Forming tools that mix multi-part resin for composite parts
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorMax Osborne
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods are provided for mixing parts of a thermoset resin during impregnation of a composite preform. One embodiment is a method that includes positioning a composite preform at a forming tool, flowing a first part of the thermoset resin into a mixing chamber at the forming tool, flowing a second part of the thermoset resin that is chemically distinct from the first part of the thermoset resin into the mixing chamber, mixing the first part and the second part to form the thermoset resin within the mixing chamber, and infusing the thermoset resin from the mixing chamber into the preform.
Claims22
A method for mixing parts of a thermoset resin during impregnation of a composite preform, the method comprising:
- positioning a composite preform at a forming tool;
- flowing a first part of the thermoset resin into a mixing chamber at the forming tool;
- flowing a second part of the thermoset resin that is chemically distinct from the first part of the thermoset resin into the mixing chamber;
- mixing the first part and the second part to form the thermoset resin within the mixing chamber;
- and
- infusing the thermoset resin from the mixing chamber into the preform.
A method for infusing a preform with a thermoset resin, the method comprising:
- driving multiple chemically distinct parts from separate storage wells towards a mixing chamber;
- mixing the multiple chemically distinct parts together to form the thermoset resin within the mixing chamber;
- and
- infusing a wavefront of the thermoset resin out of the mixing chamber and into the preform.
A non-transitory computer readable medium embodying programmed instructions which, when executed by a processor, are operable for performing a method for mixing parts of a thermoset resin during impregnation of a composite preform, the method comprising:
- positioning a composite preform at a forming tool;
- flowing a first part of the thermoset resin into a mixing chamber at the forming tool;
- flowing a second part of the thermoset resin that is chemically distinct from the first part of the thermoset resin into the mixing chamber;
- mixing the first part and the second part to form the thermoset resin within the mixing chamber;
- and
- infusing the thermoset resin from the mixing chamber into the preform.
-28. (canceled)
A system for mixing parts of a thermoset resin during impregnation of a composite preform, the system comprising:
- a forming tool comprising:
- a mandrel defining a shape for the composite preform;
- a first storage well that stores a first part of the thermoset resin;
- a second storage well that stores a second part of the resin which is chemically distinct from the first part of the resin;
- a mixing chamber;
- a first channel leading from the first storage well to the mixing chamber;
- and
- a second channel leading from the second storage well to the mixing chamber.
-36.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.