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US 10,632,717 B2Granted
Laser-reflective compaction roller and associated fiber placement system and method
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsStephen G. Moore, Alexandra K. Dillon, Alan G. Burg, Megan M. Petersen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A fiber placement system including a compaction roller rotatable about an axis of rotation, the compaction roller including a reflective layer that includes a reflective material dispersed in a polymeric material, and a light source positioned to project a beam of electromagnetic radiation proximate the compaction roller, the beam having a wavelength, wherein the reflective material has a reflectance of at least 80 percent at the wavelength.
Claims20
A fiber placement system comprising:
- a compaction roller rotatable about an axis of rotation, said compaction roller comprising a reflective layer, said reflective layer comprising a reflective material dispersed in a polymeric material;
- a substrate having a surface for placing a composite ply thereon, wherein said surface of said substrate and said reflective layer define a nip therebetween for passing said composite ply therethrough, wherein said polymeric material of said reflective layer is configured to contact said composite ply when it is passed through said nip;
- and
- a laser light source positioned to project a laser beam proximate said compaction roller, said laser beam having a wavelength,
- wherein said reflective material has a reflectance of at least 80 percent at said wavelength of said laser beam.
2 more elements
A fiber placement system comprising:
- a compaction roller rotatable about an axis of rotation, said compaction roller comprising:
- a hub;
- a reflective layer in an outermost portion of a cylindrical polymeric structure, said cylindrical polymeric structure comprising said reflective layer in said outermost portion of said cylindrical polymeric structure and a core layer positioned between said hub and said reflective layer, said reflective layer defining an outer cylindrical surface of said cylindrical polymeric structure, said reflective layer comprising a reflective material dispersed in a polymeric material, said reflective layer having a hardness ranging from about 25 Shore A to about 90 Shore A durometer;
- and
- a cover of release material applied directly onto said outer cylindrical surface of said cylindrical polymeric structure as defined by said reflective layer;
- a substrate having a surface for placing a composite ply thereon, wherein said surface of said substrate and said cover of release material define a nip therebetween for passing said composite ply therethrough, wherein said cover of release material is configured to contact said composite ply when it is passed through said nip;
- and
- a laser light source positioned to project a laser beam proximate said compaction roller, said laser beam having a wavelength, wherein said wavelength of said laser beam ranges from about 15 μm to about 1000 μm,
- wherein said reflective material has a reflectance of at least 80 percent at said wavelength of said laser beam.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.