WIRE MESH LAYER AND METHOD OF MAKING A MULTILAYER PRODUCT

Abstract

A wire mesh layer, including warp wires and weft wires, wherein the warp wires and the weft wires form woven meshes and open up a woven surface. A connecting member is provided, which includes a thermoplastic material. The multilayered product is provided having such a wire mesh layer and a further layer, wherein the wire mesh layer and the further layer are connected by the thermally deformed connecting member. In a method of manufacturing such a multilayered product, the wire mesh layer and the further layer are placed on top of one another in a predetermined orientation. Due to the thermal deformation of the thermoplastic material of the connecting member, the wire mesh layer and the further layer will be interconnected.

Claims

1. A wire mesh layer comprising: warp wires and weft wires; the warp wires and the weft wires forming woven meshes and opening up a woven surface; and at least one connecting member is provided which comprises at least one thermoplastic material at least in sections.

2. The wire mesh layer according to claim 1, wherein at least one connecting member is incorporated in the woven surface like a warp wire and/or a weft wire.

3. The wire mesh layer according to claim 1, wherein at least one connecting member replaces at least one warp wire and/or at least one weft wire.

4. The wire mesh layer according to claim 1, wherein the connecting member comprises at least one form-stable core.

5. The wire mesh layer according to claim 1, wherein the connecting member is configured substantially elastic at least in sections.

6. The wire mesh layer according to claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic material comprises polyurethane.

7. The wire mesh layer according to claim 1, wherein the connecting member shows a thickness greater than the thickness of the woven surface.

8. The wire mesh layer according to claim 1, wherein the woven surface is calendered, the connecting member showing a greater thickness than the thickness of the warp wires and/or the weft wires and/or the calendered woven surface.

9. A multilayered product, in particular multilayered woven mesh, comprising at least one wire mesh layer according to claim 1; and at least one further layer, in particular at least one further woven layer; and the wire mesh layer and the at least one further layer are connected by means of the thermally deformed connecting member.

10. The multilayered product, in particular multilayered woven mesh according to claim 9, wherein the further layer comprises warp wires and weft wires, wherein the warp wires and weft wires both of the wire mesh layer and of the further layer are enclosed by the thermally deformed connecting member at least in sections.

11. A method of manufacturing a product that is multilayered at least in sections, in particular of a woven mesh that is multilayered at least in sections, comprising at least one wire mesh layer according to claim 1, and at least one further layer, in particular at least one further woven layer, comprising: the wire mesh layer and the further layer are placed on top of one another in a predetermined orientation; and the thermal deforming at least in sections and at least in part of the thermoplastic material of the connecting member causes the wire mesh layer and the further layer to interconnect.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the wire mesh and the further layer are pressurized at least temporarily and at least in sections during connecting.

13. The method according claim 12, wherein the wire mesh and the further layer are pressurized and heated up at least temporarily and at least in sections.

Description

[0033] Further advantages and features of the present invention can be taken from the exemplary embodiments which will be discussed below with reference to the enclosed figures.

[0034] The figures show in:

[0035] FIG. 1 a purely schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a wire mesh layer according to the invention in a top view;

[0036] FIG. 2 a purely schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a connecting member for a wire mesh layer according to the invention in a sectional view;

[0037] FIG. 3 a purely schematic illustration of the weft wires and the connecting members of an exemplary embodiment of a wire mesh layer according to the invention in a sectional view;

[0038] FIG. 4 a purely schematic illustration of the manufacturing of an exemplary embodiment of a multilayered woven mesh according to the invention in a top view;

[0039] FIG. 5 a purely schematic illustration of the manufacturing of an exemplary embodiment of a multilayered woven mesh according to the invention in a top view;

[0040] FIG. 6 a purely schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a multilayered woven mesh according to the invention in a top view; and

[0041] FIG. 7 a purely schematic illustration of a further exemplary embodiment of a multilayered woven mesh according to the invention in a top view.

[0042] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a wire mesh layer 1 according to the invention, comprising a plurality of warp wires 2 and weft wires 3 bent with one another, forming woven meshes 4 and thus opening up a woven surface 5.

[0043] The warp wires 2 and the weft wires 3 in the exemplary embodiment shown are configured as wires respectively consist of metal. In other embodiments, a warp fiber or a warp wire of another, including non-metallic, material may be used instead of wire.

[0044] According to the invention the wire mesh layer 1 also comprises at least one connecting member 6, which comprises at least one thermoplastic material at least in sections. The exemplary embodiment shows two groups of connecting members three connecting members 6 each, which are incorporated in the woven layer 1 like weft wires 3. Depending on the configuration, one connecting member 6 only, or a greater number than the connecting members 6 shown may be provided.

[0045] The thermoplastic material 7 of the connecting members 6 allows to place other woven layers 50, generally, layers 50 other materials plastic, wood, metal, glass or the like and/or additional woven layers 50 onto the wire mesh layer 1, being connected to form a multilayered product 100 or a multilayered woven mesh 100 by means of thermal deformation of the connecting members 6. Then the thermoplastic material 7 of the connecting members 6 deforms during heating up, so as to provide for some type of bonding between the wire mesh layer 1 and the further woven layer 50.

[0046] The wire mesh layer 1 according to the invention may also serve to obtain for example a closed ring of the wire mesh layer itself. Thus, for example a continuous belt screen can be made by forming a ring of the wire mesh layer 1, wherein the overlapping ends are, at least in one spot, provided with at least one connecting member 6 which permanently fixes the ring closure of the wire mesh layer 1 by way of thermal deforming. Formation of a hose is thus also possible.

[0047] In the field of architecture such a wire mesh layer 1 can be used advantageously as well. Highlights may for example be placed by way of different colors for the connecting members 6, which may be advantageous in terms of design technology.

[0048] In the exemplary embodiment shown the connecting members 6 are woven into or incorporated in the wire mesh layer 1. In other configurations the connecting members 6 may be connected with the wire mesh layer 1 in other ways. For example the connecting members 6 may be fixed to the warp wires 2 and/or weft wires 3 by fixing elements, not shown.

[0049] Then, however, the connecting members 6 are provided to be incorporated in the woven surface 5 like a weft wire 3. In other configurations, warp wires 2 may be replaced by connecting members 6 and/or the connecting members 6 are inserted into the woven surface 5 or the woven layer 1 like warp wires 2.

[0050] Depending on the configuration, the connecting members 6 may replace warp wires 2 and/or weft wires 3. This is the case in the exemplary embodiment shown. In particular if the connecting members 6 are incorporated in the woven layer 1 in the same way as are warp wires 2 or weft wires 3, it is advantageous for the connecting members 6 to comprise at least one form-stable core 8. This form-stable core 8 is in particular thermally stable, so that during the connecting process of the wire mesh layer 1 with a further woven layer 50 or with itself, the desired stability of the woven surface 5 or the wire mesh layer 1 continues to be maintained.

[0051] FIG. 2 illustrates a conceivable structure of a connecting member 6 with a form-stable core 8. The exemplary embodiment shown is provided with a thin wire 12 as the form-stable core 8, enveloped in a thermoplastic material 7, presently shown exemplary embodiment polyurethane 9.

[0052] FIG. 3 illustrates that the connecting members 6 may show a thickness 10 greater than the thickness 11 of the warp wires 2 and/or weft wires 3. Depending on the configuration, the greater thickness 10 may be provided only in the calendered woven surface 5. Thus it is possible that, at least following the calendering of the woven surface 5, the connecting members 6 protrude beyond the weft wires 3, so that in a connecting process with a further woven layer 50 or with the wire mesh layer 1, the thermoplastic material 7 can itself flow into the meshes of the layer concerned during melting, so as to interconnect the two layers.

[0053] The FIGS. 4 to 6 purely schematically illustrate in an exemplary embodiment the method of manufacturing a multilayered product, and in the exemplary embodiment shown, for manufacturing a multilayered woven mesh 100, by connecting a wire mesh layer 1 with a further woven layer 50.

[0054] A wire mesh layer 1 as described above is provided. A further woven layer 50 is placed onto this wire mesh layer 1 in the desired orientation. Thereafter, depending on the configuration and application, the thermoplastic material 7 of the connecting members 6 is heated either solely thermally or additionally, or alternatingly, under pressure. Thus the thermoplastic material is deformed or melted, so as to obtain a connection between the wire mesh layer 1 and the further woven layer 50.

[0055] In the exemplary embodiment shown, the further woven layer 50, which is again configured as a wire mesh, also comprises warp wires 51 and weft wires 52 forming woven meshes 53 and opening up a woven surface 54.

[0056] The thermal deforming of the thermoplastic material 7 of the connecting members 6, in particular with application of pressure, causes the material to also enclose the warp wires 2 and weft wires 3 of the further woven layer 50, so as to achieve a safe, durable, and reliable connection of the wire mesh layer 1 with the further woven layer as the thermoplastic material is cured.

[0057] FIG. 7 purely schematically shows a further exemplary embodiment of a multilayered woven mesh 100. In this case the wire mesh layer 1 is configured as a backing mesh 13.

[0058] The wire mesh layer 1 shown comprises a number of lines of connecting members 6, presently evenly distanced, which presently fixate a second woven layer 50. The second woven layer 50 is configured as a screen mesh 55.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0059] 1 wire mesh layer [0060] 2 warp wire [0061] 3 weft wire [0062] 4 woven mesh [0063] 5 woven surface [0064] 6 connecting member [0065] 7 thermoplastic material [0066] 8 core [0067] 9 polyurethane [0068] 10 thickness [0069] 11 thickness [0070] 12 wire [0071] 13 backing mesh [0072] 50 layer/woven layer [0073] 51 warp wire [0074] 52 weft wire [0075] 53 woven mesh [0076] 54 woven surface [0077] 55 screen mesh [0078] 100 multilayered product/multilayered woven mesh