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US 2018/0001578 A1Published application
Method for Forming Contoured Composite Laminates
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsAndrew Elmer Modin, Alexander Edward Petkus
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A composite prepreg laminate such as a hat type-stringer is formed on a contoured mandrel using a combination of mechanical sweeping and vacuum forming.
Claims21
1-37. (canceled)
A method of forming a composite prepreg laminate, comprising:
- placing at least one prepreg ply on a contoured mandrel;
- mechanically sweeping the prepreg ply over a first section of the contoured mandrel;
- and
- vacuum forming the prepreg ply over a second section of the contoured mandrel.
1 more element
A method of forming a contoured composite stringer having a hat cross-section, and a pair of flanges, comprising:
- placing at least one composite prepreg ply on a contoured mandrel;
- securing the prepreg ply on a cap section of the contoured mandrel;
- sweeping the prepreg ply over web sections of the mandrel;
- holding the prepreg ply against an inside radius of the mandrel;
- and
- vacuum forming the prepreg ply over flange sections of the mandrel.
3 more elements
A method of forming a composite prepreg laminate, comprising:
- aligning a mobile cart with local contours of a contoured mandrel the mobile cart having a former module mounted thereon;
- placing the contoured mandrel on the former module of the mobile cart;
- placing at least one prepreg ply on the contoured mandrel;
- and
- forming the prepreg ply on the contoured mandrel, including using the former module to form a section of the prepreg ply.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.