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US 2010/0139850 A1Published application
Collapsable Mandrel and Method for Producing Composite Laminates Using the Same
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsJohn D. Morris, Michael A. Lee, Kenneth L. Brook
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A collapsible bladder has flexible outer walls and at least one strut inside the enclosure. The strut is connected to the outer walls and controls the shape into which the enclosure may be collapsed.
Claims25
A collapsible bladder, comprising:
- flexible outer walls forming an enclosure;
- and
- at least one strut inside the enclosure for controlling the shape into which the enclosure may be collapsed.
A collapsible mandrel, comprising:
- an inflatable pressure bladder having flexible walls and folding points along which the bladder folds as it is collapsed;
- and
- means for restraining outward displacement of the folding points as the bladder is being collapsed.
A collapsible mandrel with folding points, comprising:
- an inflatable bladder for forming and compacting a composite layup, the bladder including flexible walls and being collapsible to allow removal of the bladder from the compacted layup;
- and
- a plurality of struts inside the bladder and contacting the flexible walls for restraining the walls against widening within the layup as the bladder is being collapsed.
A method of producing a composite laminate, comprising:
- inflating a bladder;
- forming a layup by laying up plies of uncured composite material over the inflated bladder;
- compacting the plies against the inflated bladder;
- deflating the bladder after the plies have been compacted, including restraining walls of the bladder against widening as the bladder is being deflated;
- and
- removing the bladder from the compacted layup after the bladder has been deflated.
3 more elements
A method of producing a composite laminate, comprising:
- forming an inflatable bladder having flexible walls and natural folding points, including connecting struts between the natural folding points and the center of the bladder;
- inflating the bladder;
- forming a composite layup by placing composite plies over the inflated bladder;
- compacting the layup against the inflated bladder;
- curing the compacted layup;
- and
- deflating the bladder after the layup has been cured, including using the struts to restraining the wall against widening as the bladder is being deflated.
4 more elements
A collapsible mandrel used to compact and cure a composite part, comprising:
- a bladder adapted to be inflated and having a length and a width, the bladder including flexible walls and natural folding points along which the walls fold as the bladder is being deflated;
- a plurality of flexible struts inside of and extending substantially the entire length of the bladder, each of the struts having a first end connected to one of the natural folding points and a second end, the second ends of the struts being connected together at the center of the bladder;
- the walls forming corners in the bladder and including pressure bulbs for distributing force applied to the corners by the struts to the walls of the bladder, each of the struts including portions connected to the walls on opposite sides of a corner.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.