Preform station and method
AssigneesAirbus Operations GmbH, Airbus SAS
InventorsPaulin Fideu Siagam, Hauke Seegel, Claus Fastert, Bernard Duprieu, Axel Siegfried Herrmann
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Abstract
A preform station for forming a flexible semi-finished product and for transforming a flexible semi-finished product into a geometrically stable preform is provided. The preform station comprises a first pin array having a multitude of pins, on which the semi-finished product can be draped. Furthermore, the pins are movable along their longitudinal directions in order to form the flexible semi-finished product. Furthermore, the preform station comprises an activation device for activating a binder of the semi-finished product such that the semi-finished product can be transformed into the geometrically stable preform.
Claims13
A preform station for draping a flexible semi-finished product and for transforming the flexible semi-finished product into a geometrically stable preform, comprising:
- a first pin array including a plurality of pins, on which the flexible semi-finished product is draped, each pin of the plurality of pins having a longitudinal direction and each pin of the plurality of pins is movable along the longitudinal direction for forming the flexible semi-finished product;
- and
- a binder activation system for activating a binder of the flexible semi-finished product when the flexible semi-finished product is draped onto the first pin array, thereby transforming the flexible semi-finished product into the geometrically stable preform;
- wherein a first pin of the first pin array comprises a first actuator for moving the first pin along the longitudinal direction;
- wherein the first pin of the first pin array comprises a first holding device configured to fix a position of the first pin;
- wherein a second pin of the first pin array is coupled to the first pin and is not directly coupled to a dedicated actuator for moving the second pin such that said first actuator is configured to move the second pin together with the first pin when the first actuator moves the first pin, and
- wherein the second pin of the first pin array comprises a second holding device configured to fix a position of the second pin independently of the first pin.
A preform station for draping a flexible semi-finished product and for transforming the flexible semi-finished product into a geometrically stable preform, the preform station comprising:
- a module including a wall formed with apertures, wherein the module encloses sealable chambers;
- an array of pins on which the flexible semi-finished product is draped, wherein each pin is movable for forming the flexible semi-finished product, wherein each pin is located in a respective chamber of the module and passes through a respective aperture in the wall of the module, wherein each pin has a bottom end, a top end, and a hole extending from the bottom end to the top end;
- a vacuum connection selectively coupled to each chamber through a respective valve, wherein when the vacuum connection applies a vacuum to a selected chamber, the hole in each pin in the selected chamber applies a vacuum on the semi-finished product;
- and
- a binder activation system for activating a binder of the flexible semi-finished product when the flexible semi-finished product is draped onto the pins, thereby transforming the flexible semi-finished product into the geometrically stable preform.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.