# US 7,464,508 B2 · Self-stiffened panels of preimpregnated composite and manufacturing process for components of such panels

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- Number: US 7,464,508 B2
- Document ID: US7464508B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 10/992,221
- Filed: 2004-11-18
- Published: 2005-08-18
- Granted: 2008-12-16
- Earliest claimed: 2003-12-04
- Assignees: Airbus France
- Inventors: Ludovic Fournie; Claude Herve; Frédéric Fort
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7464508B2

## CPC

- B29C 70/345: {using matched moulds}
- B29C 70/46: using matched moulds, e.g. for deforming sheet moulding compounds [SMC] or prepregs
- B29D 99/0014: {provided with ridges or ribs, e.g. joined ribs}
- Y02T 50/40: Weight reduction
- B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00)
- B29D: PRODUCING PARTICULAR ARTICLES FROM PLASTICS OR FROM SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE (making granules B29B9/00; making preforms B29B11/00)
- Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION

## Abstract

A self-stiffened panel of preimpregnated composite. The panel is of a type including a base skin on one side of which are added and placed side-by-side U-shaped stiffeners of which the parts connecting the branches of the U are flattened against the skin, with an interfacing structure between the adjoining branches of two adjacent stiffeners The interfacing structure is a nail having a nail-head comprised of a cord of filling resin. The nail is formed from a band with a rectangular cross-section whose edge, on the skin side, is directly in contact with the adjoining surface of the skin. The nail-head is comprised of two half-nail-heads placed symmetrically in the angle formed between the skin and the nail.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A self-stiffened panel of preimpregnated composite having a base skin, a first side of the base skin comprising:
a plurality of substantially U-shaped stiffeners, each stiffener presenting two branches coupled by a connecting portion, the connecting portion being flattened against the first side of the base skin; and
an interfacing structure interposed between branches of adjacent stiffeners, the interfacing structure comprising a nail having a nail-head comprising a cord of filling resin, wherein the nail is formed from a band having a rectangular cross-section and an edge in direct contact with the base skin, and wherein the nail-head comprises two half-nail-heads positioned substantially symmetrically in an angle formed between the base skin and the nail.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The panel of claim 1, wherein the band forming the nail is a single structure comprising at least one ply of preimpregnated carbon fibers.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The panel of claim 1, wherein the band forming the nail comprises two half-nails arranged side-by-side, each half-nail comprising at least one ply of preimpregnated carbon fibers.