CONSTRUCTION THEREOF

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001 ] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Application Serial No. 13/831 ,136, filed March 15, 2013, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

[0002] This invention relates generally to textile sleeves for protecting elongate members, and more particularly to woven sleeves.

2. Related Art

[0003] It is known to wrap wires and wire harnesses in protective sleeves, such as in automobiles, aircraft or aerospace craft, to provide protection to the wires against abrasion, fluid and thermal affects. In order to achieve the desired protection, the protective sleeve may have multiple layers, with some of the layers being specifically provided for different types of protection. For example, one layer may be provided for water resistance, e.g. a sheet of plastic material, while another layer may be provided for abrasion resistance, and yet another layer may be provided for protection against thermal conditions, e.g. a non- woven layer. Unfortunately, although the aforementioned multilayer sleeves may provide suitable protection against the various environmental conditions, they are typically bulky, thereby requiring an increased volume of space, being relatively heavy and exhibiting limited flexibility, thereby being subject to kinking and opening along wrapped edges. Other known woven sleeves 1 in addition to the multilayer sleeves discussed above also exhibit hoop strength and kinking issues when bent about corners and into a generally u-shaped configuration, such as shown in Figure 7, thereby potentially exposing the member 2 contained in a cavity 3 of the sleeve 1 to contamination. This is made possible as a result of the relatively inflexible, rigid edges 4 being opened away from one another as the sleeve 1 is bent. Accordingly, wrappable sleeves constructed in accordance with the prior art can prove problematic in some applications, particularly applications requiring routing through tight, winding areas, and applications having weight restrictions, such as aircraft and aerospace applications, for example.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] One aspect of the invention provides a woven sleeve for routing and protecting elongate members from exposure to abrasion and other environmental conditions, such as contamination. The sleeve has a flexible, abrasion resistant, self-curling elongate wall constructed from woven monofilament and multifilament yarns. The wall has opposite edges extending parallel to a central axis of the sleeve. The wall is woven with warp yarns extending parallel to the central axis and fill yarns extending transverse to the warp yarns. The warp yarns are provided at least in part as first monofilament yarns and the fill yarns are provided as second monofilament yarns and second multifilament yarns. The second monofilament yarns have a larger diameter than the first monofilament yarns, thereby enhancing the closing force of the heat-formed wall.

[0005] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the warp yarns further include first multifilament yarns that extend over an edge region adjacent the opposite edges to assist in preventing the opposite edges from opening when the sleeve is bent around a corner, wherein the first monofilament yarns extend over an intermediate region between the edge regions to provide enhanced resistance to abrasion, with the edge regions being free of the first monofilament yarns, further enhancing the ability of the sleeve wall to remain in its intended heat-formed wrapped configuration. [0006] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a woven sleeve for routing and protecting elongate members from exposure to abrasion and other environmental conditions, such as contamination, is provided. The sleeve has an elongate wall having opposite edges extending parallel to a central axis of the sleeve. The wall is woven with warp yarns extending parallel to the central axis and fill yarns extending transverse to the warp yarns. The warp yarns are provided as first monofilament yarns and first multifilament yarns and the fill yarns are provided as second monofilament yarns and second multifilament yarns. The first multifilament yarns extend over an edge region adjacent the opposite edges to assist in maintaining the opposite edges in their intended overlapping relation when the sleeve is bent around a corner and the first monofilament yarns extending over an intermediate region between the edge regions. The edge regions are free of the first monofilament yarns and the intermediate region is free of the first multifilament yarns.

[0007] In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, the second monofilament yarns have a larger diameter than the first monofilament yarns, thereby enhancing the curl- strength of the sleeve wall to maintain the opposite edges in their intended overlapping relation when the sleeve is bent around a corner.

[0008] In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, a method of constructing a textile sleeve wrappable about a central axis is provided. The method includes providing first monofilament yarns having a first diameter; providing second monofilament yarns having a second diameter that is larger than the first diameter to enhance the curl-strength of the sleeve; and providing second multifilament yarns. Then, weaving an elongate wrappable wall having opposite edges extending parallel to the central axis with the first monofilament yarns forming warp yarns extending parallel to the central axis and the second monofilament and second multifilament yams forming fill yarns extending transverse to the warp yarns. [0009] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the method further includes providing first multifilament yarns and weaving the first multifilament yarns to form warp yarns extending along edge regions adjacent the opposite edges to assist in maintaining the opposite edges in their intended overlapping relation when the sleeve is bent around a corner.

[0010] In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, another method of constructing a textile sleeve wrappable about a central axis is provided. The method includes providing first monofilament yarns; providing first multifilament yarns; providing second monofilament yarns; and providing second multifilament yarns. Then, weaving an elongate wrappable wall having opposite edges extending parallel to the central axis with the first monofilament yarns and first multifilament yarns forming warp yarns extending parallel to the central axis and the second monofilament and second multifilament yarns forming fill yarns extending transverse to the warp yarns. The first multifilament yarns extend over an edge region adjacent the opposite edges to assist in maintaining the opposite edges in their intended overlapping relation when the sleeve is bent around a corner and the first monofilament yarns extend over an intermediate region between the edge regions. The edge regions are formed being free of the first monofilament yarns and the intermediate region is formed being free of the first multifilament yarns.

[001 1 ] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the method further includes providing the second monofilament yams having a larger diameter than the first monofilament yams, thereby enhancing the curl-strength of the sleeve wall to maintain the opposite edges in their intended overlapping relation when the sleeve is bent around a comer.

[0012] A sleeve constructed in accordance with the invention not only provides enhanced protection to elongate members contained therein, but is economical in manufacture, and has an enhanced ability to remain in its self-curled configuration about the elongate members. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] These and other aspects, features and advantages will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the following detailed description of presently preferred embodiments and best mode, appended claims, and accompanying drawings, in which:

[0014] Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a woven, self-wrapping sleeve constructed in accordance with one aspect of the invention carrying and protecting elongate members therein;

[0015] Figure 2 is an enlarged partial view of a wall of the sleeve of Figure 1 ;

[0016] Figure 3 is a schematic perspective view of a woven, self-wrapping sleeve constructed in accordance with another aspect of the invention carrying and protecting elongate members therein;

[0017] Figure 3 A is a side view of the sleeve of Figure 3 shown bent into a u-shape;

[0018] Figure 4 is a plan view of the sleeve of Figure 3 showing a wall of the sleeve in an unwrapped state;

[0019] Figure 5 is an enlarged view of the encircled area 5 of Figure 4;

[0020] Figure 6 is an enlarged view of the encircled area 6 of Figure 4; and

[0021] Figure 7 is a side view of a wrappable sleeve constructed in accordance with the prior shown bent into a u-shape.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0022] Referring in more detail to the drawings, Figure 1 shows schematic representation of a woven, self-wrapping textile sleeve, referred to hereafter as sleeve 10, constructed in accordance with one aspect of the invention. The sleeve 10 has a self- wrapping elongate wall 12 for routing and protecting elongate members, such as wires or a wire harness 14, for example, from exposure to abrasion and the ingress of contamination, debris and the like. The elongate wall 12 has opposite edges 16, 17 extending generally parallel to a central, longitudinal axis 18, wherein the edges 16, 17 are preferably biased into overlapping relation with one another in "cigarette wrapped" fashion to fully enclose the elongate members 14 within a central cavity 20 of the sleeve. The cavity 20 is readily accessible along the full length of the longitudinal axis 18 so that the elongate members 14 can be readily disposed radially into the cavity 20, and conversely, removed from the cavity 20, such as during service. To provide protection to the elongate members 14 against abrasion, the wall 12 is woven with warp yarns 22 provided as monofilament yarns and fill yarns 24 provided as monofilament yarns, wherein the fill monofilament yarns 24 provide additional, enhanced protection to the elongate members 14 against abrasion, while also providing the bias to self- curl the opposite edges 16, 17 in overlapping relation with one another. The bias is imparted by heat-setting the fill monofilament yarns 24 into their curled configuration about the central axis 18. In addition to the fill monofilament yarns 24, the wall 12 has fill yarns 26 provided as multifilament yams. The multifilament yams 26 provide additional surface area coverage of the wall 12 to the elongate members 14 and inhibit ingress of contamination, debris, or the like into the cavity 20, thereby providing enhanced protection to the elongate members 14. In addition, the multifilament yams 26 maintain the warp monofilaments 22 in place in their intended, as woven position by imparting friction on the warp monofilaments 22, while providing the sleeve 10 with sufficient flexibility for routing around comers, for example.

[0023] Depending on the application needs, the wall 12 can be constructed having any suitable size, including length and diameter. When the wall 12 is in its self-wrapped tubular configuration, generally free from any externally applied forces, the edges 16, 17 preferably overlap one another at least slightly to fully enclose the cavity 20, and thus, provide enhanced protection to the wires 14 contained in the cavity 20. The edges 16, 17 are readily extendable away from one another under an externally applied force sufficient to overcome the bias imparted by the fill monofilament yams 24 to at least partially open and expose the cavity 20. Accordingly, the wires 14 can be readily disposed into the cavity 20 during assembly or removed from the cavity 20 during service. Upon releasing the externally applied force, the edges 16, 17 return automatically to their natural, overlapping self- wrapped position under the bias imparted by the heat-set fill monofilament yarns 24.

[0024] The monofilament yarns 22, 24 can be provided as any suitable heat-settable polymeric material, such as polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) or polyethyleneterephthalate (PET), for example. In one exemplary sleeve embodiment, the monofilament yarns 22, 24 were provided as PET having a diameter of about 0.22mm. The wall 12 was formed having a width (dimension extending between the edges 16, 17 with the wall 12 in a flattened state) of about 42mm, and the number of ends of the warp monofilaments 22 was 48. The fill monofilament yarns 24 and the fill multifilament yarns 26 were dual inserted having a pick per inch (PPI) of 10, however, a PPI between about 8-12 is considered to be within a workable range. With such a low PPI, interstices 28 are formed within the wall 12. Accordingly, the monofilament and multifilament fill yarns 24, 26 provide discrete pairs of the circumferentially extending monofilament and multifilament fill yarns spaced axially along the central axis 18 from one another by the interstices 28 extending axially therebetween. The multifilament yarns 26 were provided having a denier of about 1250. The yarns 22, 24, 26 were woven using a plain weave which resulted in the sleeve 10 having a wall thickness of about 0.6mm. In yet another exemplary sleeve embodiment, the number of ends of the warp monofilaments 22 was 52, with all other yarn factors remaining the same. It should be recognized that these yarn factors can be modified by one skilled in the art in dimension and number, while maintaining the warp yarns 22 as purely monofilaments and the fill yarns 24, 26 as a combination of monofilaments and multifilaments, while remaining within the spirit and scope of the invention. [0025] With the warp yarns 22 being provided as purely monofilaments, the abrasion resistance of the sleeve assembly 10 is enhanced. Further, with some of the fill yarns 24 being provided as monofilaments, additional protection against abrasion is provided. Further yet, with some of the fill yarns 26 being provided as multifilaments, added surface area coverage is provided to the wall 12 to the elongate members 14, thereby further protecting the cavity 20 against ingress of contamination, and further, the multifilaments act to maintain the warp monofilaments 22 in their intended location, even under external abrasion force.

[0026] Figure 3 illustrates a woven, self-wrapping textile sleeve, referred to hereafter as sleeve 1 10, constructed in accordance with another aspect of the invention, wherein the same reference numerals as used above, offset by a factor of 100, identify like features.

[0027] The sleeve 1 10 has a self- wrapping wall 1 12, as heat-formed, woven with warp yarns 122 provided as first monofilament yarns 122' and first multifilament yarns 122" and fill yarns 124 provided as second monofilament yarns 124' and second multifilament yarns 126. As discussed above, the second fill monofilament yarns 124' provide additional, enhanced protection to the elongate members 1 14 against abrasion, while also providing the bias to self-curl opposite edges 1 16, 1 17 of the wall in overlapping relation with one another upon being heat-set into their curled configuration about a central axis 1 18 of the sleeve 1 10. The second multifilament yarns 126 provide additional surface area coverage and maintain the warp first monofilament yarns 122' in place in their intended, as woven position, while providing the sleeve 1 10 with sufficient flexibility for routing around corners, for example, as discussed above for the sleeve 10.

[0028] The first and second monofilament yams 122', 124' can be provided as any suitable heat-settable polymeric material, such as polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) or polyethyleneterephthalate (PET), for example, in one exemplary sleeve embodiment, the first and second monofilament yams 122', 124' were provided as PET having diameters of about 0.22mm and 0.38mm, respectively. Accordingly, the diameter of the second monofilament yarns 124' extending in the fill direction have a larger diameter than the first monofilament yarns 122' extending in the warp direction. Preferably, the diameters of the second monofilament yarns 124' are about 40 percent larger than the diameter of the first monofilament yarns 122'. In one example, the wall 1 12 was formed having a width W (dimension extending between the edges 1 16, 1 17 with the wall 1 12 in a flattened state, as shown in Figure 4) of about 42mm, and the number of total ends of the warp yams was 52. The total number of warp ends is broken down in to three discrete regions, with there being two edge regions 30 adjacent to and extending directly along the opposite edges 1 16, 1 17 and an intermediate region 32 extending between the opposite edge regions 30. The warp yams 122 in the edge regions 30 each comprise only first multifilament yams 122" and the warp yarns in the intermediate region 32 comprise only first monofilament yams 122'. Accordingly, the opposite edge regions 30 do not include monofilament yams, which has been found to enhance the ability of the edges 1 16, 1 17 to remain in their intended configuration upon being routed about comers, and the intermediate region 32 does not include multifilament yams, thereby enhance the resistance to abrasion. In the exemplary sample, the total number of ends of yam in each of the edge regions was 6, and the total number of ends or yam in the intermediate region was 40, for a combined total of 52 ends of yam.

[0029] As with the sleeve 10, the second monofilament yams 124' and the second multifilament yams 126 were dual inserted with one another having a pick per inch (PPI) of 10, however, a PPI between about 8-12 is considered to be within a workable range. With such a low PPI, interstices 128 are formed within the wall 1 12. Accordingly, the second monofilament and second multifilament fill yams 124', 126 provide discrete pairs of the circumferentially extending monofilament and multifilament fill yams 124', 126 spaced from one another axially along the central axis 1 18 by the interstices 128 extending therebetween. The first and second multifilament yarns 122", 126 were provided having a denier of about 1250. The warp and fill yarns 122, 124 were woven using a plain weave which resulted in the sleeve 10 having a wall thickness of about 0.9mm. It should be recognized that these yarn factors can be modified by one skilled in the art in dimension and number, while remaining within the spirit and scope of the invention.

[0030] Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.