# US 11,993,033 B2 · Apparatus and method to tailor fiber distortion in composite parts > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,993,033 B2 - Document ID: US11993033B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/872,282 - Filed: 2022-07-25 - Published: 2022-11-10 - Granted: 2024-05-28 - Earliest claimed: 2019-02-07 - Assignees: The Boeing Company - Applicants: The Boeing Company - Inventors: Gagandeep Saini - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11993033B2 ## CPC - B29C 70/541: {Positioning reinforcements in a mould, e.g. using clamping means for the reinforcement (positioning inserts in moulds B29C33/12; lay-up on a mould B29C70/30)} - B29C 43/36: Moulds for making articles of definite length, i.e. discrete articles - B29C 70/44: using isostatic pressure, e.g. pressure difference-moulding, vacuum bag-moulding, autoclave-moulding or expanding rubber-moulding - B29C 70/443: {and impregnating by vacuum or injection} - B29C 70/549: {Details of caul plates, e.g. materials or shape} - B29D 99/0003: {Producing profiled members, e.g. beams} - B29C 2043/3655: {Pressure transmitters, e.g. caul plates; pressure pads} - B29L 2031/3085: {Wings} - Y02T 50/40: Weight reduction - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - B29D: PRODUCING PARTICULAR ARTICLES FROM PLASTICS OR FROM SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE (making granules B29B9/00; making preforms B29B11/00) - B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract A method for positioning wrinkling of a cured composite material at a predetermined location in fabricating a composite part, which includes positioning a caul plate in contact with an uncured composite material. The uncured composite material has a geometric change in shape and the caul plate has a first slit which extends through and along the caul plate. The method further includes positioning a fiber and a resin of a portion of the uncured composite material within the first slit and curing the uncured composite material positioning a wrinkle within the first slit of the caul plate. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for positioning wrinkling of a cured composite material at a predetermined location in fabricating a composite part, the method comprising: positioning a caul plate in contact with an uncured composite material, wherein: the uncured composite material has a geometric change in shape; the caul plate includes a first end and a second end spaced from the first end, and the caul plate defines a first slit and a second slit each of which extends through and along the caul plate; wherein the first slit extends from the first end of the caul plate to a distal end of the first slit that is spaced from the second end of the caul plate, and the second slit extends from the second end of the caul plate to a distal end of the second slit that is spaced from the first end of the caul plate such that the first slit and the second slit form an opposing pattern; and positioning a fiber and a resin of a portion of the uncured composite material within the first slit and the second slit; curing the uncured composite material to position a wrinkle within the first slit of the caul plate and position a wrinkle within the second slit of the caul plate; wherein: the caul plate further includes a third slit and a fourth slit extending through and along the caul plate; the geometric change in shape includes a ramp that extends angular between a first distal end of the ramp and a second distal end of the ramp; the caul plate includes a first curvature disposed adjacent to the first distal end of the ramp; the first slit and the fourth slit are disposed along the ramp proximal to a first side of the first curvature; and the second slit and the third slit are spaced from the ramp proximal to a second side of the first curvature. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein positioning the fiber and the resin of the portion of the uncured composite material within the first slit, includes placing the uncured composite material and the caul plate into a vacuum bag. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein positioning the fiber and the resin of the portion of the uncured composite material within the first slit, further includes placing a reduced air pressure within the vacuum bag pulling the fiber and the resin of the portion of the uncured composite material into the first slit. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein: the first slit extends through the caul plate from a surface of the caul plate, wherein the surface is for positioning onto a surface of the uncured composite material; and the first slit extends through the caul plate to an opposing surface of the caul plate, wherein the opposing surface is for positioning in facing away relationship from the surface of the uncured composite material with the surface of the caul plate positioned on the uncured composite material. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein at least a portion of the surface of the caul plate extends in a linear direction. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein at least another portion of the surface of the caul plate extends in a curvilinear direction. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein at least a portion of the opposing surface of the caul plate extends in a linear direction. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein at least another portion of the opposing surface of the caul plate extends in a curvilinear direction. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first slit extends toward and through a curved portion of the caul plate. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first slit extends in a linear direction along the caul plate. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein a width dimension of the first slit includes a width dimension of one hundredth of an inch (0.01 inch) up to and including five hundreds of an inch (0.05 inch). ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein: the caul plate includes a length; and the first slit is orientated transverse to the length of the caul plate. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein: the caul plate includes a length; and the second slit is orientated transverse to the length of the caul plate. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the second slit extends adjacent to, spaced apart from, and alongside of the first slit. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the second slit extends toward and through a curved portion of the caul plate. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein: the third slit is positioned adjacent to the second slit, with the second slit positioned between the first slit and the third slit; and the third slit extends from the first end of the caul plate to a distal end of the third slit that is spaced from the second end of the caul plate such that the second slit and the third slit form an opposing pattern. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein: the fourth slit is positioned adjacent to the first slit, with the first slit positioned between the second slit and the fourth slit; and the fourth slit extends from the second end of the caul plate to a distal end of the fourth slit that is spaced from the first end of the caul plate such that the first slit and the fourth slit form an opposing pattern. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein: the first slit and the second slit form a first set; the third slit extends from the first end of the caul plate to a distal end of the third slit that is spaced from the second end of the caul plate such that the second slit and the third slit form an opposing pattern; the fourth slit extends from the second end of the caul plate to a distal end of the fourth slit that is spaced from the first end of the caul plate such that the first slit and the fourth slit form an opposing pattern; and the third slit and the fourth slit form a second set that surrounds the first set. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein: the first set and the second set of the slits form a first grouping at the first curvature; the caul plate includes a second curvature disposed adjacent to the second distal end of the ramp; the caul plate includes another set of slits that form a second grouping at the second curvature which are a duplication of the configuration of the first grouping; and the ramp includes a wall that is continuous between the first grouping and the second grouping such that the slits are spaced from the wall to define an uninterrupted segment of the wall. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising curing the uncured composite material to position a wrinkle within the third slit of the caul plate and position a wrinkle within the fourth slit of the caul plate.