Consolidation device and method of using the same
AssigneeROLLS-ROYCE plc
InventorSteven Paul TROOP
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A consolidation device has a dispensing assembly configured to dispense a composite precursor material onto a surface of a mould, and a first nozzle assembly configured to direct a fluid stream onto the free surface of the dispensed composite precursor material. The use of a fluid flow to consolidate the dispensed composite precursor material onto the surface of the mould makes the device simpler, more cost effective and causes less damage to the surface of the composite article.
Claims13
A consolidation device comprising:
- a dispensing assembly configured to dispense a composite precursor material onto a surface of a mould;
- and
- a first nozzle assembly configured to direct a fluid stream onto the free surface of the dispensed composite precursor material, to thereby consolidate the dispensed composite precursor material onto the surface of the mould.
A method of using a consolidation device comprising a dispensing assembly and a first nozzle assembly, the method comprising the steps of:
- (i) dispensing a composite precursor material from the dispensing assembly in a pre-determined arrangement onto a surface of a mould;
- (ii) generating a stream of fluid having a pre-determined volumetric flow rate;
- and
- (iii) controllably directing the stream of fluid from the first nozzle assembly onto the free surface of the dispensed composite precursor material to thereby consolidate the dispensed composite precursor material onto the surface of the mould.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.