Composite part compaction device
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsAllen James Halbritter, Edward Ray Duncan
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Abstract
Systems and methods are provided for compacting laminates. One embodiment is a method for compacting a laminate onto a surface of a forming tool. The method includes placing the laminate onto the forming tool, disposing a compaction device over the laminate, gripping the compaction device to the forming tool, compacting the laminate with a pressure foot of the compaction device, and removing the compaction device from the forming tool.
Claims20
An apparatus for compacting a laminate onto a surface of a forming tool, the apparatus comprising:
- a body that houses an actuatable ram that applies compressive forces;
- a pressure foot mechanically coupled with the ram that includes a flexible material dimensioned to cover the laminate while applying compressive forces to the laminate;
- a gripping device that controllably applies gripping forces between the apparatus and the forming tool;
- and
- a controller that maintains a static equilibrium between the gripping forces and the compressive forces.
An apparatus comprising a compaction device for a laminate, comprising:
- a pressure foot configured to align over a laminate at a forming tool;
- and
- electromagnets that are configured to rotate into alignment with a surface of the forming tool, and to grip directly to the surface of the forming tool prior to initiating compaction of the laminate;
- wherein the pressure foot is configured to compact the laminate while the electromagnets remain activated, and to be operated independently of the electromagnets.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.