Importance

Loading Importance Indicators...

Abstract

A structural fiber pre-form useful as a structural article when saturated with a resin which is subsequently cured is disclosed, which is comprised of a large number of tightly packed, parallel structural yarns. The yarns are held in alignment by a sewing yarn passing vertically around and between the yarns. The pre-form may be covered with a smooth covering, such as a fabric covering, which may either be sewn to the fiber pre-form in a single process, bound thereto by curing of a saturating resin, or a combination of processes. The method for making such pre-forms allows the pre-forms to be prepared in shapes which exhibit a transverse cross-section of variable heighth, which method comprises leading a large number of structural yarns or fibers through a guide means wherein these fibers are collected into adjacent bundles, the bundles immediately upon leaving the guide means, being sewn together by a sewing means which stitches across the assembled bundles in a direction perpendicular to the direction of advancement of the fibers. By altering the number of fibers lead through each guide means the height corresponding to that portion of the guide means where fewer fibers are introduced may be reduced.

Loading the Abstract Image...

First Claim