Forming tools that mix multi-part resin for composite parts
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorMax Osborne
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and methods are provided for mixing parts of a thermoset resin during impregnation of a composite preform. One embodiment is a method that includes positioning a composite preform at a forming tool, flowing a first part of the thermoset resin into a mixing chamber at the forming tool, flowing a second part of the thermoset resin that is chemically distinct from the first part of the thermoset resin into the mixing chamber, mixing the first part and the second part to form the thermoset resin within the mixing chamber, and infusing the thermoset resin from the mixing chamber into the preform.
Claims23
A method for mixing parts of a thermoset resin during impregnation of a composite preform, the method comprising:
- loading a first storage well at a forming tool with a first part of the thermoset resin;
- loading a second storage well at the forming tool with a second part of the thermoset resin;
- positioning a composite preform at the forming tool;
- positioning a vacuum bag atop the first storage well, the second storage well, a mixing chamber, and the composite preform;
- sealing a first cover plate atop the vacuum bag over the first storage well;
- sealing a mixer plate atop the vacuum bag over the mixing chamber;
- flowing the first part of the thermoset resin into a mixing chamber at the forming tool via channels;
- flowing the second part of the thermoset resin that is chemically distinct from the first part of the thermoset resin into the mixing chamber via the channels;
- mixing the first part of the thermoset resin and the second part of the thermoset resin to form the thermoset resin within the mixing chamber;
- and
- infusing the thermoset resin from the mixing chamber into the composite preform.
A method for infusing a preform with a thermoset resin, the method comprising:
- positioning a vacuum bag atop a first storage well containing a first part of the thermoset resin, a second storage well containing a second part of the thermoset resin that is distinct from the first part of the thermoset resin, and a mixing chamber;
- sealing a cover plate to the vacuum bag over the first storage well and the second storage well;
- sealing a mixer plate to the vacuum bag over the mixing chamber;
- applying a vacuum via the vacuum bag while a valve in the cover plate remains in a closed position in order to compact the preform;
- driving the first part of the thermoset resin from the first storage well and the second part of the thermoset resin that is distinct from the first part of the thermoset resin from the second storage well towards the mixing chamber via channels;
- mixing the first part of the thermoset resin and the second part of the thermoset resin together to form the thermoset resin within the mixing chamber;
- and
- infusing a wavefront of the thermoset resin out of the mixing chamber and into the preform.
A system for mixing parts of a thermoset resin during impregnation of a composite preform, the system comprising:
- a forming tool comprising:
- a mandrel defining a shape for the composite preform;
- a first storage well that stores a first part of the thermoset resin;
- a second storage well that stores a second part of the thermoset resin which is chemically distinct from the first part of the thermoset resin;
- a mixing chamber;
- a first channel leading from the first storage well to the mixing chamber;
- a second channel leading from the second storage well to the mixing chamber, wherein the composite preform is spaced from the first storage well and the second storage well by the first channel and the second channel and by a third channel leading from the mixing chamber to the composite preform;
- a vacuum bag positioned atop the first storage well, the second storage well, the mixing chamber, and the composite preform;
- a first cover plate sealed on the vacuum bag over the first storage well;
- a second cover plate sealed on the vacuum bag over the second storage well;
- and
- a mixer plate sealed on the vacuum bag over the mixing chamber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.