Continuous molded carbon fiber reinforced polymer slender curved component
AssigneeAirbus SAS
InventorMatthew Noel ORCHARD
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for forming a continuously molded carbon fiber reinforced polymer slender curved frame. A continuous supply of uncured carbon fiber reinforced polymer material is directed into a forming tool. The uncured carbon fiber reinforced polymer material is continuously molded into a desired shape in the forming tool. The carbon fiber reinforced polymer material is cured into a frame of the desired shape in the forming tool. The frame is removed from the forming tool. An out-of-plane curvature is put in the frame while the frame is in at least a portion of the forming tool.
Claims11
A method for forming a continuously molded carbon fiber reinforced polymer slender curved frame, comprising:
- directing a continuous supply of uncured carbon fiber reinforced polymer material into a forming tool,
- continuously molding the uncured carbon fiber reinforced polymer material into a desired shape in the forming tool,
- curing the carbon fiber reinforced polymer material into a frame of the desired shape in the forming tool,
- removing the frame from the forming tool, and
- putting an out-of-plane curvature in the frame.
An apparatus for forming a continuously molded carbon fiber reinforced polymer slender curved frame, comprising:
- a forming tool configured to receive a continuous supply of uncured carbon fiber reinforced polymer material,
- the forming tool having a shape conforming to a desired shape for the carbon fiber reinforced polymer slender curved component,
- the forming tool being configured to at least partially cure the carbon fiber reinforced polymer material into a continuously molded frame,
- a physical size and shape of the forming tool being configured to put an out-of-plane curvature in the frame.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.