope away from the end of the rope comprises blowing a gas under pressure on the second face of the sheath in the direction of the length of the cord, the gas under pressure passing through the gas blowing element.
• This fluid can be sprayed at an ambient temperature, a temperature lower than the ambient temperature or else at a temperature higher than the ambient temperature but nevertheless lower than the firing temperature of the resin of the rope.
• the method further comprises applying an adhesive between the sheath and the rope while the sheath is being fitted on the rope.
• an adhesive allows the sheath to be permanently bonded to the rope when it is desired to keep the sheath on the final composite body, for example in order to provide protection or an aesthetic finish.
• the method further comprises applying a non-stick between the sheath and the rope while the sheath is being fitted on the rope.
• a non-stick makes it possible, if necessary, to easily remove the sheath once the final composite body has been obtained, for example in order to allow the composite material to appear.
• the sheath has a first end and a second end, and the installation step comprises the steps of:
• the assembly comprising the sheath and the rope is obtained easily and quickly, without having to unroll or slide the sheath along the length of the rope.
• step (b) is carried out by blowing a gas under pressure in the sheath by the second end of the sheath.
• This fluid can be sprayed at an ambient temperature, a temperature lower than the ambient temperature or else at a temperature higher than the ambient temperature but nevertheless lower than the firing temperature of the resin of the rope.
• steps (a) and (b) the first end of the sheath is closed by a closing element, and before step (d), the blowing of said gas is stopped and the closure element is removed.
• the sheath has an opening along its length.
• said elastic sheathing material is chosen from the group consisting of natural rubbers, synthetic rubbers, thermoplastic resins, and glass fiber fabrics.
• said elastic sheathing material is a thermoplastic silicone resin.
• thermoplastic silicone resin makes it possible to give the sheath a smooth surface and a shiny visual appearance on the surface.
• the sheath confines almost all of the fibers of the rope, that is to say that almost all of the fibers of the rope are held inside the sheath. This decreases the wear of the fibers during the use of the composite body, which delays its damage and consequently increases its service life. Such a gain in service life is particularly appreciable in the case where the composite body is a spring for vehicle suspension.
• said elastic sheathing material is heat shrinkable.
• heat shrinkable is meant that the elastic sheathing material tends to decrease in size under the effect of a rise in temperature.
• the sheath tends to compress the cord even more during the cooking step.
• the fiber network and / or the crosslinked matrix of the composite body are even less porous and denser. This further improves the mechanical properties of the composite body.
• the elastic sheathing material of the sheath is maintained in a stretched state during the baking step. In this way, the sheath tends to compress the cord even more during the cooking step, with the same results as mentioned above.
• a voltage is applied to at least one end of the sheath, so as to stretch the elastic sheathing material of the sheath; said tension being applied, means are installed to maintain the elastic sheathing material in its stretched state thus obtained; then we stop applying said voltage.
• said voltage is applied to the two ends of the sheath.
• the method further comprises a step of preheating the sheath, the preheating step being carried out before the shaping step.
• the preheating step typically includes heating the sheath to a preheating temperature strictly lower than the cooking temperature used during the cooking step.
• Preheating the sheath leads to an increase in temperature of the impregnated composite cord which tends to make the resin (or matrix) of the impregnated composite cord more fluid. This tends to facilitate the sliding of the fibers of the impregnated composite cord with respect to each other, which in particular facilitates the shaping of the impregnated composite cord.
• the impregnated composite cord is produced by braiding and / or winding of prepreg tapes.
• the shaping step includes winding the assembly comprising the rope and the sheath around a core.
• the core is made of a material capable of liquefying during the cooking step, in particular an eutectic material, more particularly an eutectic material chosen from the group consisting of the following mixtures: tin- bismuth, lead-tin-bismuth.
• Tin-bismuth and lead-tin-bismuth mixtures are particularly advantageous in this regard.
• the composite body can be any element for vehicle suspension, such as a stabilizer bar, a triangle, a connecting rod, or a spring.
• the composite body may more particularly be a coil spring for vehicle suspension.
• said given shape is a helix.
• FIG 1 is a block diagram illustrating the steps of a manufacturing process in accordance with this presentation.
• FIG 2 A is a perspective view of an assembly comprising an impregnated composite cord and a sheath installed around the cord, the assembly having been shaped.
• FIG 2B is a sectional view of FIG 2A according to IIB-IIB.
• FIG 2C is a view similar to FIG 2A schematically explaining how a voltage is applied to the sheath installed around the rope.
• FIG 2D is a view similar to FIG 2A schematically explaining how the elastic sheathing material of the sheath is maintained in a stretched state.
• FIG 2E is a view similar to FIG 2D explaining schematically how the elastic sheathing material of the sheath is maintained in a stretched state after the shaping step.
• FIG 3 shows the assembly of FIG 2A installed on a core during its shaping.
• FIG 4A is a perspective view of a composite body obtained by the manufacturing process described, the composite body having the same shape as the assembly shown in FIG 2A.
• FIG 4B is a sectional view of FIG 4A according to IVB-IVB.
• FIG 5A is a perspective view similar to FIG 2A, showing a variant of the sheath.
• FIG 5B is a sectional view of FIG 5A along VB-VB.
• FIGS 6A and 6B are sectional views illustrating a first way of fitting the sheath onto the rope.
• FIG 6C is a sectional view of FIG 6B according to VIC-VIC.
• FIG 7 is a sectional view illustrating a variant of the clamping element visible in FIG 6A and 6B.
• FIGS 8A and 8B are sectional views illustrating a second way of fitting the sheath onto the rope.
• FIGS 9A and 9B are sectional views illustrating a third way of fitting the sheath onto the rope.
• FIG 10A is a sectional view similar to FIG 9B, illustrating a variant of the third way of fitting the sheath onto the cord.
• FIG 10B is a perspective view showing in more detail one of the rollers visible in FIG 10A.
• FIG 11 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the sheath, the cord, and a combined fitting and blowing device usable in a fourth manner of fitting the sheath on the rope.
• FIGS 12A and 12B are sectional views illustrating the fourth way of fitting the sheath onto the rope using the combined fitting and blowing device shown in FIG 11.
• FIG 13 is a schematic view illustrating a suction tube usable in a fifth way of fitting the sheath on the rope.
• FIGS 14A to 14E are schematic perspective views illustrating the fifth way of fitting the sheath onto the cord using the suction tube shown in FIG 13.
• FIG 1 is a block diagram representing the steps of a manufacturing method 1 of a composite body 60.
• the method 1 comprises a supply step 2, an installation step 3, a setting step form 4, and a cooking step 5 which are described below in more detail.
• Method 1 makes it possible to manufacture a composite body 60.
• the composite body 60 has a given shape, which is defined in advance according to the desired use of the composite body 60.
• the composite body 60 may be a vehicle suspension element such as a stabilizer bar, a triangle, or a connecting rod. More particularly, the composite body 60 may be a spring for vehicle suspension. In the example shown in FIG and described below, the composite body 60 is a helical spring for vehicle suspension, so that the given shape is a helix. In other examples (not shown), the composite body 60 is a non-helical spring, such as a leaf spring.
• the method 1 first comprises a supply step 2 in which there is provided an impregnated composite rope 51 (hereinafter simply referred to as “the rope 51" for convenience).
• the rope 51 an impregnated composite rope 51
• impregnated is meant here that the cord 51 comprises a fibrous reinforcement impregnated with an organic resin (or matrix).
• the rope 51 can be produced by braiding and / or winding prepreg ribbons. The methods for carrying out such braiding and / or winding are well known per se and are therefore not described in detail here.
• the rope 51 can be produced by in-line impregnation, that is to say that the organic resin or matrix is provided during the braiding and / or winding of the fibrous ribbons of the rope 51.
• the ribbons include a glass fiber reinforcement impregnated with an epoxy resin.
• Each ribbon takes the form, for example, of a strip of constant width and thickness. In alternatively, some or all of the ribbons may be of variable width and / or thickness.
• the method 1 also comprises an installation step 3 in which a sheath 52 is installed around the rope 51.
• the sheath 52 comprises an elastic sheathing material, and can be made of the elastic sheathing material.
• elastic is meant that the sheathing material is deformable and tends to return to its initial shape after extension.
• the sheath 52 is obtained by deposition and in situ polymerization of a thermosetting resin on the cord 51.
• the installation step 3 comprises the fact of applying a thermosetting resin on the cord 51 and the fact of hardening said thermosetting resin so as to obtain the sheath 52.
• the thermosetting resin can be applied, for example, by electrostatic projection or by co-extrusion.
• the thermosetting resin is an epoxy-based resin.
• the hardening of the thermosetting resin can be obtained by heating, for example by projection of infrared rays, and / or by projection of ultraviolet rays.
• the projection of ultraviolet is preferred because it allows better control of the degree of polymerization of the thermosetting resin and / or to obtain a shorter polymerization time.
• the sheath 52 is obtained by deposition and vulcanization in situ of a rubber on the rope 51.
• the installation step 3 comprises the fact of applying a rubber to the rope 51 and vulcanizing said rubber so as to obtain the sheath 52.
• the rubber can be chosen from natural rubbers, and synthetic rubbers, such as for example EPDM rubbers (“ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber” in English, also known under the name ethylene-propylene-diene monomer), NBR rubbers (“Nitrile Butadiene Rubber” in English, also known as “nitrile rubbers”), IIR rubbers (“Isobutylene Isoprene Rubber” in English, also known as “butyl rubbers”).
• the sheath 52 is formed by one or more elements which are installed on the rope 51 like this will be detailed later.
• the elastic sheathing material can then be chosen from the group consisting of:
• EPDM rubbers ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber
• NBR rubbers Nirile Butadiene Rubber
• IIR rubbers Isobutylene Isoprene Rubber in English, also known as “butyl rubbers”
• thermoplastic resins such as for example silicone resins, polyamides (more particularly nylon 6,6), or thermoplastic fluoropolymers (more particularly polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)); and
• non-woven glass fiber veils also known by the English name “glass veils”
• woven glass fiber fabrics also known by the English name from “woven glass fabric”
• the elastic sheathing material is a thermoplastic silicone resin.
• a thermoplastic silicone resin makes it possible to give the sheath 52 a smooth surface and a glossy visual appearance on the surface.
• the sheath 52 confines almost all of the fibers of the rope 51, that is to say that almost all of the fibers of the rope 51 are held inside the sheath 52. This reduces wear fibers during use of the composite body 60, which delays its damage and consequently increases its service life. Such a gain in service life is particularly appreciable in the case where the composite body 60 is a spring for vehicle suspension.
• the sheath 52 is obtained by winding one or more films or one or more ribbons comprising the elastic sheathing material around the rope 51.
• the installation step 3 comprises winding the film or films or the ribbon (s) around the rope 51, so as to obtain the sheath 52.
• the sheath 52 is obtained by braiding or knitting several ribbons comprising the elastic sheathing material.
• installation step 3 includes braiding or knit the ribbons around the rope 51, so as to obtain the sheath 52.
• the sheath 52 is fitted onto or co-extruded with the rope 51.
• the installation step 3 comprises fitting the sheath 52 onto the rope 51 or co - Extrude the sheath 52 with the rope 51. More particularly, the sheath 52 can be fitted onto the rope 51 in several different ways which will be described below with reference to FIGS 6A to 14E.
• the sheath 52 surrounds the rope 51 as shown diagrammatically in FIGS. 2A and 2B.
• the sheath 52 then tends to protect the rope 51 during the subsequent steps of method 1 described below, and during any movement or manipulation of the assembly comprising the rope 51 and the sheath 52 between these steps.
• the sheath 52 comprises an elastic sheathing material.
• the sheath 52 tends to resume the initial shape which it had before the installation step 3. It will be understood that the sheath 52 therefore tends to compress the rope 51. It will also be understood that the assembly 40 comprising the rope 51 and the sheath 52 can therefore be easily manipulated as a whole, without the risk that the sheath 52 will come off the rope 51.
• the method 1 further comprises a shaping step 4 of the assembly 40, so as to obtain the given shape.
• FIG 3 illustrates an example of shaping step 4 for giving the assembly 40 the shape shown in FIG 2A.
• the assembly 40 is wound around a core 90, so as to obtain a helical shape.
• the core 90 may include grooves 91 giving the assembly 40 its desired helical shape, the assembly 40 coming to wind in the grooves 91 during the shaping step 4.
• the assembly 40 has the given shape.
• the supply step 2 is carried out continuously.
• the rope 51 is supplied or produced continuously.
• the installation step 3 is then preceded by a step (not shown) of cutting the rope 51, so as to obtain a segment of rope 51 of adequate dimensions.
• the supply step 2 and the installation step 3 are carried out continuously.
• the rope 51 is supplied or produced continuously, and the sheath 52 is installed continuously on the rope 51 thus supplied or produced.
• the shaping step 4 is then preceded by a step (not shown) of cutting the rope 51 provided with the sheath 52, so as to obtain an assembly 40 of adequate dimensions.
• the supply step 2, the installation step 3 and the shaping step 4 are carried out continuously.
• the rope 51 is supplied or produced continuously
• the sheath 52 is installed continuously on the rope 51 thus supplied or produced
• the assembly 40 thus obtained continuously is shaped continuously, for example around a core as described above.
• the cooking step 5 is then preceded by a step (not shown) of cutting the assembly 40 continuously shaped (and possibly of the core that served to shape it), so as to obtain an assembly 40 of adequate dimensions.
• the method 1 further comprises a cooking step 5 of the assembly 40.
• this cooking step 5 consists in bringing the assembly 40 to a sufficient temperature and for a time sufficient to harden the resin. the cord 51.
• said temperature is also low enough not to damage (for example by pyrolysis) the resin of the cord 51 or the material of the sheath 52.
• the composite body 60 is obtained. As shown in FIGS 4A and 4B, the composite body 60 comprises a central composite structural part 61 resulting from the cooking of the rope 51 This central part 61 is surrounded by the sheath 52.
• the sheath 52 tends to compress the cord 51, before and during the cooking step 5.
• the fiber network and / or the matrix of the central part 61 are less porous and more dense. This induces an appreciable improvement in the mechanical properties of the composite body 60, which is particularly advantageous when the composite body 60 is an element for vehicle suspension, which it is desired to have the lowest possible mass.
• the sheath 52 is still in place on the composite of the central part 61.
• the sheath 52 can, if desired, be removed by mechanical and / or chemical methods from the central part 61. However, it is advantageous to simply leave the sheath 52 in place on the central part 61, and this even possibly during the desired use of the composite body 60. This is particularly advantageous if the composite body 60 is an element for vehicle suspension, in particular a spring for vehicle suspension. Such elements are indeed subject to various external aggressions, and in particular to graveling. For such elements, the sheath 51 can provide additional protection against external aggressions. The sheath 52 can also adhere to the composite of the central part 61, via the crosslinked matrix, which improves the protection that it provides to the composite.
• the assembly 40 may be subjected to the cooking step 5 together with the core 90, it that is to say that the assembly 40 is not removed from the core 90 before the cooking step 5.
• the core 90 is made of a material capable of liquefying during the cooking step 5.
• capable of liquefying is meant to include both the materials which become liquid by melting under the effect of the temperature applied during the cooking step 5 as well as the materials which become pasty. Thus, it is not necessary to mechanically remove the assembly 40 from the core 90, since the core 90 simply liquefies during the cooking step 5.
• the core 90 is made of a eutectic material. Such materials in fact have relatively low melting temperatures, which results in liquefaction imposing a relatively moderate increase in energy expenditure in the cooking step 5. It is even more particularly advantageous for the eutectic material to be chosen from the group consisting of the following mixtures: tin-bismuth, lead-tin-bismuth. It is advantageous that the method 1 also comprises a preheating step (not shown) in which the sheath 52 is heated to a preheating temperature typically strictly lower than the cooking temperature used during the cooking step 5. This preheating step is typically carried out between the installation step 3 and the shaping step 4.
• the elastic sheathing material it is advantageous for the elastic sheathing material to be heat-shrinkable.
• heat shrinkable it is meant that the elastic sheathing material tends to decrease in size under the effect of a rise in temperature. More concretely and by way of nonlimiting example, if the elastic sheathing material is shaped in the form of a tube, this tube may tend to decrease in diameter under the effect of a rise in temperature. This temperature rise can be obtained by the preheating step which has just been described, the preheating temperature being sufficient to obtain the reduction dimension of the elastic sheathing material while remaining below the baking temperature used during the cooking step 5.
• the sheath 52 tends to compress the cord 51 even more during the cooking step 5. It follows that during and after the step cooking 5, the network of fibers and / or the crosslinked matrix of the central part 61 are less porous and denser. This further improves the mechanical properties of the composite body 60.
• the elastic sheathing material of the sheath 52 is maintained in a stretched state at least during the cooking step 5.
• stretched state means here a state of the elastic sheathing material which is obtained by stretching the elastic sheathing material from its state at rest.
• maintained in a stretched state is meant that the elastic sheathing material is kept in the stretched state, rather than returning to its resting state due to its elastic properties.
• the sheath 52 tends to compress the cord 51 even more, with the same results as mentioned above. It is understood that this result is obtained when the elastic sheathing material is non-auxetic, that is to say when it has a strictly positive Poisson's ratio, so that it contracts effectively when a voltage is applied to the minus one of its ends.
• FIG 2C schematically shows an example in which a voltage is applied to the two ends of the sheath 52. More specifically, using an appropriate mechanical stressing means, a stress tension Tl is applied to a first end 52A of the sheath 52, and a stress tension T2 the second end 52B, opposite the end 52A, of the sheath 52.
• the stress tensions Tl and T2 are in the opposite direction as indicated by the arrows in FIG 2C . It will thus be understood with reference to FIGS 2C and 2B that the sheath 52 tends to compress the cord 51 during the cooking step 5.
• the stress voltages T1 and T2 can be applied by any suitable mechanical stress means.
• FIG 2D schematically shows an example in which the elastic sheathing material of the sheath 52 is maintained in a stretched state after the operation described in connection with FIG 2C. More concretely, the stress voltages Tl and T2 being always applied, a first flange 75A is installed at the first end
• a voltage is applied to only one of the two ends of the sheath 52, that is to say that only one of the two voltages is applied. Tl and T2 solicitation. The other end of the sheath 52 is then kept fixed while this stressing voltage T1 or T2 is applied, which in particular prevents the sheath 52 from sliding on the rope 51 before the shaping step 4.
• FIGS 5A and 5B schematically represent a variant applicable in the case where the sheath 52 is fitted on the rope 51 during the installation step 3.
• the sheath 52 has an opening 53 extending along its length.
• the sheath 52 can thus have a cross section substantially in the shape of a "U", as shown in FIG 5B.
• the presence of such an opening 53 can make it easier to fit the sheath 52 onto the rope 51.
• the sheath 52 can more easily be fitted manually onto the rope 51.
• the two opposite edges of the opening 53 can be brought together, and optionally be joined together, for example using an appropriate glue, before proceeding to the shaping step 4, or else between the shaping step 4 and the baking step 5.
• the sheath 52 can be fitted onto the rope 51 in several different ways, which will now be described with reference to FIGS 6A to 14E.
• the sheath 52 has a first face 52-1, a second face 52-2 and an end 52A.
• the sheath 52 the first face 52-1 being directed outwards.
• directed towards the outside it is meant that among the first face 52-1 and the second face 52-2, it is the first face 52-1 which is located on the outside of the sheath 52, while the second face 52-2 is located on the inside of the sheath.
• the sheath 52 is unrolled in the direction of the length of the rope 51 away from the end 51A of the rope 51 (in this case, to the right in FIG 6A). Due to the reversal of the sheath 52 mentioned above, the first face 52-1 is brought into contact with the rope 51. This process is continued until the sheath 52 is fitted on the rope 51.
• the course of the sheath 52 in the direction of the length of the rope 51 may include the fact of moving the rope 51 in the direction of its length. It is however also possible to keep the rope 51 fixed, the sheath 52 being unwound in the direction of the length of the rope 51 kept fixed. In any event, the end (not shown) of the rope 51 which is opposite the end 51A is typically kept under tension.
• the unwinding of the sheath 52 in the direction of the length 51 may further include passing the sheath 52 through a removal device 200.
• This removal device 200 is shown in FIGS 6B and 6C.
• the depositing device 200 comprises a fixed ring 210 and a set of balls 220 mounted for rotation, and the sheath 52 passes between the ring 210 and the balls 220.
• Such a device removal 200 tends to facilitate the deposition of the sheath 52, which can in particular be thus performed automatically.
• the end 52A of the sheath 52 can be provided with a clamping element.
• the clamping element is in the form of a clamping ring 80 known as such; however, it could be any suitable type of clamp.
• the clamping ring 80 makes it possible to better hold the end 52A of the sheath 52 in place on the end 51A of the rope 51, and in particular to prevent the end 52A of the sheath 52 from sliding.
• the clamping ring 80 is present, it is tightened before unwind the sheath 52 as described above, and the clamping ring 80 is kept tight while the sheath 52 is unwound.
• the sheath 52 can be provided with a tension wire or cable 85 which is integral with the end 52A and connected to the tightening ring 80, so that the application of a tension to the tension wire or cable 85 causes the tightening of the tightening element 80.
• a tension to the thread or tension cable 85 as shown in FIG 6B, it causes both the tightening of the clamping element 80 and the desired movement of the rope 51 in the direction of its length.
• the clamping element may be in the form not of a clamping ring 80, but of a clamping plug 80 'known as such.
• the operation of this tightening plug 80 ' is identical to that of the tightening ring 80 and is therefore not described in detail again.
• This second way is identical to the first way, except that instead of using the depositing device 200 to unwind the sheath 52, a pressurized fluid is used.
• a pressurized fluid 250 is projected onto the second face 52-2 in the direction of the length of the rope 51 as shown in FIG 8B.
• the pressurized fluid 250 spreads inside the sheath 52 as shown diagrammatically by the arrows 251, 252 in FIG 8B, and exerts pressure on the second face 52-2. This pressure tends to unwind the sheath 52 so as to bring the first face 52-1 into contact with the rope 51.
• the pressurized fluid 250 is typically compressed air; it may however be any gas or mixture of gases under pressure, or even a fluid other than a gas, without thereby departing from the scope of the present description.
• clamping ring 80 and possibly the tension wire or cable 85 may also be present. Their operation is identical to that described above in connection with FIGS 6A and 6B and is therefore not described in detail again.
• the pressurized fluid 250 is typically compressed air; it may however be any gas or mixture of gases under pressure, or even a fluid other than a gas, without thereby departing from the scope of the present description.
• the sheath 52 being unwound in the direction of the length of the rope 51 can pass through at least one set of rollers exerting pressure mechanical on the first side 52-1.
• the sheath 52 passes through two pairs of rollers 301, 302 arranged on either side of the clamping ring 80 in the lengthwise direction of the rope
• one of the two pairs of rollers 301, 302 can be omitted, and / or the number of rollers 301 and / or 302 can be different from two.
• the at least one set of rollers described above makes it possible to avoid the formation of undulations in the material of the sheath 52, which would harm satisfactory contact between the sheath 52 and the rope 51. It follows that the sheath 52 compresses the cord 51 better, which improves the mechanical properties of the final composite body 60.
• the set of rollers disposed between the clamping ring 80 and the end of the rope 51 opposite the end 51A exerts on the first face 52-1 a mechanical pressure which tends to maintain, when the sheath 52 is turned over, a substantially cone-shaped shape, as shown in FIG. 10A. This facilitates the unwinding of the sheath
• the roller may have, between two cheeks 320 opposite and provided with a central through hole 330 for receiving a drive shaft (not shown), a groove 311 having a contact surface 310 capable of coming into contact with the first face 52-1.
• the width of the groove 311 may for example be between 100 and 115% of the external diameter of the sheath 52. It is however specified that the rollers 301, 302 can have a different structure, without going beyond the scope of this description, as long as they are capable of exerting mechanical pressure on the first face 52-1 of the sheath 52.
• the fitting of the end 52A of the sheath 52 is carried out using a combined fitting and blowing device 400, which will be referred to below as "the device 400" for convenience.
• the sheath 52 and the rope 51 are brought in the form of segments, which are typically of substantially equal length.
• the device 400 comprises a nozzle 410 and a gas blowing element 420 secured to the nozzle 410.
• the tip 410 is adapted to receive the end 51A of the rope 51 and the end 52A of the sheath 52.
• the tip 410 may be in the form of '' a section of cone, of which an interior volume 410A is sufficient to receive the end 51A of the cord 51 when the end 52A of the sheath is fitted on the end 51 A.
• the gas blowing element 420 is able to allow the passage of a pressurized gas therethrough.
• the gas blowing element 420 can be pierced with a plurality of blowing orifices allowing the passage of gas under pressure.
• the gas blowing element 420 can be in the form of a cone section, which is joined at its small top to the nozzle 410.
• the device 400 may further comprise a gas supply tube 440 allowing the pressurized gas to be brought to the blowing element 420.
• a handling tube 430 can extend inside the gas supply tube 440, one end 430A of the tube 430 extending outside the tube 440, and the other end 430B being integral with the end piece 410.
• the manipulation of the tube 430 makes it possible to position the end piece 410.
• FIGS. 12A and 12B show the use of the device 400.
• the sheath 52 is brought in and the end 52A is turned over and the end 52A is fitted onto the end 51A of the rope 51 so that its first face 52-1 is at contact of the rope 51, except that the ends 51A and 52A are held in place relative to one another by the action of the endpiece 410.
• a gas 460 is blown under pressure on the second face 52-2 of the sheath 52.
• the gas under pressure 460 spreads inside the sheath 52 as shown diagrammatically by arrows 461 and 462 in FIG 12B, and exerts pressure on the second face 52-2. This pressure tends to unwind the sheath 52 so as to bring the first face 52-1 into contact with the cord 51.
• the pressurized gas 460 passes through the gas supply tube and through the gas blowing element 420.
• the pressurized fluid 460 is typically compressed air; however, it may be any gas or mixture of gases under pressure, without departing from the scope of this presentation.
• an adhesive 96 between the sheath 52 and the rope 51 while the sheath 52 is being fitted on the rope 51 can apply an adhesive 96 between the sheath 52 and the rope 51 while the sheath 52 is being fitted on the rope 51.
• spray guns 95 can spray the adhesive 96 onto the surface of the rope 51 while the sheath 52 is being unwound as described above.
• deposit the adhesive 96 differently without thereby departing from the scope of the present description, for example by spraying the adhesive on the first face 52-1 while the sheath 52 is being unwound as described below.
• a non-stick such as a powder, could be applied in place of the adhesive 96 in the cases where it is desired to remove the sheath once the final composite body has been obtained.
• the suction tube 500 typically has a cylindrical section, and the sheath 52 and the rope 51 are brought in the form of segments of length substantially equal to that of the suction tube 500.
• the suction tube 500 has, on its internal wall, a plurality suction orifices 501 capable of allowing the passage of a gas under pressure through the suction tube 500.
• the sheath 52 is pressed against the internal wall of the suction tube 500. As indicated diagrammatically in FIG 14B, this can be done by blowing pressurized air 560 into the sheath 52, but it is possible to press the sheath 52 against the internal wall of the suction tube 500 by any other suitable means without leaving the part of this presentation, for example by blowing a pressurized gas other than air.
• the end 52A of the sheath 52 can be closed by a closing element 52X, for example an elastomer plug, the pressurized air 560 then being blown into the sheath 52 via its other end 52B.
• a suction 570 is created from the external wall of the suction tube 500.
• the suction 570 can be created by any known means, for example by air suction. We can then stop blowing the pressurized air 560 and remove the closure element 52X. Due to the presence of the suction orifices 501, the suction tends to keep the sheath 52 pressed against the internal wall of the suction tube 500.
• the cord 51 is introduced into the sheath 52, as shown in FIG 14D.
• This introduction can for example be carried out using a tension wire or cable 85 ′ secured to one end 51A of the rope 51.
• an adhesive 96 or a non-stick can also be applied, for example using spray guns 95 provided at the end 52B of the sheath 52.
• the suction 570 is stopped.
• the sheath 52 no longer being held pressed against the internal wall of the suction tube 500, the sheath 52 tends, by elastic return, to return to its initial shape and thus to fit around the rope 51, as shown in FIG 14E.
• the assembly 40 comprising the sheath 52 and the rope 51 is thus obtained easily and quickly, without having to unroll or slide the sheath 52 along the length of the rope 51.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Composite Materials (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Textile Engineering (AREA)
• Ropes Or Cables (AREA)

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Citations (7)

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• 2018
  • 2018-10-12 FR FR1859476A patent/FR3087148A1/fr not_active Withdrawn
• 2019
  • 2019-10-11 WO PCT/FR2019/052424 patent/WO2020074845A1/fr unknown
  • 2019-10-11 EP EP19813621.0A patent/EP3863840A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2019-10-11 WO PCT/FR2019/052425 patent/WO2020074846A1/fr unknown
  • 2019-10-11 EP EP19813622.8A patent/EP3863841A1/de not_active Withdrawn

Patent Citations (7)

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