Composite forming
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsSteven Joseph Plummer, Brian Gregory Robins, Kurtis Shuldberg Willden
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods of creating a formed shape into composite layups with reduced wrinkling. A composite layup is sealed in a vacuum envelope, the composite layup comprising at least one of a resin or a thermoplastic material. The composite layup is formed onto a tool while the composite layup is held under vacuum in the vacuum envelope to create a formed shape in the composite layup.
Claims25
A method of forming a composite structure, the method comprising:
- sealing a composite layup in a vacuum envelope, the composite layup comprising layers of dry fabric retained by a at least one of a resin or a thermoplastic veil or a thermoplastic stitching material;
- placing the composite layup in the vacuum envelope onto a tool;
- producing a desired stiffness of the composite layup by applying a selected level of a vacuum while forming the composite layup onto the tool while the composite layup is held under the vacuum in the vacuum envelope to create and creating a formed shape comprising the desired stiffness in the composite layup;
- and
- subsequently, maintaining the formed shape on the tool by increasing the selected level of vacuum in the vacuum envelope.
A method of shaping a composite layup with reduced wrinkles, the method comprising:
- debulking a composite layup comprising layers of dry fabric in a vacuum envelope;
- placing the composite layup in the vacuum envelope onto a tool;
- producing a desired stiffness of the composite layup by applying a selected level of a vacuum while forming the composite layup onto the tool while the composite layup is under the vacuum within the vacuum envelope to create a formed shape in the composite layup;
- processing the composite layup while in the formed shape on the tool;
- and
- subsequently, maintaining the formed shape on the tool by increasing the selected level of vacuum in the vacuum envelope.
A method of forming a composite layup, the method comprising:
- loading a composite layup comprising layers of dry fabric retained by at least one of a thermoplastic veil or a thermoplastic stitching under a vacuum within a vacuum envelope into a forming machine;
- placing the composite layup in the vacuum envelope onto a tool;
- producing a desired stiffness of the composite layup by applying a selected level of the vacuum while forming the composite layup;
- sweeping the composite layup under vacuum within the vacuum envelope against the tool using sweepers of the forming machine;
- increasing the vacuum in the vacuum envelope after forming the composite layup onto the tool to maintain a formed shape;
- and
- subsequently, maintaining the formed shape on the tool by increasing the selected level of vacuum in the vacuum envelope.
A method of forming a composite layup, the method comprising:
- laying up layers of dry fabric material to form a composite layup, the composite layup comprising restrained by at least one of a resin or a thermoplastic veil or a thermoplastic stitching material;
- debulking the composite layup by applying vacuum within a vacuum envelope prior to the forming;
- placing the composite layup in the vacuum envelope onto a tool;
- producing a desired stiffness of the composite layup by applying a selected level of vacuum while forming the composite layup onto the tool while the composite layup is under the vacuum within the vacuum envelope to create a formed shape in the composite layup;
- heating the composite layup while under vacuum to maintain the formed shape in the composite layup by tacking the composite layup;
- and
- subsequently, maintaining the formed shape on the tool by increasing the selected level of vacuum in the vacuum envelope.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.