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US 12,759,248 B2Granted
Methods for manufacturing hat-stiffened structures
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsThomas Karl Tsotsis, Andrew Milton Harber
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Stiffened composite skin and methods of manufacture. A dry, hat-shaped preform is applied into a recess in a lower mold tool. A first set of dry, skin-preform layers is applied over the dry, hat-shaped preform to form a dry preform assembly. Resin is infused into the dry preform assembly to form a resin-infused preform. The resin-infused preform is cured in situ to form the stiffened composite skin.
Claims29
A method of manufacturing a stiffened composite skin comprising:
- applying a dry, hat-shaped preform into a recess in a lower mold tool;
- applying a first set of dry, skin-preform layers over the dry, hat-shaped preform to form a dry preform assembly;
- applying a second set of dry, skin-preform layers onto the lower mold tool, wherein applying the dry, hat-shaped preform into the recess further comprises placing the dry, hat-shaped preform in contact with the second set of dry, skin-preform layers to form a joint without extending into the recess;
- infusing resin into the dry preform assembly to form a resin-infused preform;
- and
- curing the resin-infused preform in situ to form the stiffened composite skin.
3 more elements
A method of manufacturing a stiffened composite skin comprising:
- laying up a dry preform assembly comprising a second set of dry, skin-preform layers, a dry, hat-shaped preform with flanges in contact with the second set of dry, skin-preform layers, and a first set of dry, skin-preform layers positioned over and in contact with the dry, hat-shaped preform and the second set of dry, skin-preform layers, wherein laying up the dry preform assembly comprises applying the dry, hat-shaped preform in contact with the second set of dry, skin-preform layers to form a joint comprising at least one of a scarf joint, a butt joint, or an interleaved joint;
- and
- infusing resin into the dry preform assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.