Back to results
US 10,399,284 B2Granted
Method and apparatus for forming contoured composite laminates
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsRichard Alexander Prause, Andrew Elmer Modin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A composite laminate such as a hat-type stringer is formed on a contoured mandrel using a combination of mechanical sweeping and vacuum forming.
Claims18
Apparatus for forming plies of material onto a mandrel having contours, comprising:
- a ply sweeper comprising a plurality of fingers configured to deflect outwardly to sweep the plies onto the contours of the mandrel;
- a presser independently displaceable relative to the ply sweeper for pressing a portion of the plies against the mandrel, the presser including a rib connected to at least one powered actuator, and a pair of flexible wings extending outwardly from the rib and engageable with the mandrel;
- and
- the at least one powered actuator coupled with the presser for displacing the presser relative to the ply sweeper.
1 more element
Apparatus for forming composite plies on a mandrel contoured along its length and having a cap, a pair of webs and a pair of flanges configured to form a hat-shaped stringer, comprising:
- a frame;
- a ply sweeper mounted on the frame and configured to sweep the composite plies down onto and over the pair of webs of the mandrel using a plurality of fingers of the ply sweeper configured to deflect outwardly;
- a presser mounted on the frame and extendable relative to the ply sweeper, the presser being configured to press a portion of the composite plies against the cap of the mandrel, the presser including a rib connected to at least one linear actuator and a pair of flexible wings extending outwardly from the rib and engageable with the mandrel;
- and
- the at least one linear actuator mounted on the frame and coupled with the presser for extending the presser relative to the ply sweeper.
2 more elements
A method of forming a composite stiffener contoured along its length, comprising:
- placing at least one composite ply over a mandrel;
- positioning a ply sweeper and a presser above the mandrel, wherein the ply sweeper comprises a plurality of fingers configured to deflect outwardly to sweep the at least one composite ply onto contours of the mandrel, and wherein the presser includes a rib connected to at least one powered actuator, and a pair of flexible wings extending outwardly from the rib and engageable with the mandrel;
- extending the presser relative to the ply sweeper using the at least one powered actuator coupled to the presser;
- clamping a portion of the composite ply against the mandrel, including moving the presser and the ply sweeper toward the mandrel until the presser forces the portion of the composite ply against the mandrel;
- and
- sweeping the composite ply down over the mandrel using the plurality of fingers while the portion of the composite ply is clamped against the mandrel.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.