Method of making a filled honeycomb core composite structure
AssigneeLockheed Martin Corporation
InventorJohn D. Webster
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention is a method of making a foam filled honeycomb core structure comprising the steps of: 1) providing a honeycomb core billet; 2) reinforcing the honeycomb core with foam; 3) placing the foam filled billet in mold having a curved mold surface; 4) creep forming the foam filled billet to the general shape of the structure by applying a load to the foam filled billet; and 5) machining the creep formed billet to the actual shape of the structure.
Claims15
A method of making a foam filled honeycomb core structure comprising the steps of:
- providing a honeycomb core billet;
- reinforcing the honeycomb core with foam;
- placing the foam filled billet on a mold having a curved mold surface;
- applying a load to the foam filled billet in alignment with a position at which maximum deformation of the foam filled billet is to occur;
- and
- creep forming the foam filled billet to the general shape of the structure by application of the load to the foam filled billet for a selected time duration.
A method of making a foam filled honeycomb core structure comprising the steps of:
- providing a honeycomb core billet;
- reinforcing the honeycomb core with foam:
- placing the foam filled billet on a mold having a curved mold surface;
- creep forming the foam filled billet to the general shape of the structure by applying load to the foam filled billet, wherein prior to said step of creep forming the foam filled billet to the general shape of the structure by applying a load to the foam filled billet, the step of positioning the mold such that point of applying a load to the foam filled billet and point on the mold of maximum curvature are vertically aligned, wherein prior to said step of creep forming the foam filled billet to the general shape of the structure, the step of vacuum bagging the foam filled billet;
- and machining the creep formed billet to the actual shape of the structure.
A method of making a foam filled honeycomb core structure comprising the steps of:
- providing a honeycomb core billet;
- reinforcing the honeycomb core with foam;
- placing the foam filled billet on a mold having a curved mold surface;
- creep forming the foam filled billet to the general shape of the structure by applying a load to the foam filled billet, wherein prior to said step of creep forming the foam filled billet to the general shape of the structure by applying a load to the foam filled billet, the step of positioning the mold such that point of applying a load to the foam filled billet and point on the mold of maximum curvature are vertically aligned;
- and
- machining the creep formed billet to the actual shape of the structure, wherein the foam filled billet has a top surface and a bottom surface, and prior to said step placing the foam filled billet on a mold having a curved mold surface, the steps of:
- removing a trapezoidal shaped section from the bottom surface of the foam filled billet forming a reduced cross-section portion therein;
- placing a metal sheet into the reduced cross-section portion;
- reinstalling the trapezoidal shaped section into the reduced cross-section portion;
- and
- releasably securing said trapezoidal shaped section;
- and
- during said step of placing the foam filled billet on a mold having a curved mold surface, placing the bottom surface of foam filled billet facing the mold surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.