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US 2016/0354982 A1Published application
Method and Apparatus for Forming Contoured Composite Laminates
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsRichard Alexander Prause, Andrew Elmer Modin
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A composite laminate such as a hat-type stringer is formed on a contoured mandrel using a combination of mechanical sweeping and vacuum forming.
Claims20
Apparatus for forming plies of material onto a mandrel having contours, comprising:
- a ply sweeper for sweeping the plies onto the contours of the mandrel;
- a presser independently displaceable relative to the ply sweeper for pressing a portion of the plies against the mandrel;
- and
- at least one powered actuator coupled with the presser for displacing the presser relative to the ply sweeper.
1 more element
Apparatus for forming composite plies on a mandrel contoured along its length and having a cap, a pair of webs and a pair of flanges configured to form a hat-shaped stringer, comprising:
- a frame;
- a ply sweeper mounted on the frame and configured to sweep the composite plies down onto and over the pair of webs of the mandrel;
- a presser mounted on the frame and extendable relative to the ply sweeper, the presser being configured to press a portion of the composite plies against the cap of the mandrel;
- and
- at least one linear actuator mounted on the frame and coupled with the presser for extending the presser relative to the ply sweeper.
2 more elements
A method of forming a composite stiffener contoured along its length, comprising:
- placing at least one composite ply over a mandrel;
- positioning a ply sweeper and a presser above the mandrel;
- extending the presser relative to the ply sweeper using a linear actuator;
- clamping a portion of the composite ply against the mandrel, including moving the presser and the ply sweeper toward the mandrel until the presser forces the portion of the composite ply against the mandrel;
- and
- sweeping the composite ply down over the mandrel while the portion of the composite ply is clamped against the mandrel.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.