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US 2018/0162072 A1Published application
Automated resin and fiber deposition for resin infusion
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsMichael D. Silcock, Christopher A. Howe, Brice A. Johnson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A composite structure is fabricated by laying up at least one ply of fiber reinforcement and at least one layer of resin on a tool. The resin film layer is formed by laying strips of resin film. The fiber reinforcement is infused with resin from the resin layer.
Claims22
A method of fabricating a composite structure, comprising:
- feeding an unreinforced resin film to a compaction roller;
- feeding a dry fiber reinforcement to the compaction roller;
- guiding the unreinforced resin film and the dry fiber reinforcement into a substantially aligned overlapping relationship as they are fed from their respective spools to the compaction roller;
- and
- depositing the unreinforced resin film and the dry fiber reinforcement on the substrate and compacting the unreinforced resin film with the dry fiber reinforcement beneath the compaction roller in a single pass of the compaction roller moving along the surface of the substrate.
2 more elements
A method of fabricating a composite structure, comprising:
- separately feeding a fiber reinforcement and a resin film to a compaction roller;
- moving the compaction roller along the surface of a substrate;
- and
- compacting the resin film and the fiber reinforcement against the substrate using the compaction roller.
1 more element
A method of a fabricating a composite structure, comprising:
- assembling a layup on a tool, including laying up at least one ply of a fiber reinforcement on the tool and laying up at least one layer of resin in a single pass of an end effector along a surface of the tool;
- and
- infusing the fiber reinforcement with resin from the resin layer by compacting the resin film and the fiber reinforcement beneath a compaction roller as the end effector moves in the single pass along the surface of the tool.
Apparatus for fabricating a composite structure, comprising:
- an end effector adapted to be moved along the surface of a substrate;
- a spool of unreinforced of resin film on the end effector;
- a spool of dry fiber reinforcement on the end effector;
- and
- a compaction roller on the end effector head for compacting the resin film and the fiber reinforcement against the substrate as the end effector moves in a single pass along the substrate surface.
2 more elements
(canceled)
Apparatus for laying up a composite aircraft structure, comprising:
- a manipulator;
- an end effector, the end effector including;
- a frame;
- a spool of unreinforced resin film on the frame;
- a spool of dry fiber reinforcement on the frame;
- a compaction roller;
- guides on the frame for guiding the unreinforced resin film and the fiber reinforcement to the compaction roller in substantially aligned overlapping relationship;
- a take-up reel on the frame for taking up a backing paper on the resin film;
- a compaction control for controlling the compaction pressure applied by the roller);
- and
- a controller for controlling the operation of the end effector and the compaction control.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.