Inventor: Robert Jacque Goulet

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to heat curable composite textile fabrics that may be cured to form a more rigid, non-flammable, heat resistant and insulating fabric. More specifically, the present invention includes a heat curable, circular or warp knitted fabric containing reinforcing and meltable resin fibers that can be cured to produce a more rigid material form. This composite textile may be used in any application that requires a rigid, heat resistant, non-flammable insulation or sleeve positioned around machine components having a specific shape. Application examples include exhaust insulation covers, pipe insulation covers, machinery covers (such as covers for turbines), rigid fire barrier panels, gun barrel covers, engine component covers, and the like.

Traditional composite structures are typically woven or axial fabric with longitudinal fibers to maximize composite strength and rigidity, but typically require a liquid resin and some form of molding, usually compression molding or vacuum molding, which are time consuming and expensive manufacturing processes that require complex equipment.

Compression molding is a forming process in which a plastic material is placed directly into a heated metal mold, then is softened by the heat, and forced to conform to the shape of the mold as the mold closes. The compression molding starts, with an allotted amount of plastic or gelatin placed over or inserted into a mold. Afterward the material is heated to a pliable state in and by the mold. Shortly there after the hydraulic press compresses the pliable plastic against the mold, resulting in a perfectly molded piece, retaining the shape of the inside surface of the mold. After the hydraulic press releases, an ejector pin in the bottom of the mold quickly ejects the finish piece out of the mold and then the process is finished. Compression molding is a high- volume, high-pressure method suitable for molding complex, high-strength fiberglass reinforcements. Advanced composite thermoplastics can also be compression molded with unidirectional tapes, woven fabrics, randomly oriented fiber mat or chopped strand. The advantage of compression molding is its ability to mold large, fairly intricate parts. However, compression molding often provides poor product consistency and difficulty in controlling flashing, and it is not suitable for some types of parts. Fewer fiber lines are produced and a smaller amount of fiber-length degradation is noticeable when compared to injection molding. Compression-molding is also suitable for ultra-large basic shape production in sizes beyond the capacity of extrusion techniques. Materials that are typically manufactured through compression molding include: Polyester fiberglass resin systems (SMC/BMC), Torlon, Vespel, Poly(p- phenylene sulfide) (PPS), and many grades of PEEK.

Vacuum molding or forming is a simplified version of thermoforming, whereby a sheet of plastic is heated to a forming temperature, stretched onto or into a single-surface mold, and held against the mold by applying a vacuum between the mold surface and the sheet. The vacuum forming process can be used to make most product packaging, speaker casings, and even car dashboards. Vacuum forming is usually, but not always, restricted to forming plastic parts that are rather shallow in depth. A thin sheet is formed into rigid cavities for unit doses of pharmaceuticals and for loose objects that are carded or presented as point-of-purchase items. Thick sheet is formed into permanent objects such as turnpike signs and protective covers. Relatively deep parts can be formed if the form-able sheet is mechanically or pneumatically stretched prior to bringing it in contact with the mold surface and before vacuum is applied. Suitable materials for use in vacuum forming are conventionally thermoplastics. The most common and easiest to use thermoplastic is High Impact Polystyrene Sheeting (HIPS). This is molded around a wood, structural foam or cast machined aluminum mold and can form to almost any shape.

Each of these methods has disadvantages, including expensive equipment and time- consuming processes. Thus, there is a need for a composite textile material that may be cured and formed into any desired shape, wherein the final material becomes more rigid, tough, and is resistant to heat. Further, there is a need for a more cost-effective, less time-consuming process for manufacturing such a product. It would be desirable to provide a product and method for applying a protective cover or wrap to mechanical components of various shapes and sizes, without having to produce individual molds for each specific cover.

For example, a company may produce thousands of different components of varying shapes and sizes, many of which require a cover or wrap for purposes of insulation and protection against heat and corrosion. In order to provide such covers or wraps for these various components using compression molding or vacuum molding, it would be necessary to provide a mold for each section of covering to be applied to the thousands of corresponding components to be wrapped or covered. Thus, the present invention is directed to a product and process that may be used to apply these wraps or covers to components of any size and shape, without the necessity of providing individual molds for each different size or shape.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a heat curable, circular or warp knitted fabric includes reinforcing and meltable resin fibers that can be cured to form a more rigid material form. In one embodiment, the fabric includes a core spun yarn, wherein the core may be made from glass, carbon, basalt, aramid or metal. The wrap surrounding the core may include resin type fibers such as Poly(p-phenylene sulfide) PPS (sold under the trade name Ryton), Polyetherimide (PEI) sold under the trade name Ultem, Polyether ether ketone (PEEK), Polysulfone (PES), Polyphthalamide (PPA), nylon, polyester, or polypropylene . Reinforcing fibers can additionally be added to the wrap. The fabric may contain from about 10% to 100% of the core spun yarn.

In use, the core spun yarn is knitted into a circular or warp knit fabric, which may optionally include reinforcing fibers. The circular knit fabric may then be heat molded into any desired shape to serve as a protective covering for a mechanical or industrial component, or may be cut and sewn into or onto custom parts and then cured on the part or item.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a protective cover in accordance with the present invention, wherein a pipe is wrapped with a heat curable knit fabric cover formed at least partially from core spun yam;

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the protective cover shown in Figure 1, wherein the protective cover is a fitted sleeve formed from a circular knit;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of a protective cover, wherein the protective cover has been cut and sewn and then fitted onto a pipe, and wherein the seam is shown on an underside of the protective cover; and

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of a core spun yarn, having a core yarn made from multiple fibers and a meltable wrap, also made from multiple fibers, wherein the wrap is disposed about the core yarn.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention includes, in a first embodiment, a heat curable, knitted fabric 10 containing yarn with a meltable resin outer layer, as well as optional reinforcing fibers, which can be cured to produce a more rigid material form that can be used to serve as a protective wrap or cover 14 for various types of mechanical or industrial components, or other similar applications. In one embodiment, the fabric 10 includes a core spun yarn 12. Typically, core spun yarn is a yarn consisting of an inner core yarn 16 surrounded by staple fibers. A core spun yarn 12 combines the strength and/or elongation of the core thread 16 and the characteristics of the staple fibers which form the outer surface, or the "wrap" 18, as shown in Figure 4. In the present case, the core spun yarn includes a core 16 preferably made from fibers of glass, carbon, basalt, aramid or metal. The meltable wrap 18 surrounding the core may include one or more of resin type fibers such as Poly(p-phenylene sulfide) PPS (sold under the trade name Ryton), Polyemerimide (PES) sold under the trade name Ultem, Polyether ether ketone (PEEK),

Polysulfone (PES), Polyphthalamide (PPA), nylon, polyester, or polypropylene . The meltable wrap may contain more than one type of resin fiber and may also include reinforcing fibers. In a preferred embodiment, the meltable wrap 18 is made from material having a melting point of at least about 250°F, and preferably at least about 400°F. Reinforcing fibers can additionally be added to the textile composite fabric together with the core spun yarn 12, wherein the reinforcing fibers include but are not limited to glass, carbon, aramid, or metal. The fabric 10 may contain from about 10% to 100% of the core spun yarn 12, depending on the desired properties and function of the final product, and the rest of the fabric 10 may comprise reinforcing fibers or yarns. After the core spun yams 12 (and optionally, the reinforcing fibers) have been formed into a knit composite textile material (preferably circular or warp knit), the composite textile fabric 10 may be cut and sewn into a preformed article and then positioned on or around a component or item, as shown in Figures 1 and 3, wherein the textile material is disposed about a pipe in the form of a cover 14. Then, heat may be applied to the covered component, so that the meltable wrap 18 of the core spun yarn 12 melts (wholly or partially) and then the fabric 10 re- hardens into the desired shape around the component. It is preferable to provide a core spun yarn 12 having a meltable wrap 18 made from material that has a melting point higher than the operating temperature of the component, so that the wrap 18 does not melt during operation or use of the component. Thus, the core spun yarn 12 may be specifically engineered for specific components or purposes, based on the estimated operating temperature of the covered component.

In an alternate embodiment, the yam may be knitted into a tape or slit into a tape, wrapped around an item and cured as above. In another alternate embodiment, the fabric 10 may be formed of a circular knit sleeve that is manufactured to specific specifications, so that the sleeve fits around a component, such as a pipe 22, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. It may be advantageous to provide clamps 20 (or other securing means), as shown in Figure 1, in order to securely hold the cover 14 onto the pipe or other component Alternatively, after the core spun yarns 12 (and optionally, the reinforcing fibers) have been formed into a circular knit composite fabric 10, the composite fabric 10 may be placed into a mold and heated until the wrap 18 around the core 16 of the core spun yarn 12 has melted, in whole or in part. Then, when the composite fabric 10 is allowed to cool, the meltable wrap 18 hardens, so that the composite fabric 10 retains the shape of the mold.

It is contemplated that multiple layers of the composite fabric 10 material may be used together. In one embodiment, the core spun yarns 12 of the first layer are made from the same material as the second layer, which may include core spun yarns 12 alone, or may further include reinforcing fibers. In a second embodiment of the multi-layer composite textile, the core spun yarns 12 of the first layer may be formed of different material from the core spun yarns 12 of the second layer. In this way, the composite fabric 10 may be engineered to produce different features or characteristics, depending on the desired use thereof. Such characteristics may include melting point of the wraps, strength of the material, desired thickness, improved abrasion resistance, reduced cost, and improved environmental stability.

In another embodiment, a single layer knit fabric 10 is formed, wherein the yams alternate between core spun yarn 12 and reinforcing yarn, such as glass, carbon, aramid or metal. In another embodiment, a three-dimensional knit fabric 10 may be formed, wherein the outer layer is formed of 100% core spun yarn 12, and wherein the spacer material and the inner layer is formed of 100% glass fibers. It should be understood that various types of knit constructions may be used, so long as the core spun yams 12 are used in the range of about 10% to 100% of the fabric 10, with reinforcing yarns being used for the remainder of the fabric 10.

This composite textile fabric 10 may be used in any application that requires a rigid, heat resistant, non-flammable cover 14, insulation or sleeve positioned around machine components having a specific shape. Application examples include exhaust insulation covers, pipe insulation covers, machinery covers (such as covers for turbines), rigid fire barrier panels, gun barrel covers, engine component covers, and the like.

Because this heat curable composite textile fabric 10 is engineered to be used for a protective cover 14 over industrial and mechanical components, and the like, it need not be developed to exhibit high levels of strength and/or rigidity. Instead, the concept is to provide a textile material that may be easily shaped and molded to fit over these components, and need only have enough rigidity to maintain its shape during use. Thus, using a knit construction (which allows the textile to be formed from thicker and bulkier yams, but does not maximize strength) is preferable to a weave, which requires less bulky yarns, and maximizes strength and rigidity. Thus, it is contemplated that the composite textile fabric 10 may be formed by utilizing various knit constructions, including but not limited to circular knits, warp knits, multi-layer fabrics and three-dimensional fabrics with spacer materials.

Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions are possible. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein. All features disclosed in this specification may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.