Cure growth control apparatus
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorNeal A. Froeschner
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for curing a composite assembly may include a base tool, a growth control apparatus, and at least one engagement fitting. The base tool may have a different thermal expansion growth rate than a composite assembly to be cured using the apparatus. The growth control apparatus may have a different thermal expansion growth rate than the base tool. The engagement fitting may be moveably disposed relative to the base tool and connected to the growth control apparatus. The engagement fitting may hold a composite assembly being cured against the engagement fitting. The growth control apparatus may grow a pre-determined amount during curing of a composite assembly to produce a cured composite assembly having a pre-determined design dimension.
Claims32
A method for curing a composite assembly comprising:
- attaching elongated growth control members to a composite assembly disposed against a side of a base tool, the elongated growth control members fixedly attached at attachment locations to the side of the base tool and extending from the attachment locations along the side of the base tool towards ends of the side of the base tool;
- and
- curing the composite assembly attached to the elongated growth control members thereby growing the elongated growth control members relative to the side of the base tool.
The method of 1 wherein the side of the base tool comprises a curved portion.
A method for curing a composite assembly comprising:
- attaching engagement fittings to a composite assembly disposed against a side of a base tool, elongated growth control members fixedly attached at attachment locations to the side of the base tool and extending from the attachment locations along the side of the base tool towards opposite ends of the side of the base tool, the engagement fittings fixedly attached to the elongated growth control members;
- and
- curing the composite assembly attached to the engagement fittings thereby growing the elongated growth control members and moving the engagement fittings relative to the side of the base tool.
The method of 18 wherein the side of the base tool comprises a curved portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.