A METHOD OF MANUFACTURING A FIBROUS STRUCTURE AND AN APPARATUS THEREFOR

摘要

A method of manufacturing a fibrous structure (li) is provided such as is particularly, though not exclusively, applicable to the manufacture of friction products such as preform discs. The method comprises fixedly mounting a former (4) on a shaft (3) which is rotated about its longitudinal axis. A plurality of first feeds (9) of fibrous material are spaced along the length of the shaft and applied to the former (4) in a direction tangential to the shaft (3) as the shaft is rotated. A second feed (8) of fibrous material is also provided and is applied to the former (4) in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shaft (3). The fibrous materials in the first feed (9) and the second feed (8) overlie one another as the shaft (3) rotates and the thickness of the fibrous material applied to the former (4) thereby increases to form the fibrous structure (11). Selected lengths of the first and/or second feeds (8, 9) are then inserted into the body of the fibrous structure (11) in a radial direction with respect to the shaft (3) as the shaft is rotated, for example by a needling head (6), to interconnect the overlying layers formed by the first and second feeds and thereby hold the fibrous structure (11) together.