Embodiments for clamps and shaping clamp systems are disclosed herein and drawn to such applications as, including but not limited to, an apparatus and method for forming three-dimensional woven preforms that can be curved and have continuous fibers in the direction of curvature. Embodiments of the clamps may include an upper clamp, and a lower clamp of complementary shape and mateable with the upper clamp, with the clamp being configured to receive a fabric therebetween.

Embodiments for clamps and shaping clamp systems are disclosed herein and drawn to such applications as, including but not limited to, an apparatus and method for forming three-dimensional woven preforms that can be curved and have continuous fibers in the direction of curvature. Embodiments of the clamps may include an upper clamp, and a lower clamp of complementary shape and mateable with the upper clamp, with the clamp being configured to receive a fabric therebetween.

A wrappable, corrugated woven sleeve and method of construction thereof is provided. The sleeve includes a wall having opposite edges wrapped about a central axis into overlapping relation with one another. The wall has a plurality of layers overlying one another. Each layer includes warp yarns extending generally parallel to the central axis woven with fill yarns extending generally transversely to the warp yarns. Each layer includes a plurality of annular first bands and a plurality of annular second bands alternating with one another along the length of the wall. The first bands of each layer include monofilament weft yarn and multifilament weft yarn and the second bands of each layer include only one of monofilament weft yarn or multifilament weft yarn. The first bands overlie one another to form peaks and the second bands B overlie one another to form valleys, such that the wall has a corrugated contour.

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.

A fabric having a first side and a second side and comprising weft yarns and warp yarns woven together in pattern. At least some of the weft, or warp, yarns float over a number of warp yarns, or weft yarns, and below a number of warp yarns, or weft yarns, to provide weft, or warp, over portions on the first side and under portions on the second side. The under portions and/or over portions of the yarns form loops. At least some of the yarns that form the loops are conjugate yarns comprising a plurality of filaments that are separable, i.e., splittable into sub-filaments. The loops of the conjugate yarns extend for a length of at least three adjacent warp, or weft, yarns.

A fabric having a first side and a second side and comprising weft yarns and warp yarns woven together in pattern. At least some of the weft, or warp, yarns float over a number of warp yarns, or weft yarns, and below a number of warp yarns, or weft yarns, to provide weft, or warp, over portions on the first side and under portions on the second side. The under portions and/or over portions of the yarns form loops. At least some of the yarns that form the loops are conjugate yarns comprising a plurality of filaments that are separable, i.e., splittable into sub-filaments. The loops of the conjugate yarns extend for a length of at least three adjacent warp, or weft, yarns.

A tubular structure having lobes is produced as a single piece over at least two lobes. Circumferential fibres of the structure have a constant orientation with respect to the longitudinal axis (A) of the structure in any plane (P) transverse to the longitudinal axis. The structure is obtained by weaving or by filament winding.

A tubular structure having lobes is produced as a single piece over at least two lobes. Circumferential fibres of the structure have a constant orientation with respect to the longitudinal axis (A) of the structure in any plane (P) transverse to the longitudinal axis. The structure is obtained by weaving or by filament winding.

A volumetric weaving approach employs a vertical aspect of woven warp and weft fibers to generate volumetric structures through formation of tie-downs. Tie downs define warp and weft fibers that take a vertical path or component extending perpendicular to a weave plane. Independently controlled heddles provide selective warp fibers control, and a two-dimensional creel that dispenses the warp fibers at differing feed rates allows manipulation of the fibers into three dimensional structures or portions. As a shuttle draws the weft fiber, different layers are raised and lowered to lend a vertical axis to the resulting volumetric structure. Interconnections between the portions include the use of the tie downs to connect multiple portions to define 3-dimensional panels of a finished article such as a shoe. A single pass defining all the interconnected portions of the shoe generates the fully formed shoe without subsequent cutting and seaming of different textile panels.