Device and method for shaping a semi-finished fiber product

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10144170-B2
Application number	US-201615192699-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 24, 2016
Priority date	Jun 24, 2015
Publication date	Dec 4, 2018
Grant date	Dec 4, 2018

Abstract

A device for shaping a semi-finished fiber product for manufacturing a C-shaped or I-shaped former, and including clamping mechanisms and a forming tool. Each clamping mechanism has a first and a second clamping element and together they hold a semi-finished fiber product along two longitudinal and opposite edges. The clamping elements and forming tool move in a coupled manner between starting and end positions. During this movement, the longitudinal edges of the semi-finished fiber product are transformed into a curved shape, wherein a length of one of the longitudinal edges of the semi-finished fiber product does not change and a length of the other longitudinal edge becomes greater. During the movement, the forming tool is transformed into a curved shape and guided relative to the clamping elements against the semi-finished fiber product such that the semi-finished fiber product is deep drawn over the forming tool.

First claim

The invention is:

1. A method for shaping a semi-finished fiber product for manufacturing a former with a device comprising a plurality of clamping mechanisms and a forming tool,
wherein each clamping mechanism comprises a first and a second clamping element, wherein the first clamping elements hold the semi-finished fiber product to be shaped along a first longitudinal edge and the second clamping elements hold the semi-finished fiber product along a second longitudinal edge,
wherein the first and the second longitudinal edges of the semi-finished fiber product are opposite one another, and wherein for shaping the semi-finished fiber product held by the clamping elements, the first clamping elements, the second clamping elements, and the forming tool are moved in a coupled manner between a respective starting position and a respective end position, and the method comprises:
during the movement of the first clamping elements from their respective starting positions into their respective end positions, the first longitudinal edge of the semi-finished fiber product is transformed from a straight shape into a curved shape, wherein a length of the first longitudinal edge of the semi-finished fiber product does not change,
during the movement of the second clamping elements from their respective starting positions into their respective end positions, the second longitudinal edge of the semi-finished fiber product is transformed from a straight shape into a curved shape, wherein a length of the second longitudinal edge of the semi-finished fiber product becomes greater, and
during the movement of the first clamping elements and of the second clamping elements from their respective starting position into their respective end position, the forming tool is transformed into a curved shape and the forming tool is guided relative to the clamping elements against the semi-finished fiber product such that the semi-finished fiber product is drawn over the forming tool.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein during the movement of the first clamping elements and of the second clamping elements from their respective starting position into their respective end position, a spacing between the first and the second clamping elements of each clamping mechanism is reduced.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein during the movement of the first clamping elements and of the second clamping elements from their respective starting position into their respective end position, a spacing between the first and the second clamping elements of each clamping mechanism remains the same.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the device comprises a plurality of wedge-shaped elements, wherein during the movement of the first and/or of the second clamping elements from the respective starting position into the respective end position, the forming tool is brought into contact with the wedge-shaped elements and guided against the semi-finished fiber product by a movement along inclined surfaces of the wedge-shaped elements relative to the clamping elements.

5. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the forming tool comprises a sliding surface that is brought into contact with the inclined surfaces of the wedge-shaped elements and slides along on the inclined surfaces of the wedge-shaped elements.

6. A method to shape a semi-finished fiber product configured to be used in the manufacture of a former:
arranging a device in a starting position, wherein first clamping elements of the device are at respective starting positions, second clamping elements of the device are at respective starting positions, and a forming tool of the device is at a respective starting position;
mounting the semi-finished fiber product in the device, wherein a first longitudinal edge of the semi-finished fiber product is held by the first clamping elements and a second longitudinal edge of the semi-finished fiber product is held by the second clamping elements;
after mounting the semi-finished fiber product, moving the device from the starting position to an end position by moving each of the first clamping elements, the second clamping elements and the forming tool from their respective starting positions to respective end positions;
during the movement of the first clamping elements, transforming the first longitudinal edge of the semi-finished fiber product from a straight shape into a curved shape, wherein the transformation does not increase the length of the first longitudinal edge of the semi-finished fiber product,
during the movement of the second clamping elements, transforming the second longitudinal edge of the semi-finished fiber product from a straight shape into a curved shape, wherein the transformation increases the length of the second longitudinal edge of the semi-finished fiber product, and
during the movements of the first clamping elements and of the second clamping elements, transforming the forming tool into a curved shape and pressing the forming tool against the semi-finished fiber product to draw the semi-finished fiber product over the forming tool.

7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein during the movement of the first and/or of the second clamping elements from the respective starting position into the respective end position, the forming tool is brought into contact with wedge-shaped elements and guided against the semi-finished fiber product by a movement along inclined surfaces of the wedge-shaped elements relative to the clamping elements.

8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein s a sliding surface of the forming tool is brought into contact with the inclined surfaces of the wedge-shaped elements and slides along on the inclined surfaces of the wedge-shaped elements.

Assignees

• Airbus Operations Gmbh

Inventors

• Kupski Julian
• Hoffmeister Thomas

Classifications

• B29L2031/3082

  Fuselages · CPC title

• B29C53/02

  Bending or folding (B29C53/22, B29C53/34, B29C53/36, B29C53/56 take precedence) · CPC title

• B29K2307/04

  Carbon · CPC title

• B29K2063/00

  Use of {EP, i.e.} epoxy resins {or derivatives thereof}, as moulding material · CPC title

• B29C53/04 Primary

  of plates or sheets {(B29C63/04 takes precedence; bending or folding paper B31F1/0003; folding films B65H45/00)} · CPC title