EP3382079B1 - Installation and method for needling a fibrous preform with control of the contact pressure of the stripper - Google Patents

Installation and method for needling a fibrous preform with control of the contact pressure of the stripper Download PDF

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Publication number
EP3382079B1
EP3382079B1 EP18160638.5A EP18160638A EP3382079B1 EP 3382079 B1 EP3382079 B1 EP 3382079B1 EP 18160638 A EP18160638 A EP 18160638A EP 3382079 B1 EP3382079 B1 EP 3382079B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
stripper
needling
plate
contact force
axis
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EP18160638.5A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP3382079A1 (en
Inventor
Hervé EVRARD
Gareth Clarke
Edouard BORIE
Thierry CONSTANT
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ArianeGroup SAS
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ArianeGroup SAS
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    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D04—BRAIDING; LACE-MAKING; KNITTING; TRIMMINGS; NON-WOVEN FABRICS
    • D04H—MAKING TEXTILE FABRICS, e.g. FROM FIBRES OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL; FABRICS MADE BY SUCH PROCESSES OR APPARATUS, e.g. FELTS, NON-WOVEN FABRICS; COTTON-WOOL; WADDING ; NON-WOVEN FABRICS FROM STAPLE FIBRES, FILAMENTS OR YARNS, BONDED WITH AT LEAST ONE WEB-LIKE MATERIAL DURING THEIR CONSOLIDATION
    • D04H18/00—Needling machines
    • D04H18/02—Needling machines with needles
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D04—BRAIDING; LACE-MAKING; KNITTING; TRIMMINGS; NON-WOVEN FABRICS
    • D04H—MAKING TEXTILE FABRICS, e.g. FROM FIBRES OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL; FABRICS MADE BY SUCH PROCESSES OR APPARATUS, e.g. FELTS, NON-WOVEN FABRICS; COTTON-WOOL; WADDING ; NON-WOVEN FABRICS FROM STAPLE FIBRES, FILAMENTS OR YARNS, BONDED WITH AT LEAST ONE WEB-LIKE MATERIAL DURING THEIR CONSOLIDATION
    • D04H1/00—Non-woven fabrics formed wholly or mainly of staple fibres or like relatively short fibres
    • D04H1/40—Non-woven fabrics formed wholly or mainly of staple fibres or like relatively short fibres from fleeces or layers composed of fibres without existing or potential cohesive properties
    • D04H1/44—Non-woven fabrics formed wholly or mainly of staple fibres or like relatively short fibres from fleeces or layers composed of fibres without existing or potential cohesive properties the fleeces or layers being consolidated by mechanical means, e.g. by rolling
    • D04H1/46—Non-woven fabrics formed wholly or mainly of staple fibres or like relatively short fibres from fleeces or layers composed of fibres without existing or potential cohesive properties the fleeces or layers being consolidated by mechanical means, e.g. by rolling by needling or like operations to cause entanglement of fibres
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D04—BRAIDING; LACE-MAKING; KNITTING; TRIMMINGS; NON-WOVEN FABRICS
    • D04H—MAKING TEXTILE FABRICS, e.g. FROM FIBRES OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL; FABRICS MADE BY SUCH PROCESSES OR APPARATUS, e.g. FELTS, NON-WOVEN FABRICS; COTTON-WOOL; WADDING ; NON-WOVEN FABRICS FROM STAPLE FIBRES, FILAMENTS OR YARNS, BONDED WITH AT LEAST ONE WEB-LIKE MATERIAL DURING THEIR CONSOLIDATION
    • D04H3/00—Non-woven fabrics formed wholly or mainly of yarns or like filamentary material of substantial length
    • D04H3/08—Non-woven fabrics formed wholly or mainly of yarns or like filamentary material of substantial length characterised by the method of strengthening or consolidating
    • D04H3/10—Non-woven fabrics formed wholly or mainly of yarns or like filamentary material of substantial length characterised by the method of strengthening or consolidating with bonds between yarns or filaments made mechanically
    • D04H3/105—Non-woven fabrics formed wholly or mainly of yarns or like filamentary material of substantial length characterised by the method of strengthening or consolidating with bonds between yarns or filaments made mechanically by needling

Definitions

  • the invention relates to the needling of fibrous textures wound progressively on a rotary support mounted on a mobile frame, in particular for producing preforms intended to constitute reinforcement structures for composite material parts, such as, for example, preforms for parts made of thermostructural composite material.
  • a needling installation comprises a needling module provided with a needling head carrying a plurality of needles, the needling module comprising means for driving the needling head to animate the needles; a reciprocating motion and a stripper comprising at least one plate having a plurality of perforations, the needling head needles being aligned with the perforations on the stripper plate so as to move in a back and forth motion through performances.
  • the face of the plate of the stripper opposite to that facing the needling head is placed in contact with the fibrous texture needling thus limiting the expansion of the structure, in particular during the withdrawal movement of the needles of the fibrous structure.
  • a needling installation is also known from the document CN 105755680 A .
  • the stripper is connected to the needling head by arms each comprising an oleopneumatic jack, at least one of the arms further comprising a contact force sensor.
  • a target value of a contact force is between 10 and 1000 Newtons.
  • the needling module is able to move along the first axis X.
  • the displacement of the needling module along the axis X makes it possible in particular to point all the width of a fibrous preform when it has a width greater than the area covered by the needles of the needling head in the direction of the X axis.
  • the outer face of the plate of the stripper has a concave curvature.
  • This concave curvature makes it possible to better match the shape of the fibrous preform and thus to improve the contact of the external face of the stripper plate with the exposed face of the fibrous preform.
  • the stripper is connected to the needling head by arms each comprising an oleopneumatic jack, at least one of the arms further comprising a contact force sensor.
  • a target value of a contact force is between 10 and 1000 Newtons.
  • the needling module is able to move along the first axis X.
  • the outer face of the stripper plate has a concave curvature.
  • the figures 1 and 2 schematically show a needling installation 100 according to one embodiment of the invention.
  • the installation 100 comprises a fixed frame 101 on which is mounted a carriage platform 110.
  • the carriage platform 110 rests on rails 102 and is connected to an actuator 103, here a worm motor, for moving the carriage platform 110 along a Y axis parallel to the rails 102.
  • the installation 100 also comprises a rotatable support or mandrel 113 mounted on a rotary shaft (not shown in FIGS. figures 1 and 2 ) supported by two pins 111 and 112, at least one of which comprises a motor ( figure 1 ) to rotate the mandrel 113 in the direction indicated by the arrow SR on the figure 1 and 2 .
  • the pins 111 and 112 are fixed on the carriage platform 110.
  • a fibrous texture 10 in the form of a strip is progressively wound on the mandrel 113 so as to constitute, after needling, a fibrous preform of revolution 20.
  • the installation 100 further comprises a needling module 120 consisting of a needling head 121 fixed on a needling frame 104 itself fixed on the fixed frame 101, a needle board 122 mounted on the head of the needling and carrying a plurality of needles 123, and a stripper 130.
  • the stripper 130 comprises at least one plate 131 having a plurality of perforations 1310 extending at least along an axis X perpendicular to the Y axis, the plate 131 having an inner face 131a and an outer face 131b, the outer face 131b being present on the side of the mandrel 113.
  • the stripper 130 is connected to the needling head 121 by a first arm 140 having a cylinder 141 and a second arm 150 having a cylinder 151.
  • the cylinders 141 and 151 are oleopneumatic cylinders.
  • the cylinders 141 and 151 are intended to apply a contact force of the outer face 131b of the plate 131 of the stripper 130 on the exposed face 20a of a fibrous preform 20 needling.
  • the needle board 122 is facing the inner face 131a of the plate 131 of the stripper 130, the needles 123 being aligned with the perforations 1310 present on the plate 131 of the stripper.
  • the needling head 121 comprises means for driving the needle board, constituted in the example described here by two pistons 124 and 125, for animating the needle board 122 and, consequently, the needles 123 of reciprocating or reciprocating movement M along the Y axis with respect to the stripper plate.
  • the needles 123 pass alternately from a retracted position in which they do not protrude from the external surface 131b of the plate 131 of the stripper 130 ( figure 3A ) at an extended position in which they protrude from the outer face 131b of the plate 131 so as to penetrate into the fiber preform 20 at a determined depth ( figure 3B ).
  • the needle board 122 carries several rows of needles 123 arranged one above the other along an axis Z ( figure 1 ), each row of needles extending over a determined width along the axis X.
  • the perforations 1310 present on the plate 131 of the stripper are arranged correspondingly to be aligned with the needles 123, namely in several rows one above the other along a Z axis and, for each row, over a determined width along the X axis.
  • the needle board may also comprise a single row of needles, the arrangement of the perforations present in the stripper plate being adapted accordingly.
  • the needling installation 100 is also able to control the means for applying a contact force so as to apply to the stripper plate a predetermined force as a function of measurement information. of effort and to minus a target value of a predetermined contact force.
  • the installation comprises at least one contact force sensor or compression force sensor for providing information representative of the contact force of the outer face of the stripper plate on the preform.
  • the first arm 140 connecting the plate 131 of the stripper to the needling head 121 comprises a first contact force sensor 142 interposed between the cylinder 141 and the needling head 121, the sensor 142.
  • the second arm 150 connecting the plate 131 of the stripper to the needling head 121 comprises a second contact force sensor 152 interposed between the cylinder 151 and the needling head 121, the sensor 152 corresponding here to a digital scale.
  • the needling installation comprises a control device comprising a computer or any other known programmable device (not shown on the figures 1 , 2 , 3A and 3B ).
  • the computer or the like is programmed to implement a regulation loop which receives, on the one hand, a signal Ic corresponding to information representative of the contact force of the outer face of the stripper plate on the preform, the signal Ic being here delivered by the contact force sensors 142 and 152, and, secondly, a signal Ec corresponding to a target value of a predetermined contact force.
  • the calculator determines the difference between the signal Ic and the signal Ec.
  • the computer If the value of the signal Ic is greater than the value of the signal Ec, the computer generates, after correction, a control signal Sc intended for the cylinders 141 and 151 which, in response to this signal, reduce the contact force between the stripper plate and the exposed face of the preform to achieve the target value of contact force. If the value of the signal Ic is smaller than the value of the signal Ec, the computer generates, after correction, a control signal Sc intended for the cylinders 141 and 151 which, in response to this signal, increase the contact force between the stripper plate and the exposed face of the preform to achieve the target value of contact force.
  • the computer generates a control signal Sc zero causing no change in the contact force applied by the cylinders 141 and 151.
  • the target value of a contact force between the outer face of the stripper plate and the exposed face of the fibrous preform can be between 10 and 1000 Newtons.
  • the carriage platform 110 is moved forward, that is to say in the direction of the needling module 120 in order to place the exposed face 20a of the fibrous preform 20 in place. contact with the outer face 131b of the plate 131 of the stripper 130 ( figure 2 ). Therefore, the regulatory loop of the figure 4 is activated, until the end of the needling during which the carriage platform 110 is regularly moved rearward, that is to say in the opposite direction to the needling module 120, in order to adjust the positioning of the stripper plate vis-à-vis the fibrous preform 20, the thickness of which increases as the fibrous texture 10 is wound on the mandrel 113.
  • the needling module 120 is able to move along the X axis ( figures 1 and 2 ).
  • the displacement of the needling module along the X axis can be achieved by moving the needling frame 104 on which the needling module 120 is fixed, the frame 104 being for example mounted on rails fixed to the fixed frame 101 (not shown on figures 1 and 2 ).
  • the needling module 120 may also be mounted on the needling frame 104 via an actuating device (not shown in FIGS. figures 1 and 2 ) for moving the module 120 relative to the frame 104 along the X axis.
  • the displacement of the needling module 120 along the X axis makes it possible in particular to needle the entire width of a fibrous preform when it presents a width greater than the area covered by needles of the needling head in the direction of the X axis.
  • the figure 5 represents another embodiment of a needling installation 200 which differs from the needling installation already described in that the outer face of the plate of the stripper has a concave curvature. More specifically, as illustrated on the figure 5 and as for the installation 100 previously described, the installation 100 comprises a needling module 220 consisting of a needling head 221, a needle board 222 mounted on the needling head and carrying a plurality of 223, and a stripper 230.
  • the stripper 230 comprises a plate 231 having a plurality of perforations 2310 extending at least along a perpendicular axis X, the plate 231 having an inner face 231a and an outer face 231b, the outer face 231b being present on the side of a mandrel 213 on which is wound a fibrous texture 30 intended to form a preform 40 needled.
  • the outer face 231b of the plate 231 of the stripper has a concave curvature. This concave curvature makes it possible to better match the shape of the fiber preform 40 and to improve, consequently, the contact of the external face 231b of the plate 231 of the stripper 230 with the exposed face 40a of the fibrous preform 40.
  • the concave curvature the outer face of the stripper plate preferably has a radius of curvature similar to the radius of curvature of the portion of the mandrel 213 in front of which the plate is placed.
  • the size of the needles 223 is adapted according to their position on the needle board 222 along the Z axis to ensure a uniform depth of penetration needles in the thickness of the preform, the needles being longer in the vicinity of the lower and upper ends 222a and 222b of the needle board 222 along the Z axis that the needles have in the vicinity of the middle portion 222c of the board with needles along the Z axis.
  • the other elements of the needling installation 200 are identical to those of the installation 100 described above and are not described here again for the sake of simplification.
  • oleopneumatic cylinders can be used to adjust the contact force between the outer face of the stripper plate and the exposed face of the preform. Hydraulic or electric cylinders may in particular be used. Likewise, sensors other than load cells may be used to measure the contact force or compressive force between the outer face of the stripper plate and the exposed face of the preform. Sensors using strain gauges or pressure probes can be used in particular.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Textile Engineering (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Nonwoven Fabrics (AREA)

Description

Arrière-plan de l'inventionBackground of the invention

L'invention concerne l'aiguilletage de textures fibreuses enroulées progressivement sur un support rotatif monté sur un châssis mobile, en particulier pour réaliser des préformes destinées à constituer des structures de renfort pour des pièces en matériau composite, telles que, par exemple, des préformes pour pièces en matériau composite thermostructural.The invention relates to the needling of fibrous textures wound progressively on a rotary support mounted on a mobile frame, in particular for producing preforms intended to constitute reinforcement structures for composite material parts, such as, for example, preforms for parts made of thermostructural composite material.

De manière connue, comme divulguée dans le document WO 2006/056675 , une installation d'aiguilletage comprend un module d'aiguilletage muni d'une tête d'aiguilletage portant une pluralité d'aiguilles, le module d'aiguilletage comprenant des moyens d'entraînement de la tête d'aiguilletage pour animer les aiguilles d'un mouvement alternatif et un débourreur comprenant au moins une plaque comportant une pluralité de perforations, les aiguilles de la tête d'aiguilletage étant alignées avec les perforations présentes sur la plaque du débourreur de manière à se déplacer dans un mouvement de va et vient au travers des performations. La face de la plaque du débourreur opposée à celle en regard de la tête d'aiguilletage est placée en contact avec la texture fibreuse à aiguilleter limitant ainsi le foisonnement de la structure, en particulier lors du mouvement de retrait des aiguilles de la structure fibreuse. Une installation d' aiguilletage est également connue du document CN 105755680 A .In known manner, as disclosed in the document WO 2006/056675 , a needling installation comprises a needling module provided with a needling head carrying a plurality of needles, the needling module comprising means for driving the needling head to animate the needles; a reciprocating motion and a stripper comprising at least one plate having a plurality of perforations, the needling head needles being aligned with the perforations on the stripper plate so as to move in a back and forth motion through performances. The face of the plate of the stripper opposite to that facing the needling head is placed in contact with the fibrous texture needling thus limiting the expansion of the structure, in particular during the withdrawal movement of the needles of the fibrous structure. A needling installation is also known from the document CN 105755680 A .

Dans le document WO 2006/056675 , le maintien du contact entre le débourreur et la face de la texture fibreuse à aiguilleter est relativement aisé car, d'une part, l'épaisseur de texture fibreuse n'évolue pas au cours de l'aiguilletage et, d'autre part, la texture fibreuse est aiguilletée à plat, celle-ci défilant sur un tapis devant la tête d'aiguilletage.In the document WO 2006/056675 the maintenance of the contact between the stripper and the face of the fibrous texture to needling is relatively easy because, on the one hand, the fibrous texture thickness does not change during needling and, on the other hand, the fibrous texture is needled flat, it scrolling on a carpet in front of the needling head.

La maintien d'un bon contact entre un débourreur et la face d'aiguilletage d'une texture fibreuse est plus difficile lorsque la texture est enroulée sur un mandrin et lorsque son épaisseur varie continuellement au cours de l'aiguilletage nécessitant des changements de positionnement entre le module d'aiguilletage portant le débourreur et la texture fibreuse.Maintaining a good contact between a stripper and the needling face of a fibrous texture is more difficult when the texture is wound on a mandrel and when its thickness varies continuously during needling requiring positional changes between the needling module carrying the stripper and the fibrous texture.

Objet et résumé de l'inventionObject and summary of the invention

L'invention vise à éviter de tels inconvénients et propose à cet effet une installation d'aiguilletage comprenant :

  • un support rotatif s'étendant suivant un premier axe X sur lequel une texture fibreuse peut-être enroulée de manière à former une préforme fibreuse de révolution, le support rotatif étant monté sur un châssis mobile suivant un deuxième axe Y perpendiculaire au premier axe X,
  • un débourreur comprenant au moins une plaque comportant une pluralité de perforations s'étendant au moins suivant le premier axe X, la plaque présentant une face interne et une face externe, la face externe étant présente du côté du support rotatif,
  • un module d'aiguilletage comprenant une tête d'aiguilletage et une planche à aiguilles portant une pluralité d'aiguilles, la planche à aiguille étant en regard de la face interne de la plaque du débourreur, les aiguilles étant alignées avec les perforations présentes sur la plaque du débourreur, la tête d'aiguilletage comprenant des moyens d'entraînement de la planche à aiguilles pour animer les aiguilles d'un mouvement alternatif suivant le deuxième axe Y par rapport à ladite plaque du débourreur,
  • des moyens d'application d'un effort de contact reliés au débourreur,
  • au moins un capteur d'effort de contact permettant de fournir une information représentative de l'effort de contact de la face externe de la plaque du débourreur sur la préforme fibreuse,
  • des moyens de contrôle aptes à commander les moyens d'application d'un effort de contact de manière à appliquer à la plaque du débourreur un effort prédéterminé en fonction de l'information fournie par chaque capteur d'effort de contact et d'au moins une valeur cible d'un effort de contact prédéterminée.
The invention aims to avoid such drawbacks and proposes for this purpose a needling installation comprising:
  • a rotatable support extending along a first axis X on which a fibrous texture may be wound so as to form a fibrous preform of revolution, the rotary support being mounted on a frame movable along a second axis Y perpendicular to the first axis X,
  • a stripper comprising at least one plate having a plurality of perforations extending at least along the first axis X, the plate having an inner face and an outer face, the outer face being present on the side of the rotary support,
  • a needling module comprising a needling head and a needle board carrying a plurality of needles, the needle board facing the inner face of the stripper plate, the needles being aligned with the perforations present on the stripper plate, the needling head comprising means for driving the needle board to animate the needles of a reciprocating movement along the second axis Y relative to said stripper plate,
  • means for applying a contact force connected to the stripper,
  • at least one contact force sensor for providing information representative of the contact force of the outer face of the stripper plate on the fiber preform,
  • control means adapted to control the means for applying a contact force so as to apply to the stripper plate a predetermined force as a function of the information provided by each contact force sensor and at least one a target value of a predetermined contact force.

Il est ainsi possible d'assurer un bon contact du débourreur avec la texture fibreuse indépendamment des changements de positions entre la texture fibreuse et le débourreur.It is thus possible to ensure good contact of the stripper with the fibrous texture regardless of changes in positions between the fibrous texture and the stripper.

Selon un premier aspect particulier de l'installation d'aiguilletage de l'invention, le déboureur est relié à la tête d'aiguilletage par des bras comprenant chacun un vérin oléopneumatique, au moins un des bras comprenant en outre un capteur d'effort de contact.According to a first particular aspect of the needling installation of the invention, the stripper is connected to the needling head by arms each comprising an oleopneumatic jack, at least one of the arms further comprising a contact force sensor.

Selon un deuxième aspect particulier de l'installation d'aiguilletage de l'invention, une valeur cible d'un effort de contact est comprise entre 10 et 1000 Newtons.According to a second particular aspect of the needling installation of the invention, a target value of a contact force is between 10 and 1000 Newtons.

Selon une caractéristique optionnelle de l'installation d'aiguilletage de l'invention, le module d'aiguilletage est apte à se déplacer suivant le premier axe X. Le déplacement du module d'aiguilletage suivant l'axe X permet notamment d'aiguilleter tout la largeur d'une préforme fibreuse lorsque celle-ci présente une largeur plus grande que la zone couverte par les aiguilles de la tête d'aiguilletage dans le sens de l'axe X.According to an optional characteristic of the needling installation of the invention, the needling module is able to move along the first axis X. The displacement of the needling module along the axis X makes it possible in particular to point all the width of a fibrous preform when it has a width greater than the area covered by the needles of the needling head in the direction of the X axis.

Selon une autre caractéristique optionnelle de l'installation d'aiguilletage de l'invention, la face externe de la plaque du déboureur présente une courbure concave. Cette courbure concave permet de mieux épouser la forme de la préforme fibreuse et d'améliorer, par conséquent, le contact de la face externe de la plaque du débourreur avec la face exposée de la préforme fibreuse.According to another optional feature of the needling installation of the invention, the outer face of the plate of the stripper has a concave curvature. This concave curvature makes it possible to better match the shape of the fibrous preform and thus to improve the contact of the external face of the stripper plate with the exposed face of the fibrous preform.

L'invention a également pour objet un procédé d'aiguilletage d'une préforme fibreuse dans une installation d'aiguilletage comprenant :

  • un support rotatif s'étendant suivant un premier axe X sur lequel une texture fibreuse est enroulée de manière à former une préforme fibreuse de révolution, le support rotatif étant monté sur un châssis mobile suivant un deuxième axe Y perpendiculaire au premier axe X,
  • un débourreur comprenant au moins une plaque comportant une pluralité de perforations s'étendant au moins suivant le premier axe X, la plaque présentant une face interne et une face externe, la face externe étant présente du côté du support rotatif,
  • un module d'aiguilletage comprenant une tête d'aiguilletage et une planche à aiguilles portant une pluralité d'aiguilles, la planche à aiguille étant en regard de la face interne de la plaque du débourreur, les aiguilles étant alignées avec les perforations présentes sur la plaque du débourreur, la tête d'aiguilletage comprenant des moyens d'entraînement de la planche à aiguilles pour animer les aiguilles d'un mouvement alternatif suivant le deuxième axe Y par rapport à ladite plaque du débourreur,
  • des moyens d'application d'un effort de contact reliés au débourreur,
  • au moins un capteur d'effort de contact permettant de fournir une information représentative de l'effort de contact de la face externe de la plaque du débourreur sur la préforme fibreuse,
le procédé comprenant la mise en contact de la face externe de la plaque du débourreur avec la face exposée de la préforme fibreuse et l'aiguilletage de ladite préforme,
caractérisé en ce que le procédé comprend en outre une étape de contrôle de l'effort de contact appliqué par la plaque du débourreur sur la préforme fibreuse comprenant la commande des moyens d'application d'un effort de contact de manière à appliquer à la plaque du débourreur un effort prédéterminé en fonction de l'information fournie par chaque capteur d'effort de contact et d'au moins une valeur d'un effort de contact prédéterminée.The invention also relates to a method of needling a fibrous preform in a needling installation comprising:
  • a rotatable support extending along a first axis X on which a fibrous texture is wound so as to form a fibrous preform of revolution, the rotary support being mounted on a frame movable along a second axis Y perpendicular to the first axis X,
  • a stripper comprising at least one plate having a plurality of perforations extending at least along the first axis X, the plate having an inner face and an outer face, the outer face being present on the side of the rotary support,
  • a needling module comprising a needling head and a needle board carrying a plurality of needles, the needle board facing the inner face of the stripper plate, the needles being aligned with the perforations present on the stripper plate, the needling head comprising means for driving the needle board to animate the needles of a reciprocating movement along the second axis Y relative to said stripper plate,
  • means for applying a contact force connected to the stripper,
  • at least one contact force sensor for providing information representative of the contact force of the outer face of the stripper plate on the fiber preform,
the method comprising contacting the outer face of the stripper plate with the exposed face of the fibrous preform and the needling of said preform,
characterized in that the method further comprises a step of controlling the contact force applied by the stripper plate on the fiber preform comprising controlling the means for applying a contact force so as to apply to the plate the stripper a predetermined force according to the information provided by each contact force sensor and at least one value of a predetermined contact force.

Selon un premier aspect particulier du procédé d'aiguilletage de l'invention, le déboureur est relié à la tête d'aiguilletage par des bras comprenant chacun un vérin oléopneumatique, au moins un des bras comprenant en outre un capteur d'effort de contact.According to a first particular aspect of the needling process of the invention, the stripper is connected to the needling head by arms each comprising an oleopneumatic jack, at least one of the arms further comprising a contact force sensor.

Selon un deuxième aspect particulier du procédé d'aiguilletage de l'invention, une valeur cible d'un effort de contact est comprise entre 10 et 1000 Newtons.According to a second particular aspect of the needling process of the invention, a target value of a contact force is between 10 and 1000 Newtons.

Selon une caractéristique optionnelle du procédé d'aiguilletage de l'invention, le module d'aiguilletage est apte à se déplacer suivant le premier axe X.According to an optional characteristic of the needling process of the invention, the needling module is able to move along the first axis X.

Selon une autre caractéristique optionnelle du procédé d'aiguilletage de l'invention, la face externe de la plaque du déboureur présente une courbure concave.According to another optional feature of the needling process of the invention, the outer face of the stripper plate has a concave curvature.

Brève description des dessins.Brief description of the drawings.

L'invention sera mieux comprise à la lecture faite ci-après, à titre indicatif mais non limitatif, en référence aux dessins annexés sur lesquels :

  • les figures 1 et 2 sont des vues schématiques en perspective d'une installation d'aiguilletage conformément à un mode de réalisation de l'invention ;
  • les figures 3A et 3B sont des vues de dessus de l'installation d'aiguilletage de la figure 2 montrant respectivement les aiguilles de la tête d'aiguilletage dans un position rétractée et dans une position déployée ;
  • la figure 4 est un schéma d'une boucle de régulation mise en oeuvre dans l'installation d'aiguilletage de l'invention ;
  • la figure 5 est une vue schématique en perspective d'une installation d'aiguilletage conformément à une autre mode de réalisation de l'invention.
The invention will be better understood on reading the following, by way of indication but without limitation, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
  • the figures 1 and 2 are schematic perspective views of a needling installation according to an embodiment of the invention;
  • the Figures 3A and 3B are top views of the needling facility of the figure 2 respectively showing the needles of the needling head in a retracted position and in an extended position;
  • the figure 4 is a diagram of a control loop implemented in the needling installation of the invention;
  • the figure 5 is a schematic perspective view of a needling installation according to another embodiment of the invention.

Description détaillée de modes de réalisationDetailed description of embodiments

Les figures 1 et 2 montrent schématiquement une installation d'aiguilletage 100 conformément à un mode de réalisation de l'invention. L'installation 100 comprend un bâti fixe 101 sur lequel est monté une plateforme chariot 110. La plateforme chariot 110 repose sur des rails 102 et est reliée à un actionneur 103, ici un moteur à vis sans fin, permettant de déplacer la plateforme chariot 110 suivant un axe Y parallèle aux rails 102. L'installation 100 comprend également un support rotatif ou mandrin 113 monté sur un arbre rotatif (non représenté sur les figures 1 et 2) supporté par deux broches 111 et 112 dont au moins l'une d'entre elle comprend un moteur (figure 1) pour entrainer en rotation le mandrin 113 dans le sens indiqué par la flèche SR sur les figure 1 et 2. Les broches 111 et 112 sont fixées sur la plateforme chariot 110. Une texture fibreuse 10 sous forme de bande est progressivement enroulée sur le mandrin 113 de manière à constituer après aiguilletage une préforme fibreuse de révolution 20.The figures 1 and 2 schematically show a needling installation 100 according to one embodiment of the invention. The installation 100 comprises a fixed frame 101 on which is mounted a carriage platform 110. The carriage platform 110 rests on rails 102 and is connected to an actuator 103, here a worm motor, for moving the carriage platform 110 along a Y axis parallel to the rails 102. The installation 100 also comprises a rotatable support or mandrel 113 mounted on a rotary shaft (not shown in FIGS. figures 1 and 2 ) supported by two pins 111 and 112, at least one of which comprises a motor ( figure 1 ) to rotate the mandrel 113 in the direction indicated by the arrow SR on the figure 1 and 2 . The pins 111 and 112 are fixed on the carriage platform 110. A fibrous texture 10 in the form of a strip is progressively wound on the mandrel 113 so as to constitute, after needling, a fibrous preform of revolution 20.

L'installation 100 comprend en outre un module d'aiguilletage 120 constitué d'une tête d'aiguilletage 121 fixé sur un châssis d'aiguilletage 104 lui-même fixé sur la bâti fixe 101, une planche à aiguilles 122 montée sur la tête d'aiguilletage et portant une pluralité d'aiguilles 123, et un débourreur 130. Le débourreur 130 comprend au moins une plaque 131 comportant une pluralité de perforations 1310 s'étendant au moins suivant un axe X perpendiculaire à l'axe Y, la plaque 131 présentant une face interne 131a et une face externe 131b, la face externe 131b étant présente du côté du mandrin 113.The installation 100 further comprises a needling module 120 consisting of a needling head 121 fixed on a needling frame 104 itself fixed on the fixed frame 101, a needle board 122 mounted on the head of the needling and carrying a plurality of needles 123, and a stripper 130. The stripper 130 comprises at least one plate 131 having a plurality of perforations 1310 extending at least along an axis X perpendicular to the Y axis, the plate 131 having an inner face 131a and an outer face 131b, the outer face 131b being present on the side of the mandrel 113.

Comme illustré sur les figures 3 et 4, le débourreur 130 est relié à la tête d'aiguilletage 121 par un premier bras 140 comportant un vérin 141 et un deuxième bras 150 comportant un vérin 151. Dans l'exemple décrit ici les vérin 141 et 151 sont des vérins oléopneumatiques. Comme expliqué ci-après, les vérins 141 et 151 sont destinées à appliquer un effort de contact de la face externe 131b de la plaque 131 du déboureur 130 sur la face exposée 20a d'une préforme fibreuse 20 à aiguilleter.As illustrated on figures 3 and 4 , the stripper 130 is connected to the needling head 121 by a first arm 140 having a cylinder 141 and a second arm 150 having a cylinder 151. In the example described here the cylinders 141 and 151 are oleopneumatic cylinders. As explained below, the cylinders 141 and 151 are intended to apply a contact force of the outer face 131b of the plate 131 of the stripper 130 on the exposed face 20a of a fibrous preform 20 needling.

La planche à aiguille 122 est en regard de la face interne 131a de la plaque 131 du débourreur 130, les aiguilles 123 étant alignées avec les perforations 1310 présentes sur la plaque 131 du débourreur. La tête d'aiguilletage 121 comprend des moyens d'entraînement de la planche à aiguilles, constitués dans l'exemple décrit ici par deux pistons 124 et 125, permettant d'animer la planche à aiguilles 122 et, par conséquent, les aiguilles 123 d'un mouvement alternatif ou de va-et-vient M suivant l'axe Y par rapport à la plaque du débourreur. Lors de l'actionnement des pistons 124 et 125, les aiguilles 123 passent alternativement d'une position rétractée dans laquelle elles ne dépassent pas de la surface externe 131b de la plaque 131 du déboureur 130 (figure 3A) à une position déployée dans laquelle elles dépassent de la face externe 131b de la plaque 131 afin de pénétrer dans la préforme fibreuse 20 à une profondeur déterminée (figure 3B).The needle board 122 is facing the inner face 131a of the plate 131 of the stripper 130, the needles 123 being aligned with the perforations 1310 present on the plate 131 of the stripper. The needling head 121 comprises means for driving the needle board, constituted in the example described here by two pistons 124 and 125, for animating the needle board 122 and, consequently, the needles 123 of reciprocating or reciprocating movement M along the Y axis with respect to the stripper plate. When the pistons 124 and 125 are actuated, the needles 123 pass alternately from a retracted position in which they do not protrude from the external surface 131b of the plate 131 of the stripper 130 ( figure 3A ) at an extended position in which they protrude from the outer face 131b of the plate 131 so as to penetrate into the fiber preform 20 at a determined depth ( figure 3B ).

Dans l'exemple décrit ici, la planche à aiguilles 122 porte plusieurs rangées d'aiguilles 123 disposées les unes au-dessus des autres suivant un axe Z (figure 1), chaque rangée d'aiguilles s'étendant sur une largeur déterminée suivant l'axe X. Les perforations 1310 présentes sur la plaque 131 du débourreur sont disposées de manière correspondante afin d'être alignées avec les aiguilles 123, à savoir sur plusieurs rangées les unes au-dessus des autres suivant un axe Z et, pour chaque rangée, sur une largeur déterminée suivant l'axe X. Toutefois, la planche à aiguilles peut également comporter une seule rangée d'aiguilles, la disposition des perforation présentes dans la plaque du débourreur étant adaptée en conséquence.In the example described here, the needle board 122 carries several rows of needles 123 arranged one above the other along an axis Z ( figure 1 ), each row of needles extending over a determined width along the axis X. The perforations 1310 present on the plate 131 of the stripper are arranged correspondingly to be aligned with the needles 123, namely in several rows one above the other along a Z axis and, for each row, over a determined width along the X axis. However, the needle board may also comprise a single row of needles, the arrangement of the perforations present in the stripper plate being adapted accordingly.

Conformément à l'invention, l'installation d'aiguilletage 100 est en outre apte à commander les moyens d'application d'un effort de contact de manière à appliquer à la plaque du débourreur un effort prédéterminé en fonction d'une information de mesure d'effort et d'au moins une valeur cible d'un effort de contact prédéterminée. A cet effet, l'installation comprend au moins un capteur d'effort de contact ou capteur de force en compression permettant de fournir une information représentative de l'effort de contact de la face externe de la plaque du débourreur sur la préforme. Dans l'exemple décrit ici, le premier bras 140 reliant la plaque 131 du déboureur à la tête d'aiguilletage 121 comprend un premier capteur d'effort de contact 142 interposé entre le vérin 141 et la tête d'aiguilletage 121, le capteur 142 correspondant ici à un peson numérique tandis que le deuxième bras 150 reliant la plaque 131 du déboureur à la tête d'aiguilletage 121 comprend un deuxième capteur d'effort de contact 152 interposé entre le vérin 151 et la tête d'aiguilletage 121, le capteur 152 correspondant ici à un peson numérique.According to the invention, the needling installation 100 is also able to control the means for applying a contact force so as to apply to the stripper plate a predetermined force as a function of measurement information. of effort and to minus a target value of a predetermined contact force. For this purpose, the installation comprises at least one contact force sensor or compression force sensor for providing information representative of the contact force of the outer face of the stripper plate on the preform. In the example described here, the first arm 140 connecting the plate 131 of the stripper to the needling head 121 comprises a first contact force sensor 142 interposed between the cylinder 141 and the needling head 121, the sensor 142. corresponding here to a digital scale while the second arm 150 connecting the plate 131 of the stripper to the needling head 121 comprises a second contact force sensor 152 interposed between the cylinder 151 and the needling head 121, the sensor 152 corresponding here to a digital scale.

L'installation d'aiguilletage comprend un dispositif de contrôle comprenant un calculateur ou tout autre dispositif programmable connu (non représenté sur les figures 1, 2, 3A et 3B). Comme illustré sur la figure 4, le calculateur ou similaire est programmé pour mettre en oeuvre une boucle de régulation qui reçoit, d'une part, un signal Ic correspondant à une information représentative de l'effort de contact de la face externe de la plaque du débourreur sur la préforme, le signal Ic étant ici délivré par les capteurs d'effort de contact 142 et 152, et, d'autre part, un signal Ec correspondant à une valeur cible d'un effort de contact prédéterminé. Le calculateur déterminé la différence entre le signal Ic et le signal Ec. Si la valeur du signal Ic est supérieure à la valeur du signal Ec, le calculateur génère, après correction, un signal de commande Sc à destination des vérins 141 et 151 qui, en réponse à ce signal, diminuent l'effort de contact entre la plaque du déboureur et la face exposée de la préforme pour atteindre la valeur cible d'effort de contact. Si la valeur du signal Ic est inférieure à la valeur du signal Ec, le calculateur génère, après correction, un signal de commande Sc à destination des vérins 141 et 151 qui, en réponse à ce signal, augmentent l'effort de contact entre la plaque du déboureur et la face exposée de la préforme pour atteindre la valeur cible d'effort de contact. Enfin, si la valeur du signal Ic est égale à la valeur du signal Ec, le calculateur génère un signal de commande Sc nul n'entraînant aucune modification de l'effort de contact appliqué par les vérins 141 et 151. La valeur cible d'un effort de contact entre la face externe de la plaque du débourreur et la face exposée de la préforme fibreuse peut être comprise entre 10 et 1000 Newtons.The needling installation comprises a control device comprising a computer or any other known programmable device (not shown on the figures 1 , 2 , 3A and 3B ). As illustrated on the figure 4 the computer or the like is programmed to implement a regulation loop which receives, on the one hand, a signal Ic corresponding to information representative of the contact force of the outer face of the stripper plate on the preform, the signal Ic being here delivered by the contact force sensors 142 and 152, and, secondly, a signal Ec corresponding to a target value of a predetermined contact force. The calculator determines the difference between the signal Ic and the signal Ec. If the value of the signal Ic is greater than the value of the signal Ec, the computer generates, after correction, a control signal Sc intended for the cylinders 141 and 151 which, in response to this signal, reduce the contact force between the stripper plate and the exposed face of the preform to achieve the target value of contact force. If the value of the signal Ic is smaller than the value of the signal Ec, the computer generates, after correction, a control signal Sc intended for the cylinders 141 and 151 which, in response to this signal, increase the contact force between the stripper plate and the exposed face of the preform to achieve the target value of contact force. Finally, if the value of the signal Ic is equal to the value of the signal Ec, the computer generates a control signal Sc zero causing no change in the contact force applied by the cylinders 141 and 151. The target value of a contact force between the outer face of the stripper plate and the exposed face of the fibrous preform can be between 10 and 1000 Newtons.

Au début de l'aiguilletage de la préforme 20, la plateforme chariot 110 est déplacée vers l'avant, c'est-à-dire en direction du module d'aiguilletage 120 afin de placer la face exposée 20a de la préforme fibreuse 20 en contact avec la face externe 131b de la plaque 131 du déboureur 130 (figure 2). Dès lors, la boucle de régulation de la figure 4 est activée, et ce jusqu'à la fin de l'aiguilletage durant lequel la plateforme chariot 110 est régulièrement déplacée vers l'arrière, c'est-à-dire dans la direction opposée au module d'aiguilletage 120, afin d'ajuster le positionnement de la plaque du débourreur vis-à-vis de la préforme fibreuse 20 dont l'épaisseur augmente au fur et à mesure de l'enroulement de la texture fibreuse 10 sur le mandrin 113.At the beginning of the needling of the preform 20, the carriage platform 110 is moved forward, that is to say in the direction of the needling module 120 in order to place the exposed face 20a of the fibrous preform 20 in place. contact with the outer face 131b of the plate 131 of the stripper 130 ( figure 2 ). Therefore, the regulatory loop of the figure 4 is activated, until the end of the needling during which the carriage platform 110 is regularly moved rearward, that is to say in the opposite direction to the needling module 120, in order to adjust the positioning of the stripper plate vis-à-vis the fibrous preform 20, the thickness of which increases as the fibrous texture 10 is wound on the mandrel 113.

Selon une caractéristique optionnelle de l'invention, le module d'aiguilletage 120 est apte à se déplacer suivant l'axe X (figures 1 et 2). Le déplacement du module d'aiguilletage suivant l'axe X peut être réalisé par déplacement du châssis d'aiguilletage 104 sur lequel le module d'aiguilletage 120 est fixé, le châssis 104 étant par exemple monté sur des rails fixés sur le bâti fixe 101 (non représentés sur les figures 1 et 2). Le module d'aiguilletage 120 peut également être monté sur le châssis d'aiguilletage 104 via un dispositif d'actionnement (non représenté sur les figures 1 et 2) permettant de déplacer le module 120 par rapport au châssis 104 suivant l'axe X. Le déplacement du module d'aiguilletage 120 suivant l'axe X permet notamment d'aiguilleter tout la largeur d'une préforme fibreuse lorsque celle-ci présente une largeur plus grande que la zone couverte par les aiguilles de la tête d'aiguilletage dans le sens de l'axe X.According to an optional feature of the invention, the needling module 120 is able to move along the X axis ( figures 1 and 2 ). The displacement of the needling module along the X axis can be achieved by moving the needling frame 104 on which the needling module 120 is fixed, the frame 104 being for example mounted on rails fixed to the fixed frame 101 (not shown on figures 1 and 2 ). The needling module 120 may also be mounted on the needling frame 104 via an actuating device (not shown in FIGS. figures 1 and 2 ) for moving the module 120 relative to the frame 104 along the X axis. The displacement of the needling module 120 along the X axis makes it possible in particular to needle the entire width of a fibrous preform when it presents a width greater than the area covered by needles of the needling head in the direction of the X axis.

La figure 5 représente un autre mode de réalisation d'une installation d'aiguilletage 200 qui diffère de l'installation d'aiguilletage déjà décrite en ce que la face externe de la plaque du déboureur présente une courbure concave. Plus précisément, comme illustré sur la figure 5 et de même que pour l'installation 100 précédemment décrite, l'installation 100 comprend un module d'aiguilletage 220 constitué d'une tête d'aiguilletage 221, une planche à aiguilles 222 montée sur la tête d'aiguilletage et portant une pluralité d'aiguilles 223, et un débourreur 230. Le débourreur 230 comprend une plaque 231 comportant une pluralité de perforations 2310 s'étendant au moins suivant un axe X perpendiculaire, la plaque 231 présentant une face interne 231a et une face externe 231b, la face externe 231b étant présente du côté d'un mandrin 213 sur lequel est enroulé une texture fibreuse 30 destinée à former une préforme 40 aiguilletée. Dans ce mode de réalisation, la face externe 231b de la plaque 231 du débourreur présente une courbure concave. Cette courbure concave permet de mieux épouser la forme de la préforme fibreuse 40 et d'améliorer, par conséquent, le contact de la face externe 231b de la plaque 231 du débourreur 230 avec la face exposée 40a de la préforme fibreuse 40. La courbure concave de la face externe de la plaque du débourreur présente de préférence un rayon de courbure similaire au rayon de courbure de la portion du mandrin 213 en face de laquelle la plaque est placée.The figure 5 represents another embodiment of a needling installation 200 which differs from the needling installation already described in that the outer face of the plate of the stripper has a concave curvature. More specifically, as illustrated on the figure 5 and as for the installation 100 previously described, the installation 100 comprises a needling module 220 consisting of a needling head 221, a needle board 222 mounted on the needling head and carrying a plurality of 223, and a stripper 230. The stripper 230 comprises a plate 231 having a plurality of perforations 2310 extending at least along a perpendicular axis X, the plate 231 having an inner face 231a and an outer face 231b, the outer face 231b being present on the side of a mandrel 213 on which is wound a fibrous texture 30 intended to form a preform 40 needled. In this embodiment, the outer face 231b of the plate 231 of the stripper has a concave curvature. This concave curvature makes it possible to better match the shape of the fiber preform 40 and to improve, consequently, the contact of the external face 231b of the plate 231 of the stripper 230 with the exposed face 40a of the fibrous preform 40. The concave curvature the outer face of the stripper plate preferably has a radius of curvature similar to the radius of curvature of the portion of the mandrel 213 in front of which the plate is placed.

Dans le cas de la plaque 231 qui présente une face externe 231b avec une courbure concave, la taille des aiguilles 223 est adaptée en fonction de leur position sur la planche à aiguille 222 suivant l'axe Z afin d'assurer une profondeur de pénétration homogène des aiguilles dans l'épaisseur de la préforme, les aiguilles étant plus longues au voisinage des extrémités inférieure et supérieur 222a et 222b de la planche à aiguille 222 suivant l'axe Z que les aiguilles présentent au voisinage de la partie médiane 222c de la planche à aiguilles suivant l'axe Z.In the case of the plate 231 which has an outer face 231b with a concave curvature, the size of the needles 223 is adapted according to their position on the needle board 222 along the Z axis to ensure a uniform depth of penetration needles in the thickness of the preform, the needles being longer in the vicinity of the lower and upper ends 222a and 222b of the needle board 222 along the Z axis that the needles have in the vicinity of the middle portion 222c of the board with needles along the Z axis.

Les autres éléments de l'installation d'aiguilletage 200 sont identiques à ceux de l'installation 100 décrite ci-avant et ne sont pas décrits ici une nouvelle fois par souci de simplification.The other elements of the needling installation 200 are identical to those of the installation 100 described above and are not described here again for the sake of simplification.

D'autres moyens que des vérins oléopneumatiques peuvent être utilisée pour ajuster l'effort de contact entre la face externe de la plaque du débourreur et la face exposée de la préforme. Des vérins hydrauliques ou électriques peuvent notamment être utilisés. De même, des capteurs autres que des pesons peuvent être utilisés pour mesure l'effort de contact ou de la force en compression entre la face externe de la plaque du débourreur et la face exposée de la préforme. Des capteurs utilisant des jauges de contrainte ou des sondes de pression peuvent notamment être utilisés.Other means than oleopneumatic cylinders can be used to adjust the contact force between the outer face of the stripper plate and the exposed face of the preform. Hydraulic or electric cylinders may in particular be used. Likewise, sensors other than load cells may be used to measure the contact force or compressive force between the outer face of the stripper plate and the exposed face of the preform. Sensors using strain gauges or pressure probes can be used in particular.

Claims (10)

  1. A needling installation (100)comprising:
    - a rotary support (113) extending along a first axis X and on which a fiber texture (10) can be wound so as to form a fiber preform for a body of revolution (20), the rotary support being mounted on a frame (100) that is movable along a second axis Y perpendicular to the first axis X;
    - a stripper (130) comprising at least one plate (131) extending at least along the first axis X and including a plurality of perforations (1310), the plate (131) presenting an inside face (131a) and an outside face (131b), the outside face (131b) being present beside the rotary support (113);
    - a needling module (120) having a needling head (121) and a needle board (122) carrying a plurality of needles (123), the needle board (122) facing the inside face (131a) of the plate (131) of the stripper(130), the needles (123) being in alignment with the perforations (1310) present in the plate (131) of the stripper (130), the needling head (121) having drive means (124, 125) for driving the needle board (122) to impart reciprocating motion to the needles (123) along the second axis Y relative to said plate of the stripper;
    - contact force application means connected to the stripper (130);
    - at least one contact force sensor (142, 152) for providing information representative of the contact force with which the outside face (131b) of the plate (131) of the stripper (130) makes contact against the fiber preform; and
    - control means that are suitable for controlling the contact force application means so as to apply a force to the plate (131) of the stripper (130) that is predetermined as a function of information provided by each contact force sensor (142, 152) and as a function of at least one target value for a predetermined contact force.
  2. An installation according to claim 1, wherein the stripper (130) is connected to the needling head (121) by arms (140, 150), each including an oleopneumatic actuator (141, 151), at least one of the arms (140) further including a contact force sensor (142).
  3. An installation according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a target value for a contact force lies in the range 10 N to 1000 N.
  4. An installation according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the needling module (120) is suitable for moving along the first axis X.
  5. An installation according to any one of claims 1 to4, wherein the outside face (231b) of the plate (231) of the stripper (230) presents concave curvature.
  6. A method of needling a fiber preform in a needling installation (100) comprising:
    - a rotary support (113) extending along a first axis X and on which a fiber texture (10) is wound so as to form a fiber preform for a body of revolution (20), the rotary support being mounted on a frame (110) that is movable along a second axis Y perpendicular to the first axis X;
    - a stripper (130) comprising at least one plate (131) extending at least along the first axis X and including a plurality of perforations (1310), the plate (131) presenting an inside face (131a) and an outside face (131b), the outside face (131b) being present beside the rotary support (113);
    - a needling module (120) having a needling head (121) and a needle board (122) carrying a plurality of needles (123), the needle board (122) facing the inside face (131a) of the plate (131) of the stripper (130), the needles (123) being in alignment with the perforations (1310) present in the plate (131) of the stripper (130), the needling head (121) having drive means (124, 125) for driving the needle board (122) to impart reciprocating motion to the needles (123) along the second axis Y relative to said plate of the stripper;
    - contact force application means connected to the stripper (130); and
    - at least one contact force sensor (142, 152) for providing information representative of the force with which the outside face (131b) of the plate (131) of the stripper (130) makes contact against the fiber preform;
    the method comprising putting the outside face (131b) of the plate (131) of the stripper (130) into contact with the exposed face (20a) of the fiber preform (20) and needling said preform; and
    the method being characterized in that it further comprises a step of controlling the contact force applied by the plate (131) of the stripper (130) on the fiber preform (20), by controlling the contact force application means so as to apply a force to the plate (131) of the stripper (130) that is predetermined as a function of information provided by each contact force sensor (142, 152) and as a function of at least one value for a predetermined contact force.
  7. A method according to claim 6, wherein the stripper (130) is connected to the needling head (122) by arms (140, 150), each including an oleopneumatic actuator (141, 151), at least one of the arms (140) further including a contact force sensor (142).
  8. A method according to claim 6 or 7, wherein a target value for a contact force lies in the range 10 N to 1000 N.
  9. A method according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the needling module (120) is suitable for moving along the first axis X.
  10. A method according to any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein the outside face (231b) of the plate (231) of the stripper (230) presents concave curvature.
EP18160638.5A 2017-03-27 2018-03-08 Installation and method for needling a fibrous preform with control of the contact pressure of the stripper Active EP3382079B1 (en)

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FR3064284B1 (en) 2019-04-19
FR3064284A1 (en) 2018-09-28
US10662562B2 (en) 2020-05-26
US20180274144A1 (en) 2018-09-27
EP3382079A1 (en) 2018-10-03

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