Method and machine for producing a woven structure

Abstract

A method is provided that includes: weaving one first portion including warp and weft threads intertwined according to the fundamental weave of each portion of woven wall corresponding to this first portion, stopping introduction of weft threads after insertion of a weft thread associated with the positioning of one elongated element having a main axis, the weft thread being intertwined with the warp threads of each portion of woven wall, introducing each elongated element between the warp threads defining with the associated weft thread, the insertion position of this elongated element, and maintaining in position each elongated element and introducing one new weft thread intertwining warp threads of the structure according to the fundamental weave of each wall portion or according to at least one new weave, to resume production of the structure, with each elongated element not being taken in the structure.

Claims

1. Method for producing a woven structure comprising at least one woven wall, wherein the following steps are carried out: a) weaving at least one first portion of said woven structure, said first portion comprising warp threads and weft threads intertwined according to the fundamental weave of each portion of woven wall corresponding to this first portion, b) stopping the introduction of the weft threads after the insertion of a weft thread associated with the positioning of at least one elongated element in said woven structure, with this weft thread being intertwined with the warp threads of each portion of woven wall according to the fundamental weave of said portion of wall, c) said at least one elongated element having a longitudinal axis, introducing each elongated element between the warp threads defining with the associated said weft thread, the position of insertion of this elongated element into the woven structure, with the longitudinal axis of said elongated element cutting the plane parallel to the warp threads of each portion of wall into which said elongated element is introduced, d) maintaining in position each elongated element and introducing at least one new weft thread intertwining the warp threads of said woven structure according to said fundamental weave of each portion of wall or according to at least one new weave, in order to resume the production of said woven structure; and with each elongated element not being taken in said woven structure.

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein at the end of the step c), the longitudinal axis of each elongated element is perpendicular, or substantially perpendicular, to the plane passing through the warp threads of each portion of wall into which it is introduced.

3. Method according to claim 1, wherein several elongated elements are introduced along the same weft thread of the woven structure.

4. Method according to several elongated elements being introduced along the same warp thread, the steps b) to d) are repeated.

5. Method according to claim 1, wherein said woven structure comprising at least two woven walls, said elongated element or at least one of said elongated elements traverse at least two walls.

6. Method according to claim 1, wherein said woven wall comprising at least two woven walls and elongated elements being introduced into separate walls, at least some of the latter are placed opposite each other.

7. Method according to claim 1, wherein after the step d), a tightening of the weft threads is provoked in the woven structure carried out as such, said at least one elongated element as such being imprisoned between two consecutive weft threads in the lengthwise direction of the woven structure.

8. Method according to claim 1, wherein the portions of each elongated element which are placed protruding from said woven structure are cut in such a way that the ends of each elongated element shortened as such are placed below, or flush with, the corresponding external surface of said woven structure.

9. Method according to claim 1, wherein said or at least one of said elongated elements is assembled to the woven structure.

10. Method according to claim 9, wherein said or at least one of said elongated elements is impregnated beforehand with an adhesive or with a thermosetting resin in order to ensure its fastening to said woven structure.

11. Method according to claim 9, wherein each elongated element is chosen or is formed beforehand in such a way that its external surface has a surface relief in order to ensure the maintaining of it in position in said woven structure.

12. Method according to claim 1, wherein in the steps c) and d), said at least one elongated element is stretched in order to ensure that the entire said elongated element placed in said structure is straight.

13. Method according to claim 1, wherein a three-dimensional woven structure is formed from a single piece.

14. Method according to claim 1, wherein carrying out a woven structure that has the shape of a hollow tube, elongated elements are integrated into said woven structure by being aligned on the periphery of said tube in order to form at least one circumferential line or a helix.

15. Method according to claim 1, wherein said elongated element is a solid wire, a metal thread, an insert, a stiffening rod, a tube, a tube provided with at least one cross-flow sealing membrane, a tube of which the inner wall is tapped and combinations of these elements.

16. Method according to claim 1, wherein said elongated element being a tube, into the interior channel of said tube, either beforehand, or after the introduction of said tube into said woven structure during its weaving, is introduced a measuring device, a sensor provided with a transmitting/receiving element, an electrode, a fastening member, a thread, a data storage device, an identification element such as an RFID chip, an electronic unit for receiving and processing the data measured by other sensors, and combinations of these elements.

17. Method according to claim 1, wherein at least some electricity-conducting threads and/or light-conducting threads are introduced in order to form the warp and/or weft threads in such a way as to define an electrical supply circuit and/or a data transmission circuit in said woven structure.

18. Smart clothing of which at least one portion is a woven structure according to claim 1.

19. Shaft or hollow duct of which at least one portion is constituted by a woven structure according to claim 1.

20. Device for farming seashell such as oysters, comprising at least one element forming a support plate of said seashell intended to be received inside a net of tubular shape, characterised in that at least a portion of said net is formed by a woven structure according to claim 1.

21. Machine for producing a woven structure according to claim 1, comprising a weaving area in which are introduced into at least one channel, weft threads, each one of said weft threads being inserted between at least two warp threads by at least one weft insertion element, means for managing said or one of said channels and determining the position of said warp threads with respect to said weft thread, characterised in that it comprises at least one device for gripping of one or several elongated elements and means for displacing this device for gripping outside of and in the weaving zone in order to bring and place one or several elongated elements in position in said woven structure during production.

22. Machine according to claim 21, wherein said device for gripping is configured to make it possible to vary the angle of inclination of the longitudinal axis of each elongated element with respect to the plane passing through the warp threads of at least one of said channels.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Other advantages, purposes and particular characteristics of this invention shall appear in the following description, made, for the purposes of information and in no way limiting, with regards to the annexed drawings, wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 diagrammatically and as a profile shows a device for farming seashell according to a particular embodiment of this invention, the net and the removable plates of this device for farming have been omitted for purposes of clarity;

(3) FIG. 2 is a partial view of the device for farming seashell of FIG. 1, with only the net having been removed for purposes of clarity;

(4) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a movable plate of the device for farming seashell of FIG. 1;

(5) FIG. 4 is an enlarged and partial view of one of the plates of the device for farming seashell showing the assembly of the plate support on the structure of the device for farming of FIG. 1;

(6) FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the net of the device for farming seashell of FIG. 1;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

(7) First of all, note that the figures are not to scale.

(8) FIGS. 1 to 5 diagrammatically show a device for farming seashell such as oysters, according to a preferred embodiment of this invention.

(9) Such a device 10 for the farming of seashell is intended to be suspended from a hawser immersed at a shallow depth in the open sea by being arranged vertically.

(10) This device 10 comprises a net 11 that has a tubular shape and elements forming a plate cooperating with this net 11 in order to constitute closed supports, regularly spaced along the main axis of this device 10 and extending perpendicularly to the latter in order to receive the seashell to be farmed.

(11) Each plate element comprises a ring 12 connected by ends 13 on the one hand, to the rings 12 of the other plate elements of the device for farming and on the other hand, to lower 14 and upper 15 force-absorbing elements.

(12) These force-absorbing elements 14, 15 of the device for farming are here constituted of crosses made more preferably from stainless steel.

(13) The free end of each branch 16 of a force-absorbing element 14, 15 has an orifice for the passing of an end 13.

(14) These ends 13, here in the number of four (4) are regularly distributed on the periphery of the device for farming. These ends 13 are assembled together by each one of their ends thanks to fastening devices 17 such as rings, also ensuring the fastening of the device for farming seashell to the hawser in its upper portion on the one hand, and to a lest in its lower portion on the other hand.

(15) Between the force-absorbing elements 14, 15, these ends 13 extend vertically by being stretched and by being assembled to each ring 12 of the elements forming a plate in order to ensure the attaching and maintaining in position.

(16) Each ring 12 defines a central open portion of the element forming a plate wherein is placed a removable plate 18. This removable plate 18 with an outer diameter less than that of the ring 12 is received in a housing of this plate, with this housing being defined by an inner circular groove 18.

(17) This removable plate 18 received as such in its housing closes the opening delimited by the corresponding ring 12.

(18) Each removable plate 18 has openwork in order to allow for good circulation of the sea water. It can be made from a plastic material and comprise a central folding line in order to facilitate the collection of the seashell.

(19) Such a removable plate 18 allows for facilitated emptying/reloading operations of the devices for the farming of seashell as the latter can remain at sea, with only the removable plates being withdrawn after removal from the net 11.

(20) Such a net 11 of course has openwork in order to ensure the circulation of marine currents around and in the device for farming.

(21) Optimum exposure of the seashell resting on the element forming a plate to the circulation of sea water is thus ensured, which favours their growth while preventing losses of seashell during growth.

(22) This net 11 which is flexible in such a way as to be able to be raised easily in the upper portion of the device in order to access the elements forming a plate, comprises tubes 19 introduced during this net 11 during its weaving.

(23) Each tube 19 is advantageously introduced into the woven structure of the net perpendicularly or substantially perpendicularly in such a way that it is easy to assemble the net 11 with each element forming a plate.

(24) By way of example, these tubes 19 can be made from stainless steel or from a plastic material.

(25) In addition, these tubes 19 are aligned or substantially aligned on the periphery of this net 11 by defining several circumferential lines for assembly that are regularly spaced from one another and perpendicular to the main axis of the net 11.

(26) Each circumferential line for assembly is intended to come opposite an element forming a plate for the purposes of the assembly of this element with the corresponding net 11.

(27) Such an assembly must be able to be released easily in such a way as to facilitate the emptying and reloading operations of the device for farming seashell.

(28) Although the assembly can be carried out in various ways, a fastening device is used here (not shown) comprising a rod intended to be introduced into the interior channel of a tube 19 and of which its length allows it to pass through this tube 19, and consequently the wall of the net 11 in such a way that its threaded end is assembled in a lateral tapped hole of a ring 12. This fastening device also comprises a wide head for its manipulation by an operator and to ensure a thrusting against the ring 12 of the net 11.