System and method for consolidating dry fabric around a mandrel

Abstract

A system and method for wrapping fabric around a mandrel including providing a drum of fabric and a mandrel, removing a portion of the fabric from the drum and securing the fabric to the mandrel, rotating the mandrel such that the fabric wraps around the mandrel, and applying pressure to the fabric as the fabric is being wrapped around the mandrel to consolidate the fabric about the mandrel.

1 . A system for wrapping fabric around a mandrel, comprising:
 a sheet of fabric;   a mandrel configured to receive said fabric; and   at least one tow line, wherein said sheet of said fabric is secured to said mandrel and said tow line is secured to one of said fabric and mandrel, said mandrel rotating such that said fabric and said tow line are wrapped around said mandrel, said tow line being configured to apply pressure to said fabric as said fabric is wrapped around said mandrel.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , further including a tensioning mechanism that engages said tow line and applies tension to said tow line such that said tow line applies pressure to said fabric. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said tow line is carried on a spool and as said tow line is wrapped around said mandrel, said tow line is pulled from said spool. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said sheet of fabric is carried on a drum and said fabric is pulled from said drum as said fabric is wrapped around said mandrel. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said tow line is secured to said fabric by a resin. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said tow line is one of a fiber strand and a fabric sheet. 
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1 , further including a plurality of tow lines. 
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a resin is added to said fabric to secure layers of said fabric theretogether as said fabric is wrapped around said mandrel. 
   
   
       9 . A system for wrapping fabric around a mandrel, comprising:
 a sheet of fabric;   a mandrel configured to receive said fabric, wherein said sheet of said fabric is secured to said mandrel and said mandrel rotates such that said fabric is wrapped around said mandrel; and   a roller head, said roller head including at least one spring-loaded roller attached thereto, wherein said roller head is configured to be positioned about said mandrel such that said roller rotatably engages said fabric on said mandrel and applies pressure to said fabric as said fabric is wrapped around said mandrel.   
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein said roller is connected to a spring. 
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein said roller head includes a plurality of rollers. 
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 9 , further including a plurality of said roller heads positioned about said mandrel to engage said fabric and apply pressure to said fabric. 
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein said roller head is mounted to a spring-loaded device. 
   
   
       14 . A system for wrapping fabric around a mandrel, comprising:
 a sheet of fabric;   a mandrel configured to receive said fabric, wherein said sheet of said fabric is secured to said mandrel and said mandrel rotates such that said fabric is wrapped around said mandrel; and   a roller assembly, said roller assembly defining a gap configured to receive said mandrel and including at least one roller support along said gap, said roller support carrying at least one spring-loaded roller attached thereto, wherein said roller assembly is configured to be positioned about said mandrel such that said mandrel is received in said gap and such that said roller rotatably engages said fabric on said mandrel and applies pressure to said fabric as said fabric is wrapped around said mandrel.   
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein said roller support is a rail carrying a plurality of rollers. 
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein said roller assembly includes a plurality of roller supports carrying rollers positioned along a perimeter of said gap such that said rollers engage said fabric as said fabric is wrapped around said mandrel. 
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein said roller is connected to said roller support by a spring. 
   
   
       18 . A method for wrapping fabric around a mandrel, comprising:
 providing a drum of fabric;   providing a mandrel;   removing a portion of the fabric from the drum and securing the fabric to the mandrel;   rotating the mandrel such that the fabric wraps around the mandrel; and   applying pressure to the fabric as the fabric is being wrapped around the mandrel to consolidate the fabric about the mandrel.   
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said applying pressure step comprises:
 securing a tow line to one of the fabric and mandrel;   wrapping the tow line about the mandrel with the fabric; and   applying tension to the tow line such that the tow line applies pressure to the fabric as the fabric is being wrapped around the mandrel.   
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said applying pressure step comprises:
 providing at least one spring-loaded roller; and   positioned the roller about the mandrel such that the roller rotatably engages the fabric on the mandrel and applies pressure to the fabric as the fabric is wrapped around the mandrel.