Device for in-line consolidation of composite materials
AssigneeHRL Laboratories, LLC
InventorsJacob M. Hundley, Eric C. Clough, Zak C. Eckel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for fabricating composite parts efficiently. Pre-impregnated (prepreg) composite material is drawn as a sheet from a roll and fed by advancement rollers into a stamping and molding station in which a piece of the prepreg material is cut, on a mold, from the sheet. Pressure is applied to cause the prepreg material to conform to a surface of the mold, and the prepreg is cured with ultraviolet light. Additional layers of prepreg may be cut and cured on any layers that have already been cured on the mold. The complete part may be removed from the mold with ejector pins. Scrap prepreg may be recycled in a recycling station that separates reinforcing fiber from uncured resin.
Claims28
A system for consolidation of pre-impregnated thermosetting polymer matrix composite material (prepreg), the system comprising:
- a mold assembly comprising:
- a first mold having a molding surface;
- a second mold configured to mate with the first mold;
- and
- a compaction device configured to press the first mold and the second mold against each other and to separate the first mold and the second mold from each other;
- a plurality of rollers configured to position the prepreg for molding by the first mold;
- a cutting device configured to cut a piece of the prepreg while the prepreg is located on the first mold;
- and
- a source of energy configured to consolidate the prepreg.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.