Compacting device for a machine for winding a fibrous texture onto an impregnation mandrel

1. A compacting device for a machine for winding a fiber texture on an impregnation mandrel, the device comprising:

a frame including mounted thereon a compacting roller for bearing against an outside surface of an impregnation mandrel of a winding machine;

two compacting wheels, each configured to bear against a corner formed between the outside surface and a side plate of the impregnation mandrel;

means for applying vibration to the compacting roller and wheels; and

means for adjusting posit s of compacting wheels relative to the frame, each compacting wheel being mounted on a wheel support having a first portion forming a clamp suitable for sliding on a stationary longitudinal rod of the frame so as to enable the compacting wheels to be adjusted in position relative to the frame in a longitudinal direction, and a second portion forming a slider mounted on the first portion and suitable for sliding relative thereto in a radial direction so as to enable the positions of the compacting wheels to be adjusted relative to the frame in said radial direction.

2. A device according to claim 1 , wherein the means for applying vibration to the compacting roller and wheels comprises at least one electric vibrator mounted on the frame.

3. A device according to claim 1 , further comprising means for adjusting a position of the compacting roller relative to the frame.

4. A device according to claim 3 , wherein the compacting roller is mounted to rotate between two plates secured to the frame, each plate having one end constrained to pivot with a toothed wheel configured to pivot about a horizontal axis by meshing with a wormscrew to enable the position of the compacting roller to be adjusted relative to the frame.

5. A device according to claim 1 , wherein the outside surface of the compacting roller presents a profile corresponding to a profile of an outside surface of the impregnation mandrel against which it is to bear.

6. A device according to claim 1 , wherein the compacting roller comprises a plurality of longitudinal roller sections that are mutually independent in rotation.

7. A device according to claim 1 , wherein the compacting roller and the compacting wheels are covered in a coating made of an elastomer material.

8. A device according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second portions of the wheel support are fastened to each other by a wormscrew and a nut, the wormscrew is secured to the first portion such that turning the wormscrew causes the second portion to slide along a guide rail of the first portion extending in the radial direction such that the second portion moves radially relative to the first portion that is stationary.

9. A device according to claim 8 , wherein a spring is mounted around the wormscrew and between plates of the first and second portions.

10. A machine for winding a fiber texture on an impregnation mandrel, the machine comprising:

a takeup mandrel on which a fiber texture obtained by three-dimensional weaving is to be stored, the takeup mandrel having an axis of rotation that is substantially horizontal;

an impregnation mandrel onto which superposed layers of the fiber texture stored on the takeup mandrel are to be wound, the impregnation mandrel having an axis of rotation that is substantially horizontal and parallel to the axis of rotation of the takeup mandrel;

electric motors for driving the mandrels in rotation about respective axes of rotation thereof;

and

a compacting device according to claim 1 .

11. A machine according to claim 10 , further comprising a support structure including the compacting device mounted thereon to pivot about a substantially horizontal axis, together with at least one actuator having its body fastened to the support structure and its rod fastened to a frame of the device to enable the compacting device to be pivoted about the horizontal axis.