Web core sandwich structures
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsMichael Leslie Hand, Juan Carlos Guzman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A panel is disclosed, including a first facesheet, a second face sheet, and a plurality of pultrusion-formed web structures. Each web structure has a middle support portion, a first end portion, and a second end portion. The first end portion of each web structure is attached to the first facesheet and the second end portion of each web structure is attached to the second facesheet. The middle support portion, first end portion, and second end portion of each web structure form a single monolithic structure.
Claims10
A method of pultruding a web structure, comprising:
- receiving a plurality of lengths of prepreg tape into a plurality of first openings on a first side of a forming die, each prepreg tape including reinforcing fibers in a partially cured matrix material,
- compressing the plurality of lengths of prepreg tape within the die, into a single continuous monolithic unit including:
- a middle support portion having uniform thickness, and
- a first foot portion and a second foot portion flaring outward from opposite ends of the middle support portion,
- withdrawing the single continuous monolithic unit from a single second opening on a second side of the die,
- wherein the web structure is pultruded in a single pass, and the plurality of lengths of prepreg tape are spaced apart when received into the forming die,
- wherein the die defines a plurality of channels extending from the plurality of first openings to the single second opening, and a transverse shape of at least one of the channels changes from linear to curved between the plurality of first openings and the single second opening.
A method of pultruding a web structure, comprising:
- receiving a plurality of lengths of composite material into a plurality of first openings on a first side of a die,
- compressing the plurality of lengths of composite material within the die, into a single continuous monolithic unit including:
- a middle support portion having uniform thickness and defining a primary web axis, and
- a first foot portion and a second foot portion flaring outward from opposite ends of the middle support portion to a faying surface configured to be joined to a facesheet,
- wherein the primary web axis forms an oblique angle with the faying surface of each the first foot portion and the second foot portion, and the single continuous monolithic unit is asymmetrical about the primary web axis,
- withdrawing the single continuous monolithic unit from a single second opening on a second side of the die,
- wherein the die defines a plurality of channels extending from the plurality of first openings to the single second opening, each of the plurality of first openings has a rectangular shape, the plurality of channels converge upon one another from the rectangular first openings to the second opening, and a transverse shape of at least one of the channels changes from linear to curved as the channels converge.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.