Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Textile structure element and method for producing same
The present invention relates to a textile structural element.
Mechanical and pneumatic structural elements are known which are used
primarily in
automated systems also using robotics, for example, for the manipulation of
objects.
Linear movements have the aim, for example, to move an object from position A
to po-
sition B or grasp an object or an object to secure a stable position
spatially, etc. To
achieve this, complicated drives, constructions or controls are employed,
which directly,
via rotational, translational or pivotal connections or indirectly, by means
of hydraulic
devices, chain drives or air cylinders result in the corresponding movements.
For this
purpose machine elements are traditionally used extensively in the
engineering, which
are often prone to wear and also costly and often require a large expenditure
of sensors
and precision control.
Also well known are structural elements for the configuration of spatial
structures such
as houses, industrial buildings, walls, partitions, etc., made of metal, foil,
concrete, etc.
which commonly feature the need for a supporting apparatus or skeletal
support. Some
of these spatial structures cannot be disassembled without some destruction
and/or are
no longer usable even after disassembly.
The invention has the object of proposing a textile structural element and a
method for
producing the same which avoids, or at least greatly diminishes, the known
disad-
vantages of prior art.
The object is firstly achieved by a textile structural element as set forth in
claim 1, name-
ly a textile structural element, characterized by textile stretch elements and
textile sup-
porting elements, wherein said stretch elements and the supporting elements
are locally
connected to each other in allowing at least partially a spatial expansion of
at least one
inflatable stretch element and/or supporting element. The use of structural
elements in
accordance with the invention advantageously allows by pneumatic or hydraulic
actua-
tion and by structural elements accommodated in a spatial expansion the
construction
of spatial structures without an additional brace for the structural element
or a plurality
of structural elements in use, as well as incidentally achieving gripper
functions and lin-
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ear movements in conjunction with the pressurization of the airbag or air
chamber struc-
tures.
In one advantageous embodiment of the invention, the textile structural
element is
characterized by integrated stretch elements which can be shortened, and
integrated
supporting elements which are extensible spatially or constant. The stretch
elements in
this arrangement become shortened in accordance with the invention, in thus
resulting
in traction, whilst the supporting elements extend, for example, in one
direction in
space, and result in a shortening in another direction. It is these effects
that can be
used to enhance the movements made by the stretch elements and the supporting
ele-
ments as the design elements of which are connected together intermittently,
as a result
of pressure in the horizontal or vertical direction, or "into the third
dimension." In addi-
tion, the shaping possibilities of textile structural elements can be varied
to boost the
incentives for their use. The õarching textiles" proposed in accordance with
the invention
in this arrangement can also be appreciated as "textile muscles" representing
actuators
which by highly elegant and gentle means achieve low wear coupled with cost-
effectiveness, requiring little sensing control.
In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the textile structural
element is
characterized in that the textile stretch elements and/or textile supporting
elements are
configured as a single and multi-layer woven textile sheeting comprising
airbags or air
chambers, woven in one piece (OPW = one-piece-woven technique).
The structural elements as combined in accordance with the invention
consisting of
supporting elements and stretch elements are joined together from both
inflatable and
non-inflatable elements, for example. The OPW fabricating stages can be
advanta-
geously extended by the stitching method, i.e. a specific combination of OPW
structural
elements with air chambers stitched with sections of fabric sheeting. The
response to
shaping the combined textile structural element is controlled by the pneumatic
deploy-
ment of inflatable stretch or supporting elements. Shaping can also be
determined by
correspondingly adapting the joining of inflatable and non-inflatable
components.
In an advantageous variant of the invention it is also conceivable to include
the support-
ing elements in the form of non-textile elements (such as lightweight
profiles, cylinders,
tubes, etc.).
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In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the textile structural
element is
characterized by a first fabric layer comprising stretch elements, a second
fabric layer
comprising supporting elements and a third fabric layer comprising stretch
elements.
This construction simultaneously results in a flat structural element, as it
is in the idle
state, for example, which, depending on the activation of the first or the
third layer of
fabric produces a curvature upwards (convex) or downwards (concave). An
exemplary
configuration in this respect by, for example, designing the first fabric
layer with non-
contractible, quasi "passive" stretch elements, which are longer than the
stretch ele-
ments of the third layer of fabric now makes it possible that the passive
stretch ele-
ments are tightened when the stretch elements of the third fabric layer are
activated, i.e.
inflated, with the effect that the first stretch elements determine the
maximum degree of
curvature of the textile structural element.
In yet another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the textile
structural element
is characterized by a fourth fabric layer comprising supporting elements which
advanta-
geously increases the stability of the structural element.
In still another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the textile
structural element
is characterized by a first fabric layer comprising non-inflatable stretch
elements, a sec-
ond fabric layer comprising inflatable supporting elements and a third fabric
layer com-
prising non-inflatable stretch elements. To advantage this variant provides
for a prede-
fined end position of the textile structural element, achieving a constant
curvature when
the supporting elements are inflated to a maximum.
In yet a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the textile
structural element
is characterized by a fabric layer comprising fourth, inflatable supporting
elements and a
fabric layer comprising fifth, inflatable stretch elements. This variant
represents a varia-
tion advantageously increasing the stability of the structural element
described above.
In still another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the textile
structural element
is characterized by stretch elements and supporting elements inflatable at
least in part,
wherein the stretch elements and/or the supporting elements are individually
inflatable,
and wherein the outer shape of the textile structural element can be varied by
inflating.
The advantages of the method in accordance with the invention will become
apparent
,
from the detailed discussion above.
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In yet another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the structural
element can
be rendered curved, there being no limit to the number of possible shapes in
this re-
spect. The curved shape has the particular advantage that e.g. a hall or an
archway or,
for instance, other self-standing structures requiring no further supporting
means can
now be formed.
In yet a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the structural
element is
adapted to grip and/or hold and/or clamp objects. The curvature of the
structural ele-
ment can be extremely extended, for example, resulting in a holding, clamping
or grip-
ping device.
The object of the invention is further achieved by a method for fabricating a
textile struc-
tural element as set forth in any of the claims 4 to 10, wherein in one-piece-
woven
(OPW) airbags, or single or multilayer woven textile sheets provided with air
chambers
and sections of sheet fabrics are stitched together. The advantages of the
method in
accordance with the invention read from the detailed discussion above,
especially from
the fact that the OPW stages in fabrication can be extended to advantage to
the stitch-
ing process, i.e. that a specific combination of OPW structural elements with
air cham-
bers stitched with sheet fabric sections results in economically interesting
solutions.
For a better understanding of the invention it is briefly described below with
reference to
embodiments with reference to a drawing, all FIGs. of which are diagrammatic
sectional
views.
FIG. 1 is a simplified diagrammatic view of a first example embodiment of a
structural
element in accordance with the invention shown unstretched.
FIG. 2 is a simplified diagrammatic view of the first example embodiment shown
in FIG.
1 but symmetrically stretched.
FIG. 3 is a simplified diagrammatic view of the first example embodiment shown
in FIG.
1 partially stretched.
FIG. 4 is a simplified diagrammatic view of a second example embodiment of a
struc-
tural element in accordance with the invention partially stretched.
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FIG. 5 is a simplified diagrammatic view of a third example embodiment of a
structural
element in accordance with the invention shown stretched.
FIG. 6 is a simplified diagrammatic view of a fourth example embodiment of a
structural
element in accordance with the invention shown stretched.
FIG. 7 is a simplified diagrammatic view of a fifth example embodiment of a
structural
element in accordance with the invention shown unstretched.
FIG. 8 is a simplified diagrammatic view of the example embodiment as shown in
FIG. 7
partially stretched.
FIG. 9 is a simplified diagrammatic view of the example embodiment as shown in
FIG. 7
fully stretched.
FIGs. 10 to 13 show further embodiments of textile structural elements in
accordance
with the invention.
FIG. 14 is a view of the textile structural element in accordance with the
invention as an
arched textile, here as a shelter for an automobile.
All like components in the example embodiments are identified by like
reference nu-
merals.
Referring now to FIG. 1 there is illustrated a textile structural element 1
including first
stretch elements 11, second stretch elements 12 and supporting elements 21,
here all
fabricated as OPW fabric elements featuring attachment points 4 - represented
here
symbolically as thick black dots ¨ which are interconnected by a stitched seam
(in con-
trast to the woven seam) or by an adhesive or a weld (for example, laser,
ultrasound) or
the like. The stretch elements 11, 12 and the supporting elements 21 are shown
sym-
bolically as small rectangles 31 arranged between lines 42 wherein the
rectangles 31
are intended to represent inflatable chambers of an OPW fabric and the lines
42 are
intended to represent single-layer portions of the OPW fabric. To make it
easier to un-
derstand the diagram in FIG. 1 is not to scale. In fact, it would only
recognize flattened
superimposed woven layers I, II and III, whereas in reality the chambers and
the single-
layer fabric areas extend in a direction perpendicular to the plane.
Rectangles symbol-
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ize chambers in the deflated state, while the same chambers are shown as
circles in the
inflated state.
Referring now to FIG. 2 there is illustrated the state in which the supporting
elements 21
are inflated by means of an inflator (not shown), for example. The spatial
expansion of
the supporting elements 21, moves the stretch elements 11, 12 away from one
another.
The second fabric layer II has become, so to speak "three-dimensional," while
the fabric
layers I and III themselves have gone through no change, but have been moved
away
from each other.
Referring now to FIG. 3 there is illustrated that when the stretch elements 12
of the third
fabric layer III are pressurized by inflation of the air chambers, a curvature
or arching of
the textile structural element 1 in accordance with the invention
materializes. By inflating
the stretch elements 12 they become shorter and pull the attachment points 4
and thus
also the parts of the supporting elements 21 fixed there towards each other,
resulting
ultimately in the arching of the entire structural element 1. The uninflated
stretch ele-
ments 11 are stretched. It is only for a better understanding that the õempty"
air cham-
bers 31 are indicated therein.
It is also possible to pressurize both fabric layers I and III by gas
inflation, resulting in a
solid mat. Shaping is mainly due to the geometric design of the stretch
elements and
supporting elements and the line of attachment to one another.
Referring now to FIG. 4 there is illustrated as compared to FIG. 3, a second
example
embodiment of a textile structural element 102 with an additional fabric layer
IV and ¨
shown here already inflated - supporting elements 41.
Referring now to FIG. 5 there is illustrated a textile structural element 103
with first
stretch elements 61, second stretch elements 62, supporting elements 21 and
support-
ing elements 41 and third stretch elements 13, whereby the stretch elements
61, 62 are
formed as sheet fabric, whilst the supporting elements 21 and 41 and the third
stretch
elements 13 are produced as OPW fabric. The first and second stretch elements
61, 62
are stretched to the maximum possible curvature of the textile structural
element 103.
In this construction, two supporting layers (fabric layers ll and IV) are
arranged between
the stretching layers (fabric layers I, Ill and V). The greater spacing apart
of the stretch
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elements makes for a higher loading capacity, for example. Furthermore,
shaping can
now be set more precisely in addition to designing the length and contraction
distance
of the stretching layers.
The stretch elements 61 and 62 in this case are not acted upon with pressure,
they
supporting shaping simply by the distance between the attachment points.
To enhance the stability in rendering the arching more precise a stretch layer
V can be
added.
Referring now to FIG. 6 there is illustrated an embodiment of a textile
structural element
104 in accordance with the invention similar to that as shown in FIG. 3,
except that now
first stretch elements 61 and second stretch elements 62 are made of sheet
fabric and
supporting elements 21 are made of OPW fabric. The potential curvature is
stable only
in the position shown when the supporting elements 21 are inflated.
In this construction one supporting layer (fabric layer II) is disposed
between two stretch
layers (fabric layers I and III). The stretch elements 61 and 62 in this case
are not to be
activated upon by this pressure. Shaping is only influenced here by the
distance of the
stretch elements located between the fixing points 4 and the dimensions of the
support-
ing layer.
Referring now to FIGs. 7 to 9 there is illustrated a further, fifth example
embodiment of a
textile structural element 105, similar to those of FIGs. 1 to 3, except that
now as illus-
trated here, the fifth example embodiment features in the first fabric layer I
first stretch
elements 61 of sheet woven fabric, and in the second and third fabric layer
II, Ill, sup-
porting elements 21 and stretch elements 12, both being formed as OPW fabric.
The
length of the first stretch elements 61 made of sheet fabric, thus shown
curved, is
greater than the length of the second stretch elements 12, with the result
that the devel-
opment of the textile structural element 105 upon pressurization of the
inflatable cham-
bers of the supporting elements 21 and the second stretch elements 12 of FIG.
7 via
FIG. 8 leads to the curved position as shown in FIG. 9.
Referring now to FIGs. 10 to 13 there are illustrated further embodiments of
textile
structure elements in accordance with the invention, wherein the components
used
therein correspond to similar components of the embodiments described above
having
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the same reference numerals. In contrast to the embodiments described above,
those
as shown in FIGs. 10 to 13 feature no so-called first fabric layer I so that,
although less
complex in design, are less stable.
Referring now to FIG. 14 there is illustrated a further embodiment of the
textile structural
element 107 according to the invention 107 which is very similar to the first
embodiment
of the invention a structural element 1 as shown in FIG. 3, except that in
FIG. 14 sup-
porting and stretch elements are added to both sides, to symbolically show how
the in-
ventive textile structural element as an arched textile, for example, can
provide a shelter
for an automobile 93. The structural element 107 stands - arched over the car
93 - on
the ground 100. Of course, this illustration is not to scale. It is also to be
noted that the
textile structural element 107 as shown in FIG. 14, the same as all other
textile structur-
al elements of the invention described herein, can be compressed very space-
saving for
storage after the inflatable chambers have been deflated and relaxed.
It is understood that all structural elements cited in the claims and the
example embod-
iments (Figs. 1 to 14) as mentioned above in accordance with the invention
extend
more or less in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the drawing, i.e.,
the structural
elements shown therein with their inflatable or otherwise with gas or liquid
pressurized
chambers, may extend elongated and/or become so, in becoming configured as a
channel and/or tubular-like structure.
It is understood that any indication in the present description as to chambers
or airbags
being õinflated", this always includes the meaning of being charged with
fluids, such as
gases, liquids, or foams, as well as including fluids which cure hard at
least, i.e. in be-
coming solids.
The invention is, for example, applicable also for the following applications
such as
pneumatic structural elements, temporary rescue shelters, supporting
structures, bionic
structures (flat-hollow hand palm), load securing of sensitive goods, textile
clamps,
baseball mitts, inner linings of silos, buffered connections, butt connector,
tensairity
structures such as bridge building components, aircraft wings etc. used.
