US3474507A - Method and means for connecting woven bands - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 28, 1969 c, 5, THOMPSON I 3,474,507

METHOD AND MEANS FOR CONNECTING WOVEN BANDS Filed Nov. 20. 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

6 Char/es \iflon vson Mme/v6 Oct. 28, 1969 c. s. THOMFSON 3,474,507

METHOD AND MEANS FOR CONNECTING WOVEN BANDS Filed Nov. 20, 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 10 z" 56 I I r 18 r 42 60 INVENTOR.

16 {a 62 CZzarZ'es ifiom oson Oct. 28, 1969 .c. s. THOMPSON 3,474,507

METHOD AND MEANS FOR CONNECTING WOVEN BANDS Filed Nov. 20, 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. 67/4 PL 3 J." 72/0MPJ0A/ United States Patent 3,474,507 METHOD AND MEANS FOR CONNECTING WOVEN BANDS Charles S. Thompson, Vincentown, N.J., assignor to E.W. Bliss Company, Canton, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Filed Nov. 20, 1967, Ser. No. 684,225 Int. Cl. F16g 11/00; B64c 1/02 US. Cl. 24265 22 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present apparatus pertains to the art of woven bands and more particularly to a method and means for connecting such bands to support apparatus.

The present invention is particularly applicable for use with woven bands or tape utilized in the arresting gear for aircraft, and it will be described with particular reference thereto; however, it is appreciated that the invention has much broader applications and it may be used in various other installations utilizing woven bands connectable to support apparatus.

In present day runways for aircraft it is often the practice to provide arresting gear across the end of the runway to catch incoming aircraft, if it over-shoots, for braking or stopping same within as short a distance as possible and within the space limitations at the end of the runway. Such arresting gear, which may also be used on an operational basis to stop each landing aircraft, generally includes a cable stretched across the runway and connected at each end to one of two large woven bands of nylon, or other like material, each extending from the cable to a suitable energy absorber mounted adjacent the runway. The energy absorbers provide the braking functions to stop the aircraft. The woven bands are each formed on a multitude of longitudinal, or warp, strands extending the length of the band and providing the strength in the band for stopping the aircraft. A multitude of transverse, or weft, strands are interwoven with the warp strands, holding the warp strands together in suitable fashion. The bands must be connected to the energy absorber at one end and the cable at the other end, and it has been the usual practice in the past to make such connections, especially at the cable end, by means of mechanical connectors, sewed or stitched loops, or through the use of plastic lug connecting means. Various problems exist with at least the first two of these generally used connectors. Mechanical connectors normally have a short life, due to runway abrasion, and they also increase the inertia of the woven bands. Further, mechanical connectors create detrimental effects on the material of which the band is formed, due to the necessary high loading on the connectors to assure a safe joint. With sewed or stitched loops, the machines for providing the loops are complex and cumbersome and the sewing needles often damage the hands by piercing, and thus weakening, the strands of the band. Additionally, the materials from which the tapes are made and the density of the strands therein make it exceedingly difiicult to pierce the bands with the sewing needles. Plastic lug connectors have proven successful; however, only one layer of strands 3,474,507 Patented Oct. 28, 1969 'ice was placed in the plastic lug and the strands had to be unwoven into separate filaments. This necessitated a lengthy process to assure that each filament was surrounded by plastic. Accordingly, there has been an everpresent demand for a method and means of providing a connection for woven bands that will provide strength and integrity in the joint, will be safe within the design requirements of the arresting gear and which will be time-saving and eflicient to manufacture and produce.

The present invention is directed toward a woven band connection that maintains the high standards required in the overall arresting gear apparatus, is positive and safe in its mounting, is inexpensive to manufacture and apply, and minimizes wear problems in both the band and the remainder of the arresting gear.

In accordance with the present invention, a method and means of connecting a woven band to suitable support apparatus is provided by removing weft strands in a portion of the band spaced from the end thereof and forming a loop of such portion, preferably around a shaped bar. The loop or the loop and bar are then mounted in a connecting member which, in turn, is secured in the support apparatus.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method and means of connecting a woven band by removing weft strands in a portion of the band spaced from the end thereof, bending the band to provide a loop, preferably around a shaped bar, and impregnating the loop strands with a plastic material to pro vide compressive strength in the loop for securement in a connecting member.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method and means of connecting woven bands by removing the weft strands in a portion of the band spaced from the end thereof, bending the band at such portion to form a loop, twisting the strands of the loop along the longitudinal axes thereof, and inserting a bar having a shaped cross-section transversely of the band and through the loop. The loop and bar are properly secured in a connecting member, which is attached to the support apparatus.

In accordance with yet a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method and means of connecting a woven band by removing weft strands from a pair of spaced portions of the band and spaced from the end thereof, forming a loop in the part of the band be tween the portions so that the portions underlie each other, and interweaving the warp strand of one portion with the Warp strands of the other portion to provide a transverse, or lateral, opening therebetween. A shaped bar is disposed transversely of the band and in the opening between the strands. The bar and loop are then suitably received in a connecting member, which is secured in the support apparatus.

The primary object of the present invetnion is the provision of a method and means of connecting a woven band to a support apparatus and comprising a loop portion in the end of the band and including only warp strands of the band, and preferably a shaped bar extending through the loop and transversely of the band, the loop and band being receivable in a connecting member.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a method and means by which a woven band will produce a strong, high quality joint between the band and the supporting apparatus.

Yet another object of the present invention is the provision of a method and means for connecting the end of a woven band to a support apparatus in a simple and economical manner, and maintaining the structural integrity of the material forming the band.

These and other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description used to illustrate preferred embodiments of the present invention as read in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a woven band illustrating the structure thereof;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of a woven band illustrating weft strands removed from a portion thereof;

FIGURE 3 is an elevational view, partly in cross-section, illustrating a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational schematic view, partly in section, illustrating another preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of a woven band having weft strands removed from spaced portions thereof adjacent the end of the band;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of the woven band shown in FIGURE 5, reversely bent in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 7 is a side elevational schematic view of the woven band shown in FIGURES 5 and 6, formed in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 8 is a side elevational schematic view of a woven band, formed in accordance with the present invention and illustrating the position of the loop strands;

FIGURE 9 is a side elevational schematic view of the woven band shown in FIGURE 8, illustrating the twisting of the loop strands;

FIGURE 10 is a side elevational schematic view of a woven band having a loop formed therein;

FIGURE 11 is a side elevational schematic view of the i band shown in FIGURE 10, illustrating a twist of the loop strands;

FIGURE 12 is a side elevational schematic view of the band shown in FIGURES 10 and 11 and illustrating another twist in the loop strands;

FIGURE 13 is a side elevational schematic view of the woven band of FIGURES 10 through 12, illustrating a reverse bend in the longitudinal loop strands;

FIGURE 14 is a side elevational schematic view of a woven band having one form of dual loop configuration in the end thereof;

FIGURE 15 is a side elevational schematic view of a woven band having another form of dual loop configuration adjacent the end thereof; and

FIGURES 16-18 are schematic views illustrating a further aspect of the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein the showings are for the purpose of illustrating preferred embodiments only and not for the purpose of limiting same, FIGURE 1 shows a woven band, indicated generally by the numeral 10, formed of a multitude of longitudinal, or warp, strands 12 interwoven with a multitude of lateral, or weft, strands14. It will be understood that it is ditficult to accurately show the number of warp and weft strands in the drawing, since the woven band normally used in an arresting gear assembly is on the order of 12 to 14 inches in width and up to an inch in thickness, and wherein the warp and weft strands are each formed of nylon filaments of a size in the magnitude of the size of a human hair. Thus, the drawing is illustrative only.

In preparing the woven band 10 for forming the connecting means, the weft strands 14 are removed from a portion 15 of the band spaced from the end 16, leaving the longitudinal, or warp, strands unwoven between the major portion of the band and the end portion 18. The flexibility of the band at the portion 15, where the weft strands are removed, permits the band to be easily formed into a loop, as illustrated at in FIGURE 3, so that the end portion 18 underlies the main portion of the band. At this time, the loop 20 may be impregnated with a suitable plastic material, such as an epoxy or other polymeric substance, illustrated at 22 in FIGURE 3 to provide compressive strength to the band material and to form a holding lug.

After the loop 2 is formed in the band 10, but before the plastic is molded therearound, a shaped bar 24 is disposed in the loop and extends transversely of the band 10. Shaped bar 24 is of any convenient shape, being round, oval, square, hexagonal or tear drop as illustrated in FIGURE 3, or any other suitable shape, providing an enlargement in the loop portion 20 for purposes to become hereinafter more apparent.

With the loop so formed in the band 10, the bar 24 is disposed therein, and the plastic is molded therearound. The loop and bar may then be clamped in a connecting member, indicated generally by the numeral 26. The connecting member 26 has an aperturn 28 in the end thereof, suitable for connection to the arresting gear cable or pendant, not shown. At the opposite end of the connecting member 26 is a shaped opening 30 which is of the general shape of the shaped bar 24 and loop 20 as molded with plastic. The bar 24 and loop 20 are held in the connecting member 26 by the plastic 22, or otherwise, and they will not pull through the narrow mouth of the opening 30. It will be understood that should the bar 24 or loop 20 be in another shape, the opening 30 in the connecting member 26 will be correspondingly formed.

A modification of the connecting means illustrated in FIGURE 3 is shown in FIGURE 4, wherein the longitudinal strands 12 in the portion 15 are formed, as hereinbefore described into a first loop 20, and the loop is again reversely bent to provide a second loop 32, receiving a second shaped bar 34 extending transversely of the band 10. With such configuration, the connecting member into which the loops 20 and 32 and the shaped bars 24 and 34 are disposed will be provided with a correspondingly shaped opening to receive and retain such construction. Bar 24 is molded with the warp strands. In addition, the bar 34 may also be molded into a lug including the warp strands.

Referring next to FIGURES 5 through 7, another preferred embodiment is illustrated in which the woven band 10 is provided with spaced portions 36 and 38, having only warp strands 12 therein, and spaced from the end 16 of the band 10 by a portion 18. The part of the band 40 between the portions 36 and 38 maintains its woven construction with both warp and weft strands. In order to form a connecting means, the band 10 is reversely bent at the part 40 so that the portions 36 and 38 are adjacently disposed, as illustrated in FIGURE 6.

In order to provide a transverse bar receiving opening, bundles of warp strand 12 in the portions 36 and 38 are intermeshed, as shown schematically in FIGURE 7. That is, a number of strands are formed into a bundle in one or both of the portions 36 or 38, and passed upwardly or downwardly between similar bundles in the other portion. The result, as indicated schematically in FIGURE 7, provides an opening 42 into which a shaped bar 44 is disposed, the bar 44 extending transversely of the band 10. The loop formed in the portion 0 and the warp strands 12 forming the portions 36 and 38, along with the shaped bar 44, are then encapsulated in plastic and suitably mounted in a connecting member with an opening so formed as to receive the assembly. If the portions or areas 36 and 38 are on separate ends of two bands, this method can form an effective splice of the bands.

With reference to FIGURES 8 and 9, wherein the construction is similar to that shown in FIGURE 3, the warp strands 12 are formed in a single loop 20, such that the end 18 of the band 10 underlies the major portion of the band. In order to provide additional holding strength in the loop 20, bundles of warp strands 12 are twisted about their longitudinal axes, as indicated in FIGURE 9, thus providing a loop 20' to receive the shaped bar around which plastic is molded. The crossing of the warp strands 12 creates additional holding power in the connecting member or plastic lug.

FIGURES 10 through 13 illustrate another preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein the woven band 10 is formed in a loop, as heretofore described and such that the end portion 18 underlies the major portion of the band 10, and the strands 12 are formed into a loop 20.

Additional holding power and strength may be obtained by first twisting bundles of longitudinal strands 12, as at 46 and as heretofore described with respect to FIGURES 8 and 9, and then again twisting the bundles of warp strands 12 intermediate the first twist 46 and the end of the loop 20, as illustrated at 48 in FIGURE 12. Finally, the bundles of warp strands 12 are reversely bent adja cent the twist 48, as best illustrated in FIGURE 13, to provide a single opening 50 receiving the shaped bar. Plastic is then molded around the warp strands and bar. The result is a multiple thickness of warp strands 12 surrounding the bar in the lug, providing additional holding strength and additional density of the warp strands 12 within the lug and clamped between the connecting member and the bar.

With reference now to FIGURE 14, still another preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated wherein the woven band 10 is provided with a single loop portion 21) of longitudinal strands 12, the strands 12 being separated into bundles and reversely bent about the shaped bar 24. The bundles are passed through, or between, other bundles of strands 12 to form a second shaped bar 54. A plastic is then molded around the warp strands to form a terminal lug. The assembly is then mounted, as aforedescribed, in a suitable opening in a connecting member.

In FIGURE 15, still another preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated. The woven band 10 is formed to provide the loop, heretofore mentioned with reference to FIGURES 1 to 3, and the warp strands 12 are separated into bundles for twisting. The bundles of Warp strands 18 are twisted and separated to form two loops 56 and 58, the loops receiving shaped bars 60 and 62 respectively, for molding with plastic and securement and clamping in a suitable connecting member.

Thus, a means and method have been described for forming a connecting structure in the end of a woven band. Such connecting structure is easily formed, creates a positive and strong joint and maintains the integrity of the overall apparatus in an economical and time saving fashion. For some applications, the encapsulating plastic may not be used. The core member may be molded with the plastic in some instances.

Referring now to FIGURES 16-18, a further aspect of the present invention is illustrated for splicing two woven tapes 70, 72 after the weft strands have been removed from portions 70a, 72a, respectively, to expose warp strands 70b, 72b. In accordance with this aspect of the invention, the portions 70a, 72a are brought together, as shown in FIGURE 16, and the warp strands are pulled through each other, as shown in FIGURE 17, to form a transverse opening 74. Thereafter, a member 76 is placed into the opening to form a spice. To make the splice more permanent, a plastic lug 78 may be molded around the warp strands and member 76, as shown in FIGURE 18.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. Coupling means for a woven band having warp and weft strands and comprising a loop in said band adjacent the end thereof and having only warp strands therearound, a bar disposed in said loop and extending across said band, and a connector member having an opening therein of the shape of said loop and said bar and receiving said loop and said bar in locked engagement in said opening.

2. The coupling means set forth in claim 1 wherein said strands in said portion forming said loop are impregnated with a plastic material.

3. The coupling means set forth in claim 1 wherein the cross-sectional shape of said bar in said loop increases in a direction away from the center of said band.

4. The coupling means set forth in claim 1 wherein said warp strands in said loop are twisted about the longitudinal axes thereof.

5. The coupling means set forth in claim 1 wherein said warp strands in said loop are twisted about the longitudinal axes thereof adjacent the ends of said portions, said strands being twisted about the longitudinal axes thereof intermediate the ends of said portion, and said strands being reversely bent toward said band adjacent intermediate twist.

6. The coupling means set forth in claim 1 wherein said strands in said portion are formed in a second loop, and further including a second bar extending across said band and through said second loop.

7. The coupling means set forth in claim 6 wherein some of said strands are displaced out of registry with others of said strands to form said second loop.

8. The coupling means set forth in claim 7 wherein said strands are twisted about the longitudinal axes thereof.

9. The coupling means set forth in claim 1 wherein said loop is longitudinally reversely bent to provide a second transverse opening, and further including a second bar extending across said band and through said second opening.

10. Means for coupling a woven band having warp and weft strands to a support and comprising a portion of said band spaced from the end thereof having only warp strands, said portion being longitudinally reversely bent to form a loop and a bar extending transversely through said loop, said bar and said loop being receivable in said support.

11. Coupling means for a woven band having warp and weft strands and comprising first and second spaced portions spaced from the end of said band and having only warp strands therein, a loop in said hand between said portions such that said first and second portions underlie each other, the strands in one of said portions extending between the strands of the other of said portions to provide a transverse opening therebetween, and a bar extending through said opening and transversely of said band, said bar being attachable to said support.

12. A method of forming a woven band having warp and Weft strands for receipt in a support and comprising the steps of removing the weft strands from a portion of said band spaced from the end thereof, bending said band at said portion into a reversely bent loop such that the end of said band underlies and extends toward the center of said band, and disposing a bar in said loop, said bar and said loop being connectable to said support.

13. The method set forth in claim 12 and further including the step of impregnating said strands in said loop with a plastic material.

14. The method set forth in claim 12 and further including the step of twisting said strands forming said loop about the longitudinal axes thereof.

15. The method set forth in claim 14 and further including the step of twisting said strands forming said loop a second time about the longitudinal axes thereof, and bending said strands toward the center of said band.

16. The method set forth in claim 12 and further including the step of reversely bending said loop toward the center of said band to form a second loop, and disposing a second bar in said second loop.

17. A method of forming a woven band having warp and weft strands for receipt in a support and comprising the steps of removing the weft strands from spaced portions of said band and spaced from the end thereof, reversely bending said band such that said portions underlie each other, passing the strands of one of said portions between the strands of the other of said portions, and disposing a bar transversely of said band and between said strands.

18. A coupling device for a woven band having an end and warp and weft strands woven together, said device comprising: a loop in said band adjacent the end of said band, said loop having only warp strands extending around a major portion thereof, a plastic lug molded around said loop and encapsulating said warp strands thereof, said lug having an outer shape and a connector having a cavity to receive said lug and a slot communicated with said cavity andthrough which said lug is joined with said band remote from said loop.

19. A method of forming a coupling protrusion on a fiat woven band having warp and weft strands woven, said method comprising the steps of: removing the weft strands from a selected axial area of said band while leaving the warp strands intact; forming said axial area into a loop; and molding a plastic coupling protrusion around said loop.

20. A method as defined in claim 19 including the additional step of placing a bar within said loop before said protrusion is molded therearound.

21. A method of splicing two flat woven bands each having an end and formed from warp and weft strands, said method comprising the following steps: removing the weft strands from an area of each band, said area being spaced from but adjacent to the ends of said bands, placing said bands in side-by-side relationship with said areas overlying each other, bringing the warp strands in said area of one band through the warp strands in said area of the other band to form a transverse opening surrounded by warp strands, and placing an elongated member through said opening.

22. The method as defined in claim 21 including the additional step of molding a plastic lug around said warp strands and said member in said band areas.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 261,140 7/1882 Curtis 2--388 XR 968,299 8/1910 White 2338 1,802,657 4/1931 Kellems. 1,999,578 4/1935 Sidebotham 139-384 XR 3,215,375 11/1965 Radovitz 244110.4- 3,264,017 8/1966 La Garde 24123.2 XR

FOREIGN PATENTS 722,074 6/ 1942 Germany.

DONALD A. GRIFFIN, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

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