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US 12,734,768 B2Granted
Composite pressure hull and methods of forming
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsJames Goldberg, Brice Aaron Johnson, Mark Alan Negley, Adriana Willempje Blom-Schieber, Jaffar Sher Iqbal, Lisa C. Zgherea
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A composite pressure hull and methods of forming the composite pressure hull are presented. A unitary first half of the composite pressure hull is laid up. A unitary second half of the composite pressure hull is laid up. The unitary first half is joined to the unitary second half to form the composite pressure hull.
Claims23
A method of forming a composite pressure hull, the method comprising:
- laying up a unitary first half of the composite pressure hull comprising a first dome and a cylindrical portion using the following steps:
- forming the cylindrical portion by laying up staggered plies comprising varying lengths;
- forming a first set of dome plies by laying up a plurality of alternating paths of plies over an apex of a rounded end of a mandrel;
- forming a second set of dome plies over:
- the apex of the rounded end of the mandrel;
- and
- the first set of dome plies, the second set of dome plies comprising a larger diameter than the first set of dome plies;
- laying up a unitary second half of the composite pressure hull comprising a second dome portion;
- and
- forming the composite pressure hull as a capsule without any openings by joining the unitary first half to the unitary second half.
7 more elements
A method of forming a composite pressure hull, the method comprising:
- laying up plies forming a first dome and first cylindrical plies on a mandrel to form a unitary first half of the composite pressure hull using the following steps;
- forming a first cylindrical portion by laying up staggered plies comprising varying lengths;
- forming a first set of dome plies by laying up a plurality of alternating paths of plies over an apex of a rounded end of a mandrel;
- forming a second set of dome plies over:
- the apex of the rounded end of the mandrel;
- and
- the first set of dome plies, the second set of dome plies comprising a larger diameter than the first set of dome plies;
- laying up second plies forming a second dome and second cylindrical plies on a mandrel to form a unitary second half of the composite pressure hull;
- and
- forming the composite pressure hull without any openings by joining the unitary first half and the unitary second half.
7 more elements
A composite pressure hull that comprises:
- a unitary first half that comprises a dome portion and a cylindrical portion with a transition region that comprises a joint formed during layup between the dome portion and the cylindrical portion, wherein the cylindrical portion comprises staggered plies of varying lengths and the dome portion comprises:
- a first set of dome plies that cover the apex of the dome;
- and
- a second set of dome plies that cover:
- the apex of the dome;
- and
- the first set of dome plies, wherein a diameter of the second set of dome comprises a larger diameter than the first set of dome plies;
- and
- a unitary second half of the composite pressure hull comprising a second dome portion and a second cylindrical portion with a second transition region comprising a second joint formed during layup between the second dome portion and the second cylindrical portion, wherein each unitary half of the composite pressure hull are joined together as a capsule without openings.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.