Back to results
US 2014/0193618 A1Published application
Method and apparatus for accurate registration of composite laminates
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsPaul E. Nelson, Mark Boberg
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods, systems and apparatuses for dimensionally registering composite laminates are disclosed, wherein readable elements acting as alignment and identification features are incorporated integrally in laminates.
Claims20
A method for orienting a laminate comprising the steps of:
- providing an uncured laminate material;
- providing at least one readable element;
- implanting the readable element into the uncured laminate;
- providing a laminate processing apparatus comprising a readable element detector;
- directing the laminate comprising the implanted readable element to the laminate processing apparatus;
- detecting the readable element;
- and
- positioning the laminate to a desired position relative to the readable element.
5 more elements
A method for forming a finished laminate comprising the steps of:
- providing a laminate material to a lamination head;
- providing at least one readable element;
- implanting the readable element into the laminate material;
- providing a layment forming apparatus comprising a readable element detector;
- providing the laminate comprising the readable element to the layment forming apparatus,
- detecting the readable element and precisely positioning the laminate on the layment forming apparatus to form a layment;
- removing the layment from the layment forming apparatus;
- providing a curing apparatus comprising a readable element detector;
- directing the layment to the curing apparatus;
- detecting the readable element and precisely positioning the layment on the curing apparatus;
- and
- curing the layment to form a finished laminate.
9 more elements
A laminate comprising:
- at least one readable element implanted into the laminate, said readable element able to be detected by a detector to facilitate precise positioning.
An apparatus for orienting and identifying a laminate comprising:
- a means for preparing an uncured laminate material on a mandrel;
- a means for implanting at least one readable element into the uncured laminate material;
- a detector for detecting the readable element, said detecting means capable of sending a signal;
- and
- a positioning means for directing the laminate comprising the implanted readable element to a preselected location relative to the readable element, said positioning means capable of receiving a signal.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.