Customized composite debulking caul
AssigneeHoneywell Federal Manufacturing & Technologies, LLC
InventorsSeth M. Kiefer, Phillip C. Davis
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A caul for debulking a composite part broadly includes opposing first and second surfaces, a plurality of through-holes, and a coating. The first surface may have a curvature complementary to a shape of the composite part. The through-holes pass through the caul from the first surface to the second surface. The coating may be a chemically inert material to ensure the caul does not affect the composite part. The caul is configured to be positioned against the composite part for debulking. The caul may be made out of silicone rubber or any other suitable material and may be reusable.
Claims20
A method of debulking a composite part, the method comprising steps of:
- placing a composite part on a debulking tool;
- positioning a debulking caul on the composite part opposite the debulking tool so that a first surface of the debulking caul contacts a contoured surface of the composite part;
- positioning a porous sheet on the debulking caul opposite the composite part such that the porous sheet contacts a second surface of the debulking caul opposite the first surface of the debulking caul;
- enclosing the debulking caul, the porous sheet, and the composite part in a chamber of a vacuum bag;
- and
- removing air from the chamber of the vacuum bag to draw air trapped between layers of the composite part through through-holes of the debulking caul and pores of the porous sheet.
A method of forming a composite part debulking caul, the method comprising steps of:
- forming a material to have a contour complementary to a shape of a composite part;
- and
- forming through-holes in the material.
A method of debulking a composite part, the method comprising steps of:
- forming a composite part debulking caul by:
- forming a material to have a contour complementary to a shape of the composite part,
- forming through-holes in the material, and
- applying a chemically inert coating to at least one of first and second surfaces of the material;
- placing the composite part on a debulking tool;
- positioning the debulking caul on the composite part opposite the debulking tool so that the first surface of the debulking caul contacts a contoured surface of the composite part;
- positioning a porous sheet on the debulking caul opposite the composite part such that the porous sheet contacts the second surface of the debulking caul opposite the first surface of the debulking caul;
- enclosing the debulking caul, the porous sheet, and the composite part in a chamber of a vacuum bag;
- and
- removing air from the chamber of the vacuum bag to draw air trapped between layers of the composite part through through-holes of the debulking caul and pores of the porous sheet.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.