Composite fuselage machine and method of automated composite lay up
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorRudolf Braun
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A device for automated composite lay up of a part to be manufactured—such as a large aircraft fuselage—includes a mandrel having a vertical axis and an interior mandrel surface that conforms to an outside mold line of the part. A vertical movement shaft is disposed inside the mandrel. A platform is supported, moved up and down, and rotated on the vertical movement shaft. One or more arm mechanisms are attached to the platform. One or more material delivery heads are supported by the arm mechanisms, and the arm mechanisms moves and positions the material delivery heads relative to the interior mandrel surface so that composite material is delivered directly to the outside mold line on the interior mandrel surface.
Claims23
A device for automated composite lay up using a material delivery head, comprising:
- a mandrel having a vertical axis and an outside mold surface on the inside of said mandrel;
- a vertical movement shaft disposed inside said mandrel;
- an arm mechanism, supported by said vertical movement shaft, that moves and positions the material delivery head inside said mandrel, wherein composite material is delivered directly to said outside mold surface;
- and
- a pressure vessel having heating channels and surrounding said mandrel.
A device for automated composite lay up of a part, comprising:
- a mandrel having a vertical axis, wherein said mandrel has an interior mandrel surface that conforms to an outside mold line of the part;
- a pressure vessel surrounding said mandrel, said pressure vessel having heating channels that maintain a temperature of said interior mandrel surface;
- a vertical movement shaft disposed inside said mandrel;
- an arm mechanism supported by said vertical movement shaft;
- and
- a material delivery head, supported by said arm mechanism, wherein said arm mechanism moves and positions said material delivery head relative to said interior mandrel surface, wherein composite material is delivered directly to said outside mold line on said interior mandrel surface.
A device for automated composite lay up of a part, comprising:
- a mandrel having a vertical axis, wherein said mandrel has an interior mandrel surface that conforms to an outside mold line of the part;
- a pressure vessel having heating channels and surrounding said mandrel;
- an autoclave door sealable to said pressure vessel;
- a vertical movement shaft disposed inside said mandrel;
- a platform that is supported and moved up and down on said vertical movement shaft;
- an arm mechanism attached to said platform;
- and
- a material delivery head, supported by said arm mechanism, wherein said arm mechanism moves and positions said material delivery head relative to said interior mandrel surface, wherein composite material is delivered directly to said outside mold line on said interior mandrel surface.
An aircraft part manufacturing device for automated composite lay up, comprising:
- a mandrel having a vertical axis, wherein said mandrel has an interior mandrel surface that conforms to an outside mold line of the aircraft part;
- a pressure vessel surrounding said mandrel, said pressure vessel having heating channels that maintain a temperature of said interior mandrel surface;
- an autoclave door sealable to said pressure vessel that maintains a pressure at said interior mandrel surface;
- a vertical movement shaft disposed inside said mandrel;
- a platform wherein:
- said platform is supported by said vertical movement shaft;
- said platform is moved up and down on said vertical movement shaft;
- and
- said platform rotates about said vertical axis;
- an arm mechanism attached to said platform;
- and
- a material delivery head, supported by said arm mechanism, wherein:
- said arm mechanism provides motion of said material delivery head relative to said interior mandrel surface in a direction normal to said interior mandrel surface;
- and
- said arm mechanism provides rotation of said material delivery head relative to said interior mandrel surface about an axis normal to said interior mandrel surface;
- and
- said arm mechanism provides circumferential positioning of said material delivery head relative to said interior mandrel surface;
- and
- composite material is delivered directly to said outside mold line on said interior mandrel surface.
An aircraft part manufacturing device for automated composite lay up, comprising:
- a mandrel having an axis of symmetry and an outside mold surface on the inside of said mandrel,
- means for maintaining a temperature and pressure condition on said inside of said mandrel;
- means for situating said mandrel so that said axis of symmetry is vertical;
- means for supporting a material delivery head inside said mandrel;
- and
- means for moving and positioning the material delivery head inside said mandrel so that composite material is delivered directly to said outside mold surface.
A method for automated composite lay up of a part, comprising steps of:
- situating a mandrel, having an axis and an outside mold surface on the inside of said mandrel, so that said axis is vertical;
- placing said mandrel so that a vertical movement shaft is disposed inside said mandrel;
- supporting an arm mechanism by said vertical movement shaft wherein said arm mechanism moves and positions a material delivery head inside said mandrel;
- delivering composite material directly to said outside mold surface;
- and
- curing said composite material via use of heating channels in a pressure vessel surrounding said mandrel providing temperature control of said outside mold surface on the inside of said mandrel and pressure control in the inside of said mandrel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.