Disclosed is an apparatus and method for forming three-dimensional woven preforms that can be curved and have continuous fibers in the direction of curvature. Also disclosed are woven preforms formed thereby.

Jacquard loom for producing a woven preform from several warp yarns and several weft yarns, the loom including a device for taking up the preform when it is being produced, in order to move it along an axis (X) as it is being formed, which axis is substantially parallel to a production direction for the preform, characterised in that the loom also includes a control for rotating the preform, substantially about the axis.

Jacquard loom for producing a woven preform from several warp yarns and several weft yarns, the loom including a device for taking up the preform when it is being produced, in order to move it along an axis (X) as it is being formed, which axis is substantially parallel to a production direction for the preform, characterised in that the loom also includes a control for rotating the preform, substantially about the axis.

A method of fabricating a textile structure of varying thickness including using a loom to weave a fiber texture in the form of a strip extending lengthwise along a longitudinal axis and widthwise along an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and causing the texture to be wound under tension onto a mandrel. The texture includes a portion presenting extra thickness. During the winding of the texture, a spacer element is interposed between adjacent turns of the fiber texture onto the mandrel. Each spacer element extends in the width direction of the texture over a portion thereof situated outside the portion of extra thickness and presenting, over the portion of the texture situated outside the portion of extra thickness, a thickness that corresponds at least to the difference between thicknesses of the portion of extra thickness and of the portion of the texture situated outside the portion of extra thickness.

A method of fabricating a textile structure of varying thickness including using a loom to weave a fiber texture in the form of a strip extending lengthwise along a longitudinal axis and widthwise along an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and causing the texture to be wound under tension onto a mandrel. The texture includes a portion presenting extra thickness. During the winding of the texture, a spacer element is interposed between adjacent turns of the fiber texture onto the mandrel. Each spacer element extends in the width direction of the texture over a portion thereof situated outside the portion of extra thickness and presenting, over the portion of the texture situated outside the portion of extra thickness, a thickness that corresponds at least to the difference between thicknesses of the portion of extra thickness and of the portion of the texture situated outside the portion of extra thickness.

Disclosed is an apparatus and method for forming three-dimensional woven preforms that can be curved and have continuous fibers in the direction of curvature. Also disclosed are woven preforms formed thereby.

Disclosed is an apparatus and method for forming three-dimensional woven preforms that can be curved and have continuous fibers in the direction of curvature. Also disclosed are woven preforms formed thereby.

An apparatus for drawing-off a web-shaped product from a weaving machine in a drawing-off direction includes: at least one clamp carrier having clamps for the web-shaped product; a carrier frame apparatus on which the clamp carrier is guided; a drive arrangement by which the clamp carrier is drivable back and forth in a motion range; and a support system for the web-shaped product. The support system is arranged in an area between the apparatus side facing toward the weaving machine and the clamp carrier, within the carrier frame apparatus, in such a manner so that a sagging of the web-shaped product in this area is avoided or limited by the support system.

An apparatus for drawing-off a web-shaped product from a weaving machine in a drawing-off direction includes: at least one clamp carrier having clamps for the web-shaped product; a carrier frame apparatus on which the clamp carrier is guided; a drive arrangement by which the clamp carrier is drivable back and forth in a motion range; and a support system for the web-shaped product. The support system is arranged in an area between the apparatus side facing toward the weaving machine and the clamp carrier, within the carrier frame apparatus, in such a manner so that a sagging of the web-shaped product in this area is avoided or limited by the support system.

The disclosure relates to a shape-woven preform which has an omega-shaped cross-section including a core and a sole. At least one part of the core and at least one part of the sole have weft yarns in common with one another.