A deflection member that includes a reinforcing member and a plurality of tiles fastened to the reinforcing member.

Device for producing a preform to a given 3D profile, from at least two warp tapes/filaments (18) placed in a first plane and at least one weft tape/filament (20) placed in a second plane, the first and second planes making a determined angle, characterized in that it comprises feed means (12) for warp tapes/filaments (18) with independent modules, feed means (14) for weft tapes/filaments (20), manoeuvring .sub.[GH19] means (16) for manoeuvring the warp tapes/filaments (18) with respect to the weft tapes/filaments (20), and manoeuvring means (16) for manoeuvring all of the warp tapes/filaments (20), according to said given 3D profile.

A composite platform for an aircraft turbine engine fan includes a wall of elongate shape that is configured to extend between two fan blades. The wall has an aerodynamic external face and an internal face on which is disposed a fixing tab configured to be fixed to a fan disc. A method for manufacturing the composite platform includes the steps of: a) producing a preform by three-dimensionally weaving of fibers, b) unbinding some of the fibers of the preform to detach at least one longitudinal layer of fibers from the rest of the preform, c) inserting a metal reinforcement between this layer and the rest of the preform, and d) injecting a resin into the preform so as to form said wall and secure the reinforcement to this wall.

A weaving loom for weaving a multilayer fabric with weft insertion mechanism (90) and main heddles moved by a Jacquard main shedding mechanism for guiding main warp yarns (12) and defining a main harness width (W11). According to the invention, the weaving loom includes auxiliary heddles (21) moved by an auxiliary shedding mechanism, for guiding auxiliary warp yarns (22) and defining a clamping area (W21) arranged within the main harness width (W11). At a first pick, the auxiliary heddles are configured for closing the auxiliary shed of auxiliary warp yarns for clamping an inserted weft (100) while the main shed is still open.

The present invention relates to a fan blade (3) having a structure made from a composite material, comprising a fibrous reinforcement (5), which is obtained by three-dimensional weaving of warp strands and weft strands, and a matrix in which the fibrous reinforcement (5) is embedded, wherein—the fibrous reinforcement (5) comprises a first portion (14) forming the trailing edge (9) of the structure made from a composite material and a second portion (15) forming its leading edge (8), and wherein—the warp strands of the fibrous reinforcement (5) comprise first strands (12) having a predetermined stiffness and second strands (13) having a greater stiffness than that of the first strands (12), the first portion (14) comprising all or part of the first strands (12) and being devoid of second strands (13) while the second portion (15) comprises all or part of the second strands (13).

A fibrous preform for forming the fibrous reinforcement of a composite material part, the fibrous preform being made as a single piece and obtained by three-dimensional weaving, the preform including first and second skins and a longitudinal stiffening portion connecting the first to the second skin, the longitudinal stiffening portion forming a stiffening element of the part in the longitudinal direction. The preform has an intermediate portion extending in the longitudinal direction between two end portions. The longitudinal stiffening portion includes, in the intermediate portion, longitudinal non-woven threads or strands held together by first transverse threads or strands coming from the first skin and second transverse threads or strands coming from the second skin. In the end portions, the longitudinal threads or strands of the longitudinal stiffening portion are woven with the transverse threads or strands.

The present invention is directed to a three-dimensional composite fabric including a three-dimensional woven fabric, and a nonwoven fabric arranged on a first, on a second side, or on both sides of the three-dimensional woven fabric, wherein the composite fabric retains at least 15% thickness at a compression of about 200 pounds per square foot (psf) to about 1000 pounds per square foot. Further, the present invention is directed to a method of making a three-dimensional composite fabric and a method of installing the three-dimensional composite fabric in a landfill.

A method of manufacturing a preform including a core and a sole includes contour weaving the preform on a lap roller having a groove or an outgrowth allowing shape weaving of the core and the sole of the preform. At least one portion of the core and at least one portion of the sole include weft yarns which cross each other on common warp yarns.

Methods for fabricating a 3D braided material and exemplary 3D braided material for sporting implements are disclosed. The exemplary braids can be incorporated into any sporting implements, such as, baseball bats, lacrosse sticks, hockey sticks, rackets, helmets, and other protective equipment. The example sporting implement can be constructed, partially or entirely, with a braided three dimensional structure. The 3D braided material can be a multi-directional layup having tows oriented in three directions (X, Y and Z) and also at any angle created by the combination of two or three directions. A single woven preform can be formed that can have a near net shape of the formed product, with the fibers oriented in a way that will be optimal for the particular application.

Disclosed is a weaving assembly including a rotatable base, a base positional controller, a weave control grid, a warp fiber support, warp fiber arms, a warp fiber arm positional controller and a fill fiber wand.