Inventors:
Curt Wilkinson - Elkins Park PA 19027
Joseph Francis Celotto - Hamden CT 06514
International Classification:
G05G 100
Abstract:
An apparatus and method for the manufacture of composite flywheels. The apparatus includes an inner cylinder, an outer cylinder, a fiber feeding device and a knitting device. The fiber feeding device includes a set of conical feed rollers for feeding hoop fibers to the cylinders. The knitting device employs a circular knitting machine fitted with a radial fiber guide for feeding the radial fibers to the cylinders. The apparatus also includes structure for raising and lowering the needles of the knitting machine at the proper times to effectively feed the radial fibers to the cylinders. The fiber feeding device and knitting device interact to provide layers of hoop and radial fibers to the cylinders to form a flywheel pre-form including a combination of radial and hoop fibers without introducing crimp into the fibers.