Composite part
OwnerStuart BRYANT, Thomas BARNETTinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A composite part for a vehicle is provided. The composite part has a first surface and an opposing second surface, wherein at least part of the first surface forms an outer aerodynamic surface of a vehicle. A region of the composite part has a curvature in two orthogonal directions. The composite part has an undulation defining a channel in one of the first surface or the second surface, and a corresponding ridge in the other of the first surface and the second surface.
Claims20
A composite part for a vehicle, comprising:
- a first surface and an opposing second surface, wherein at least part of the first surface forms an outer aerodynamic surface of the vehicle;
- wherein a region of the composite part has a curvature in two orthogonal directions;
- and
- wherein the composite part has an undulation defining a channel in one of the first surface or the second surface, and a corresponding ridge in the other of the first surface and the second surface.
The method of manufacturing a composite part with an edge, the method comprising:
- providing a mold tool with a mold surface, wherein a region of the mold surface has a curvature in two orthogonal directions, and another region of the mold surface region has a ridge or channel,
- arranging a lay-up of composite layers on the mold surface to form a stack;
- consolidating the lay-up on the mold surface to form an uncured part, and
- curing the stack to form a composite part,
- wherein the lay-up is at least one of arranged or consolidated on the mold surface without cutting or darting the composite layers within a boundary edge of the uncured part.
An aircraft wing comprising a composite part, the composite part comprising:
- a first surface and an opposing second surface, wherein at least part of the first surface forms an outer aerodynamic surface of the aircraft wing;
- wherein a region of the composite part has a curvature in two orthogonal directions;
- and
- wherein the composite part has an undulation defining a channel in one of the first surface or the second surface, and a corresponding ridge in the other of the first surface and the second surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.