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US 11,524,471 B2Granted
Method for fabricating thermoplastic composite parts
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsCharles R. Prebil, James R. Fox
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method for forming a composite part. The apparatus comprises a sleeve that molds a composite material. The sleeve has a first face and a second face. The second face has features to mold the composite material. The first face comprises a first inclined surface having an angle less than about 90 degrees and greater than about 0 degrees.
Claims20
A method comprising:
- installing an inclined sleeve over an inclined die such that a first inclined surface of the inclined sleeve engages a second inclined surface of the inclined die;
- placing a shim between the inclined sleeve and the inclined die, wherein placing the shim comprises positioning the shim such that the inclined die contacts the shim and a first face of the inclined sleeve to impart a substantially uniform pressure to a multiple ply stack, wherein the multiple ply stack contacts a second face of the inclined sleeve;
- securing the inclined sleeve to the inclined die, wherein securing the inclined sleeve to the inclined die comprises holding the inclined sleeve in place relative to the inclined die using a number of connectors and wherein the number of connectors is substantially rhombus-shaped;
- and
- feeding the multiple ply stack and the inclined sleeve into a continuous compression molding machine.
2 more elements
A method comprising:
- installing an inclined sleeve over an inclined die such that a first inclined surface of the inclined sleeve engages a second inclined surface of the inclined die;
- placing a shim between the inclined sleeve and the inclined die;
- securing the inclined sleeve to the inclined die, wherein securing the inclined sleeve to the inclined die comprises holding the inclined sleeve in place relative to the inclined die using a number of connectors and wherein the number of connectors is substantially rhombus-shaped;
- placing a multiple ply stack relative to the inclined sleeve such that at least a portion of the multiple ply stack contacts at least a portion of a first face of the inclined sleeve, wherein the inclined die engages a second face of the inclined sleeve;
- and
- feeding the multiple ply stack and the inclined sleeve into a continuous compression molding machine.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.