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US 10,525,641 B2Granted
Composite structures, forming apparatuses and related systems and methods
AssigneeNorthrop Grumman Innovation Systems, Inc.
InventorsVernon M. Benson, Jason K. Slack, Todd A. Rosevear, James L. Harvey, Mark Roman, Timothy S. Olschewski
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatuses for forming a composite structure are configured to provide a tension at least partially along at least one ply of material as the at least one ply of material is supplied from a material feed assembly to a tool.
Claims18
An apparatus for forming a composite structure, comprising:
- a forming tool having a forming surface configured to receive thereon at least one ply of material to form the composite structure;
- and
- a material feed assembly configured to hold a supply of the at least one ply of material and to provide the at least one ply of material onto the forming tool, at least a portion of the material feed assembly being configured to apply a force to the at least one ply of material to develop a tension at least partially along a width of the at least one ply of material as the at least one ply of material is dispensed from the material feed assembly to the forming tool and before the at least one ply of material is applied on the forming tool, the tension developed by material feed assembly configured to define a tension gradient at least partially along the width of the at least one ply of material.
An apparatus for forming a composite structure, comprising:
- a forming tool having a forming surface configured to receive thereon at least one ply of material to form the composite structure;
- and
- a material feed assembly configured to hold a supply of the at least one ply of material and to provide the at least one ply of material onto the forming tool, the material feed assembly configured to apply a tension to the at least one ply of material at a location in the at least one ply of material between the material feed assembly and the forming tool, wherein the tension comprises a tension gradient extending along a width of the at least one ply of material from a first lateral side of the at least one ply of material to a second lateral side of the at least one ply of material, and wherein the apparatus is configured to position the material feed assembly at an angle offset to the forming tool in order to apply the tension to the at least one ply of material.
An apparatus for forming a composite structure, comprising:
- a forming tool having a forming surface configured to receive thereon at least one ply of material to form the composite structure;
- and
- a material feed assembly configured to hold a supply of the at least one ply of material and to provide the at least one ply of material onto the forming tool, the apparatus configured to develop a force in the at least one ply of material to apply a tension across a width of the at least one ply of material at a location between the material feed assembly and the forming tool, wherein the apparatus is configured to apply a maximum amount of the tension at a portion of the at least one ply of material that is to be supplied to a corresponding portion of the forming tool having a relatively larger radius of curvature than another portion of the forming tool in order to define a tension gradient in the at least one ply of material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.