Apparatus for and method of compaction of a prepreg
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsAntonio Paesano, Steven Cullison
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A forming apparatus and method of using the apparatus with a concave mandrel to form composite materials is presented where the apparatus has a forming head with an outer surface having a contour that matches the interior surface of the concave cavity of a matching mandrel. A handle and a grip surface to allow an operator to use the forming apparatus to exert a compaction force to successive plies of prepreg to conform the laminate of plies to the interior surface of the concave cavity. Each ply is heated before contact with the forming head of the apparatus.
Claims14
An apparatus for use in conforming a prepreg to a concave cavity of a mandrel, comprising:
- a forming head comprising an outer surface having a contour that generally matches an interior surface of a concave cavity of a matching mandrel, and wherein the forming head further comprises a heating element incorporated into the forming head to heat the outer surface of the forming head, wherein the outer surface of the forming head comprises a material that has a measured hardness in a range of between 40 Shore A to 80 Shore A;
- and
- a handle with a first end and a second end, where the first end is attached to the forming head and the second end is configured with a grip surface, where the first end of the handle is pivotally attached to the forming head.
A system comprising:
- a mandrel having a concave cavity that is configured to hold a first prepreg ply placed into the concave cavity of the mandrel;
- a forming head for conforming the first prepreg ply to the concave cavity of the mandrel, the forming head comprising an outer surface having a contour that generally matches an interior surface of the concave cavity of the mandrel, and wherein the forming head further comprises a heating element incorporated into the forming head to heat the outer surface of the forming head, wherein the outer surface of the forming head comprises a material that has a measured hardness in a range of between 40 Shore A to 80 Shore A;
- and
- a handle with a first end and a second end, where the first end is attached to the forming head and the second end is configured with a grip surface.
An apparatus for use in conforming a prepreg to a concave cavity of a mandrel, comprising:
- a forming head comprising an outer surface having a contour that generally matches an interior surface of a concave cavity of a matching mandrel, and wherein the forming head further comprises a heating element incorporated into the forming head to heat the outer surface of the forming head, wherein the outer surface of the forming head comprises a removable non-stick film;
- and
- a handle with a first end and a second end, where the first end is attached to the forming head and the second end is configured with a grip surface, where the first end of the handle is pivotally attached to the forming head.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.