Method of manufacturing a composite element
AssigneeAirbus Operations GmbH
InventorsSimon W Topping, Martin Edwards, Risto Kallinen, Nils Haack
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of manufacturing a composite element. A stack of plies is assembled on a lay-up table, each ply comprising a plurality of reinforcement elements such as dry-fibers. A first part of the stack of plies is bound to form a partially bound stack of plies, a second part of the stack of plies remaining unbound. The partially bound stack of plies is press-formed in a mold cavity between a pair of mold tools to form a shaped pre-form, plies in the second part of the stack sliding against each other during the press-forming. A liquid matrix material is injected into the shaped pre-form in the mold cavity and subsequently cured.
Claims13
A method of manufacturing a composite element, the method comprising:
- a. assembling a stack of plies on a lay-up table, each ply comprising a plurality of reinforcement elements;
- b. binding together a first part of the stack of plies to form a partially bound stack of plies, a second part of the stack of plies remaining unbound, wherein the binding comprises applying pressure to the first part of the stack of plies;
- and thereafter
- c. press-forming the partially bound stack of plies in a mould cavity between a pair of mould tools to form a shaped pre-form, plies in the second part of the stack sliding against each other during the press-forming;
- d. injecting a liquid matrix material into the shaped pre-form in the mould cavity;
- and
- e. curing the liquid matrix material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.