Mechanical support tooling and/or mandrel for composite part curing
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorJustin Register
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Example mechanical supports or mandrels are described for composite part curing. In one example, a mandrel includes a housing, and components within the housing and positioned to create a central opening. An expander is also positioned in the central opening, and the expander has a width that increases along a length of the expander. A narrow end of the expander is positioned in the central opening. An actuator is provided to move the expander into the central opening causing the components to expand the housing, and to retract the expander from the central opening causing the components to collapse the housing.
Claims17
A mandrel comprising:
- a housing;
- a plurality of tool segments within the housing, and each tool segment comprising
- (i) a plurality of components positioned to create a central opening within the tool segment, and (ii) at least one expander positioned in the central opening of the tool segment,
- wherein the at least one expander has a width that increases along a length of the at least one expander, and a narrow end of the at least one expander is positioned in the central opening;
- a plurality of joint linkages coupling the plurality of tool segments in a sequential manner, wherein the plurality of joint linkages allow for movement of the plurality of tool segments with respect to each other;
- and
- an actuator positioned through the plurality of tool segments and coupled to the plurality of joint linkages, wherein the actuator moves respective expanders into respective central openings of the plurality of tool segments causing respective plurality of components to expand the housing and to retract the respective expanders from the respective central openings causing the respective plurality of components to collapse the housing.
A mandrel comprising:
- a housing;
- a plurality of tool segments within the housing, and each tool segment comprising
- (i) an upper component, a lower component, a first side component, and a second side component each within the housing and positioned to create a central opening, and (ii) at least one expander having a width that increases along a length of the at least one expander, and the at least one expander positioned in the central opening;
- a plurality of joint linkages coupling the plurality of tool segments in a sequential manner, wherein the plurality of joint linkages allow for movement of the plurality of tool segments with respect to each other;
- and
- a threaded member positioned through the plurality of tool segments and coupled to the plurality of joint linkages, wherein the threaded member is rotatable to move respective expanders into respective central openings of the plurality of tool segments causing respective upper components, lower components, first side components, and second side components to to slide outward and expand the housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.