Methods and systems for stitching composite materials
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsDong-Jin Shim, Ian Francis Prentice, Julian O'Flynn, Ross Spoonire, Wendy Wen-Ling Lin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A composite material includes a composite body having a composite surface, and a reinforcing element extending through the composite body in a first plurality of stitches and a second plurality of stitches. The first plurality of stitches are aligned relative to the composite surface substantially similarly to each other. The second plurality of stitches are aligned relative to the composite surface substantially dissimilarly to each other.
Claims13
A method of stitching a composite material including a composite body having a composite surface, said method comprising:
- coupling a guide to the composite surface to form an augmented surface, wherein the augmented surface includes a guide surface and a portion of the composite surface;
- extending a reinforcing element through both the guide and the composite body, wherein the reinforcing element is aligned substantially perpendicular to the augmented surface, wherein extending the reinforcing element further comprises ultrasonically oscillating a needle coupled to the reinforcing element to facilitate extending the reinforcing element through at least one of the guide and the composite body;
- and
- decoupling the guide from the composite surface after the reinforcing element is extended through the composite body.
A system comprising:
- a composite body having a composite surface;
- a guide coupled to the composite surface to form an augmented surface, wherein the augmented surface includes a guide surface and a portion of the composite surface;
- a reinforcing element extending through both the guide and the composite body, wherein the reinforcing element is aligned substantially perpendicular to the augmented surface;
- and
- a needle coupled to the reinforcing element, wherein the needle oscillates ultrasonically and extends the reinforcing element through at least one of the guide and the composite body, wherein the guide is decoupled from the composite surface after the reinforcing element is extended through the composite body.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.