An air entanglement system having a housing, a first rotatable surface disposed with the housing, and a second rotatable surface disposed with the housing proximate the first rotatable surface is described herein. The first rotatable surface may comprise a first plurality of air jets configured to air entangle a preform in situ. The second rotatable surface may be disposed with the housing proximate the first rotatable surface. The second rotatable surface may comprise a second plurality of air jets configured to air entangle the preform in situ. The air entanglement system may be configured to achieve negative pressure in response to being under suction.

An air entanglement system having a housing, a first rotatable surface disposed with the housing, and a second rotatable surface disposed with the housing proximate the first rotatable surface is described herein. The first rotatable surface may comprise a first plurality of air jets configured to air entangle a preform in situ. The second rotatable surface may be disposed with the housing proximate the first rotatable surface. The second rotatable surface may comprise a second plurality of air jets configured to air entangle the preform in situ. The air entanglement system may be configured to achieve negative pressure in response to being under suction.

A transport of carbon fiber bundles, in as fabricated carbon fiber tow form, with in-line manipulation of the fiber bundles (spreading or spreading and volumization with manipulators) during fiber bundle transport is described herein. A method including positively transporting and placing a fiber bundle via a moveable fiber bundle delivery mechanism interposed between a fiber bundle supply and a fiber bundle delivery location, manipulating at least one of a fiber volume and an areal weight of the fiber bundle via an air jet device coupled between the fiber bundle delivery location and the fiber bundle supply, and controlling delivery of the fiber bundle tension from the fiber supply through an electronic unwinder is also described.

A transport of carbon fiber bundles, in as fabricated carbon fiber tow form, with in-line manipulation of the fiber bundles (spreading or spreading and volumization with manipulators) during fiber bundle transport is described herein. A method including positively transporting and placing a fiber bundle via a moveable fiber bundle delivery mechanism interposed between a fiber bundle supply and a fiber bundle delivery location, manipulating at least one of a fiber volume and an areal weight of the fiber bundle via an air jet device coupled between the fiber bundle delivery location and the fiber bundle supply, and controlling delivery of the fiber bundle tension from the fiber supply through an electronic unwinder is also described.

The stripper plate or stitching plate for a needling machine comprises a plurality of opening arrangements, wherein each opening arrangement comprises at least one opening for accommodating needles of a needle row of a needle board of the needling machine. At least first and second opening arrangements of the plurality of opening arrangements are arranged at a slant to a longitudinal direction (L.sub.1) of the stripper plate or stitching plate, and an absolute value of the angle (β) of the second opening arrangements to the longitudinal direction (L.sub.1) of the stripper plate or stitching plate is different from an absolute value of an angle (α) of the first opening arrangements to the longitudinal direction (L.sub.1) of the stripper plate or stitching plate.

A felting needle has a working part that extends lengthwise along a part of the longitudinal extent thereof. The needle has a cross-sectional area which extends in the radial and circumferential directions of the felting needle and forms the cross-sectional area of the working part for much of the length thereof and at least one barb which penetrates into the working part which is formed by an incut running from the outer surface of the working part towards the interior of the needle. The needle includes at least one bulge which projects beyond the circumferential surface of the felting needle in the working part thereof. The bulge extends lengthwise only along a part of the working part and has volume constituents that do not belong to the barbing bead of the barb. The barb adjoins the outer surface of the bulge lengthwise along the felting needle.

A felting needle has a working part that extends lengthwise along a part of the longitudinal extent thereof. The needle has a cross-sectional area which extends in the radial and circumferential directions of the felting needle and forms the cross-sectional area of the working part for much of the length thereof and at least one barb which penetrates into the working part which is formed by an incut running from the outer surface of the working part towards the interior of the needle. The needle includes at least one bulge which projects beyond the circumferential surface of the felting needle in the working part thereof. The bulge extends lengthwise only along a part of the working part and has volume constituents that do not belong to the barbing bead of the barb. The barb adjoins the outer surface of the bulge lengthwise along the felting needle.

The stripper plate or stitching plate for a needling machine comprises a plurality of opening arrangements, wherein each opening arrangement comprises at least one opening for accommodating needles of a needle row of a needle board of the needling machine. At least first and second opening arrangements of the plurality of opening arrangements are arranged at a slant to a longitudinal direction (L.sub.1) of the stripper plate or stitching plate, and an absolute value of the angle () of the second opening arrangements to the longitudinal direction (L.sub.1) of the stripper plate or stitching plate is different from an absolute value of an angle () of the first opening arrangements to the longitudinal direction (L.sub.1) of the stripper plate or stitching plate.

The tool (10) for textiles according to the invention consists of chromium steel, into which carbon has been embedded in locally varying amounts during a carbonizing process. Thermal treatment achieves a formation of martensite with the maximum achievable hardness, in particular in those zones in which larger carbon fractions have been introduced. A tool for textiles with zones of differing hardnesses can thus be produced without having to subject the individual zones with differing hardnesses to different process conditions during the production process. The hardness is controlled on the basis of the degree of deformation of the tool for textiles.

The tool (10) for textiles according to the invention consists of chromium steel, into which carbon has been embedded in locally varying amounts during a carbonizing process. Thermal treatment achieves a formation of martensite with the maximum achievable hardness, in particular in those zones in which larger carbon fractions have been introduced. A tool for textiles with zones of differing hardnesses can thus be produced without having to subject the individual zones with differing hardnesses to different process conditions during the production process. The hardness is controlled on the basis of the degree of deformation of the tool for textiles.