Apparatuses for layup tooling
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsMatthew S. Stauffer, Douglas R. Ludin
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A tool for laying up composite material to form a workpiece having a target contour is disclosed. The tool includes a support structure including an elongated member having a longitudinal axis, and support plates connected to the elongated member and spaced apart from each other along the longitudinal axis. The elongated member includes a metallic material. The tool also includes a non-metallic backing structure connected to the support plates, the non-metallic backing structure comprising a working surface that includes a backing contour complementary to the target contour.
Claims19
A tool for laying up composite material to form a workpiece having a target contour, the tool comprising:
- a support structure comprising:
- an elongated member, having a longitudinal axis and comprising a metallic material;
- support plates connected to the elongated member and spaced apart from each other along the longitudinal axis, wherein all but one of the support plates or all of the support plates float relative to the elongated member along the longitudinal axis with a sliding fit;
- and
- a non-metallic backing structure, connected to the support plates, and comprising a working surface that comprises a backing contour, complementary to the target contour.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.