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US 10,377,122 B2Granted
Bonded tab and tooling device
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorSteven D. Bye
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for forming a composite part. An apparatus comprises a tooling plate, a tab co-bonded with the tooling plate, and a group of alignment features associated with the tab. The tooling plate is configured for use with a tool to form a composite part. The group of alignment features is configured to position the tooling plate with respect to the tool used to form the composite part.
Claims20
A method for forming a tooling device and a composite part, the method comprising:
- positioning a first number of layers of composite material with respect to a first tool;
- and
- positioning the tooling device on the first number of layers of composite material, wherein the tooling device comprises:
- a tooling plate comprising a second number of layers of composite material;
- a tab;
- and
- a group of alignment features associated with the tab, wherein the group of alignment features comprises:
- a first alignment feature configured to position the tooling plate with respect to the first tool, the first alignment feature comprising a first opening configured to receive a first pin associated with the first tool;
- and
- a second alignment feature configured to position the tab with respect to a second tool and an offsetting spacer, the second alignment feature comprising a second opening configured to receive a second pin associated with the second tool;
- wherein the tab:
- has a first portion that is interposed between layers of the second number of layers of composite material;
- has a second portion that extends from a first end of the tooling plate;
- is positioned using the second alignment feature, the second tool, and the offsetting spacer;
- and
- after being positioned, is co-bonded with the second number of layers of composite material to form the tooling device.
13 more elements
A method comprising:
- positioning a first number of layers of composite material with respect to a first tool;
- and
- positioning a tooling device on the first number of layers of composite material, wherein the tooling device comprises:
- a tooling plate comprising a second number of layers of composite material;
- a tab;
- and
- a group of alignment features associated with the tab, wherein the group of alignment features comprises:
- a first alignment feature configured to position the tooling plate with respect to the first tool, the first alignment feature comprising a first opening configured to receive a first pin associated with the first tool;
- and
- a second alignment feature configured to position the tab with respect to a second tool and a spacer, the second alignment feature comprising a second opening configured to receive a second pin associated with the second tool, the spacer configured to support the tab during a co-bonding process of the tab with the tooling plate;
- wherein the tab:
- has a first portion that is between layers of the second number of layers of composite material;
- has a second portion that extends from a first end of the tooling plate;
- is positioned using the second alignment feature, the second tool, and the spacer;
- and
- after being positioned, is co-bonded with the second number of layers of composite material to form the tooling device.
13 more elements
A method comprising:
- positioning a first number of layers of composite material with respect to a first tool;
- and
- positioning a tooling device on the first number of layers of composite material, wherein the tooling device comprises:
- a tooling plate comprising a second number of layers of composite material;
- a tab;
- and
- a group of alignment features associated with the tab, wherein the group of alignment features comprises:
- a first alignment feature configured to position the tooling plate with respect to the first tool, the first alignment feature comprising a first opening configured to receive a first pin associated with the first tool;
- and
- a second alignment feature configured to position the tab with respect to a second tool and a spacer, the second alignment feature comprising a second opening configured to receive a second pin associated with the second tool, the spacer comprising a clearance hole configured to accommodate the second pin;
- wherein the tab:
- has a first portion that is between layers of the second number of layers of composite material;
- has a second portion that extends from a first end of the tooling plate;
- is positioned using the second alignment feature, the second tool, and the spacer;
- and
- after being positioned, is co-bonded with the second number of layers of composite material to form the tooling device.
13 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.