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US 12,508,747 B2Granted
Systems and methods for bladder pressure forming a preform into a shaped body
AssigneeRohr, Inc.
InventorsVijay V. Pujar, Katherine E. Waugh, Christopher C. Koroly
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Abstract
A manufacturing method is provided. A preform is arranged over a surface of an inner mold line. The preform is folded over sides of the inner mold line. An end of the preform is clamped to a floating plate using a bladder-activated clamp. The floating plate is translated in a first direction to tension the preform into a shaped body. A plurality of compressing bladders are activated to apply compressive forces to the preform.
Claims11
A manufacturing method, comprising:
- arranging a preform over a surface of an inner mold line;
- folding the preform over sides of the inner mold line;
- positioning an end of the preform over a floating plate coupled to a side of the inner mold line;
- clamping the end of the preform to the floating plate, wherein the clamping is provided by activating a clamping bladder to apply a first clamping force to the preform to secure the end of the preform with respect to the floating plate;
- translating the floating plate in a first direction to apply a first tension on the preform into a shaped body;
- and
- activating a first compressing bladder to apply a first compressive force to the preform.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.