CONDUCTING FABRIC WITH HIGH VERSATILITY IN USE

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a conducting fabric with high versatility in use. More particularly, the invention relates to a conducting fabric capable of carrying electric power inside it. Such a conducting fabric is known for example from EP 1 722 614 A1.

[0002] As is known, conducting fabrics, also known as "conduthermal" fabrics, are commercially widespread which are provided by means of continuous copper yarn (which acts as weft yarn) and glass fiber (which acts as warp), so as to provide equipotential multisector electrical resistors which are mutually connected in parallel by using a flat copper band coupled to the laminated fabric. This solution with copper flat band, however, has some disadvantages, which are first of all due to the fact that the applied copper band is extremely rigid, which entails a problem for particular applications in which the fabric fundamentally must be flexible.

[0003] Furthermore, the applied copper band can create problems if it is necessary to perform a coupling or adhesive bonding with resin or materials that must penetrate into the fabric uniformly, since the band would create a barrier to this penetration.

[0004] Furthermore, another drawback is due to the linear expansions that each material can have if it is heated and which, in the case of two different materials (fabric and solid conducting band), in case of encapsulation, might cause breakages or separations.

[0005] The aim of the present invention is to provide a conducting fabric with high versatility in use that allows to provide within a same fabric areas that have specific characteristics that are identical or different depending on the quantity of conducting material that is present in each area and the purpose of which is to generate heat.

[0006] Within this aim, an object of the present invention is to provide a conducting fabric with high versatility in use which can be flexible.

[0007] Another object of the present invention is to provide a conducting fabric that allows to carry both power and electrical signals.

[0008] A further object of the present invention is to provide a conducting fabric that can be provided directly with a weaving loom of the perpendicular or circular type.

[0009] Another object of the present invention is to provide a conducting fabric that can be provided as a function of the power to be carried.

[0010] Another object of the present invention is to provide a conducting fabric that is highly reliable, relatively simple to provide and at competitive costs.

[0011] This aim, as well as these and other objects which will become more apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a conducting fabric according to claim 1.

[0012] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the description of preferred but non-limiting embodiments of the conducting fabric according to the invention, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view of a first embodiment of the fabric according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a view of a fabric outside the scope of the independent claims;

Figure 3 is a view of a second embodiment of the fabric according to the present invention.

[0013] With reference to the figures, in which identical reference numerals correspond to identical elements, the conducting fabric according to the invention, designated generally by the reference numeral 1, comprises a plurality of warp yarns 2, the warp yarns comprising at least two insulated conducting warp yarns 3 which are adapted to carry the electric power supply within the fabric 1 itself, as if they were a line cable that carries power and/or signals.

[0014] In this case the weft yarn 4 is a conducting and insulated continuous yarn, for example made of copper, which intersects the power supply yarns 3, indeed drawing power from them.

[0015] More particularly, the weft yarn 4 is a copper yarn which runs back and forth, weaving in with the warp yarns which are conveniently made for example of glass fiber. The continuous yarn allows to provide a resistive fabric with practically nil electromagnetic emissions. This is due to the fact that the continuous yarn that is woven in at each return runs practically in contact with the forward one; then the loom performs the desired beat and then another forward and return run in contact. With this fabric architecture, the electromagnetic field generated by an electrical cable crossed by a current which moves in one direction is canceled out by the opposite electromagnetic field generated by the subsequent cable (in contact) which is crossed by the same current but in the opposite direction. The weft yarn 4 "connects" to the conducting warp yarn 3 by means of welds 5 which can be provided by spot welding, tin welding, welding paste, ultrasound or any other known method in order to provide electrical sectors that are powered by the conducting warp yarns 3.

[0016] Conveniently, in order to avoid the deformation of the fabric during any co-lamination and calendering process, it is possible to provide for the insertion, during weaving, of a microfilament 8 made of glass in the weft, warp, or in both directions, which is hot welded onto the insulated conducting yarn, or on the yarn 2 made of insulating material, generating a mesh which makes it possible to increase the tensile strength of the fabric in the various directions, including the oblique one.

[0017] The fabric described above is provided by continuous weaving on a weaving loom, and it is also possible to decide on the dimensions in relation to the power to be carried.

[0018] The fabric described above allows to provide inside it areas that have mutually identical or different specific characteristics depending on the quantity of conducting material that is present in each sector (length and cross-section of the yarn, specific resistance).

[0019] Therefore, considering that the fabric is used as an electrical resistor to produce heat, it is possible to obtain articles with areas having a variable resistance which are therefore capable of delivering different power levels and/or of being powered with different power supply voltages.

[0020] The fabric can be calendered or coupled with insulating materials such as silicones, EPDM, resins of another kind and rubbers in general.

[0021] As an example outside the scope of the present invention, the fabric can be made, instead of with a continuous weft, with a weft made of yarn, for example copper yarn, which is single, in this case designated by the reference numeral 10.

[0022] The two power supply warp yarns 3 cross the single weft yarn 10 and the weft yarn 10 is welded at the intersection of the power supply warp yarn 3 with welds 5 and with a connecting wire 9 which has the purpose of closing the circuit.

[0023] Likewise, in a second embodiment, even in a "mesh" fabric that is usually provided by means of a circular weft knitting machine it is possible to make use of the principle on which the present invention is based. In this case, Figure 3, the fabric 1 comprises a plurality of weft yarns which can alternately be of the insulating or of the insulated conducting type 3. At least two of the latter will be used to supply power to the circuit composed of the insulated conducting yarn 4 which will act as a resistor (for example copper yarn) and other non-conducting yarns 2 (for example glass or polyester yarn).

[0024] Advantageously, the warp yarns of the conducting type can be provided by means of a flat ribbon made of metal, for example made of copper, which is very thin, such as not to compromise the flexibility of the fabric, and which can be used easily instead of a warp yarn.

[0025] In practice it has been found that the fabric according to the invention fully achieves the intended aim and objects, being able to provide a fabric that can be supplied with electric power, with areas having a different resistances depending on the requirements.

[0026] The fabric thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations within the scope of the accompanying claims.

[0027] In practice, the materials used, as well as the contingent shapes, may be any according to the requirements and the state of the art.

[0028] Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

1. A woven or weft knitted conducting fabric (1) comprising at least two yarns (3) adapted to carry an electric power supply, and a conducting yarn (4) of the fabric that intersects said at least two yarns (3) adapted to carry an electric power supply and that is welded at intersections (5) with said at least two yarns (3) adapted to carry an electric power supply, in order to define areas of said fabric that are adapted to be supplied with power, characterized in that said conducting yarn (4) of the fabric that intersects said at least two yarns (3) adapted to carry an electric power supply is a continuous single yarn.

2. The conducting fabric according to claim 1, characterized in that said at least two yarns (3) adapted to carry an electric power supply are warp yarns.

3. The conducting fabric according to claim 1, characterized in that said at least two yarns (3) adapted to carry an electric power supply are weft yarns.

4. The conducting fabric according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least two yarns (3) adapted to carry an electric power supply are made of copper or other conducting material.

5. The conducting fabric according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said conducting yarn (4) which intersects and is welded to said at least two yarns (3) adapted to carry an electric power supply is made of copper or other conducting material.

6. The conducting fabric according to one or more of the preceding claims, further comprising non-conducting yarns (2) that intersect said at least two yarns (3) adapted to carry an electric power supply and that are made of insulating material.

7. The conducting fabric according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said conducting yarn (4) is provided by means of a flat metal ribbon.

8. A method for providing a conducting fabric, characterized in that it comprises the steps of:

- weaving, directly on a weaving loom, a fabric (1) by replacing at least two warp yarns (2) with yarns (3) adapted to carry an electric power supply;

- welding a conducting weft yarn (4) at crossing points (5) with said at least two yarns (3) adapted to carry an electric power supply;

said conducting weft yarn (4) that intersects said at least two yarns (3) adapted to carry an electric power supply being made of conducting material, characterized in that said conducting yarn (4) of the fabric that intersects said at least two yarns (3) adapted to carry an electric power supply is a continuous single yarn.

Ansprüche

1. Ein leitender Webstoff (1) der mindestens zwei Fäden (3) umfasst, die ausgebildet sind, um Strom zu leiten und einen leitenden Faden (4) des Stoffs, der die mindestens zwei Fäden (3) schneidet, die ausgebildet sind, um Strom zu leiten und der an Schnittpunkten (5) mit den mindestens zwei Fäden (3) verschweißt ist, die ausgebildet sind, um Strom zu leiten, um Bereiche des Stoffs zu bestimmen, die ausgebildet sind, um mit Strom versorgt zu werden, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der leitende Faden (4) des Stoffs, der die mindestens zwei Fäden (3) schneidet, die ausgebildet sind, um Strom zu leiten ein durchgehender Einzelfaden ist.

2. Das leitfähige Gewebe gemäß Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die mindestens zwei Fäden (3), die ausgebildet sind, um Strom zu leiten Kettfäden sind.

3. Das leitfähige Gewebe gemäß Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die mindestens zwei Fäden (3), die ausgebildet sind, um Strom zu leiten Schussfäden sind.

4. Das leitfähige Gewebe gemäß einem oder mehreren der obigen Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die mindestens zwei Fäden (3), die ausgebildet sind, um Strom zu leiten aus Kupfer oder anderem leitenden Material bestehen.

5. Das leitfähige Gewebe gemäß einem oder mehreren der obigen Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der leitende Faden (4), der die mindestens zwei Fäden (3) schneidet, die ausgebildet sind, um elektrischen Strom zu leiten und mit ihnen verschweißt ist aus Kupfer oder anderem leitenden Material besteht.

6. Das leitfähige Gewebe gemäß einem oder mehreren der obigen Ansprüche, das weiter nicht leitende Fäden (2) umfasst, welche die mindestens zwei Fäden (3) schneiden, die ausgebildet sind, um Strom zu leiten, und die aus isolierendem Material hergestellt sind.

7. Das leitfähige Gewebe gemäß einem oder mehreren der obigen Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der leitende Faden (4) durch Verwendung eines flachen Metallbandes hergestellt wird.

8. Ein Verfahren zur Herstellung eines leitfähigen Gewebes, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass es folgende Schritte umfasst:

- das Weben eines Gewebes direkt an einen Webstuhl durch Ersetzen mindestens zweier Kettfäden (2) durch Fäden (3), die ausgebildet sind, um Strom zu leiten;

- das Verschweißen eines leitenden Schussfadens (4) an Kreuzungspunkten (5) mit den mindestens zwei Fäden (3) die ausgebildet sind, um Strom zu leiten;

- wobei der leitende Schussfaden (4), der die mindestens zwei Fäden (3) schneidet, die ausgebildet sind, um Strom zu leiten aus leitendem Material hergestellt ist, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der leitende Fasen (4) des Gewebes der die mindestens zwei Fäden (3) schneidet, die ausgebildet sind, um Strom zu leiten ein durchgehender Einzelfaden ist.

Revendications

1. Tissu conducteur tissé ou à mailles cueillies (1) comportant au moins deux fils (3) adaptés pour assurer une alimentation en énergie électrique, et un fil conducteur (4) du tissu qui croise lesdits au moins deux fils (3) adaptés pour assurer une alimentation en énergie électrique et qui est soudé au niveau d'intersections (5) avec lesdits au moins deux fils (3) adaptés pour assurer une alimentation en énergie électrique, afin de définir des zones dudit tissu qui sont adaptées pour être alimentées en énergie, caractérisé en ce que ledit fil conducteur (4) du tissu qui croise lesdits au moins deux fils (3) adaptés pour assurer une alimentation en énergie électrique est un fil simple continu.

2. Tissu conducteur selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que lesdits au moins deux fils (3) adaptés pour assurer une alimentation en énergie électrique sont des fils de chaîne.

3. Tissu conducteur selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que lesdits au moins deux fils (3) adaptés pour assurer une alimentation en énergie électrique sont des fils de trame.

4. Tissu conducteur selon une ou plusieurs des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que lesdits au moins deux fils (3) adaptés pour assurer une alimentation en énergie électrique sont constitués de cuivre ou d'un autre matériau conducteur.

5. Tissu conducteur selon une ou plusieurs des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que ledit fil conducteur (4) qui croise lesdits au moins deux fils (3) adaptés pour assurer une alimentation en énergie électrique et qui est soudé à ceux-ci est constitué de cuivre ou d'un autre matériau conducteur.

6. Tissu conducteur selon une ou plusieurs des revendications précédentes, comportant en outre des fils non conducteurs (2) qui croisent lesdits au moins deux fils (3) adaptés pour assurer une alimentation en énergie électrique et qui sont constitués d'un matériau isolant.

7. Tissu conducteur selon une ou plusieurs des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que ledit fil conducteur (4) est fourni par des moyens constitués d'un ruban plat en métal.

8. Procédé pour fournir un tissu conducteur, caractérisé en ce qu'il comporte les étapes consistant à :

- tisser, directement sur un métier à tisser, un tissu (1) en remplaçant au moins deux fils de chaîne (2) par des fils (3) adaptés pour assurer une alimentation en énergie électrique,

- souder un fil de trame conducteur (4) à des points de croisement (5) avec lesdits au moins deux fils (3) adaptés pour assurer une alimentation en énergie électrique, ledit fil de trame conducteur (4) qui croise lesdits au moins deux fils (3) adaptés pour assurer une alimentation en énergie électrique étant constitué d'un matériau conducteur, caractérisé en ce que ledit fil conducteur (4) du tissu qui croise lesdits au moins deux fils (3) adaptés pour assurer une alimentation en énergie électrique est un fil simple continu.

Drawing