Head and system for continuously manufacturing composite hollow structure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10272615-B2
Application number	US-201715725879-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 5, 2017
Priority date	Apr 15, 2016
Publication date	Apr 30, 2019
Grant date	Apr 30, 2019

Abstract

A head is disclosed for use with a manufacturing system. The head may have a housing that discharges a tubular structure, and a cure enhancer connected to the housing and selectively activated to cure the tubular structure during discharge from the housing. The head may also have a nozzle that discharges a fill material into the cured tubular structure.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A head for a manufacturing system, comprising:
a housing that discharges a tubular structure;
a first cure enhancer connected to the housing, located inside of the tubular structure during discharge of the tubular structure, and selectively activated to cure the tubular structure during discharge from the housing;
a nozzle that discharges a fill material into the cured tubular structure; and
a second cure enhancer that is selectively activated to cure the fill material from inside of the cured tubular structure;
wherein the first and second cure enhancers are UV light cure enhancers.

2. The head of claim 1 , wherein:
the tubular structure includes matrix-wetted continuous fibers; and
the first cure enhancer is configured to cure the matrix.

3. The head of claim 1 , wherein the nozzle discharges the fill material as the cured tubular structure passes over the nozzle.

4. The head off claim 1 , further including a fill material supply wand extending from the housing to the nozzle.

5. The head of claim 1 , wherein the first cure enhancer is located inside of the housing and upstream of the nozzle relative to a discharge direction of the tubular structure.

6. The head of claim 1 , wherein the second cure enhancer is located at an end of the nozzle opposite the housing.

7. The head of claim 1 , further including a diverter that diverts the tubular structure radially outward around the nozzle.

8. The head of claim 7 , wherein the diverter is located at least partially inside the housing.

9. The head of claim 7 , wherein the first cure enhancer is located at least partially inside the diverter.

10. The head of claim 1 , further including a drive that rotates the nozzle during discharge of the fill material.

11. The head of claim 1 , wherein the nozzle is flexibly connected to the housing.

12. The head of claim 11 , further including a centering device that centers the nozzle within the tubular structure during discharge of the fill material.

13. The head of claim 12 , wherein the centering device is located radially outside of the tubular structure.

14. A system for continuously manufacturing a composite structure, comprising:
a support that moves in a plurality of directions during manufacturing of the composite structure; and
a head coupled to the support and including:
a housing that discharges a tubular structure;
a first cure enhancer connected to the housing, located inside of the tubular structure during discharge of the tubular structure, and selectively activated to cure the tubular structure during discharge from the housing;
a nozzle that discharges a fill material into the cured tubular structure as the cured tubular structure passes over the nozzle;
a second cure enhancer that is selectively activated to cure the fill material from inside of the cured tubular structure; and
a diverter that diverts the tubular structure radially outward around the nozzle.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein:
the tubular structure includes matrix-wetted continuous fibers; and
the fill material includes only a matrix.

16. The system off claim 14 , further including a fill material supply wand extending from the housing to the nozzle.

17. The system of claim 14 , wherein:
the first cure enhancer is located inside of the tubular structure and the housing at a location that is upstream of the nozzle relative to a discharge direction of the tubular structure; and
the second cure enhancer is located at an end of the nozzle opposite the housing.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein:
the nozzle is flexibly connected to the housing; and
the system further includes a centering device that centers the nozzle within the tubular structure during discharge of the fill material.

Assignees

• Cc3D Llc

Inventors

• Tyler Kenneth Lyle

Classifications

• B29C70/50 Primary

  for producing articles of indefinite length, e.g. prepregs, sheet moulding compounds [SMC] or cross moulding compounds [XMC] · CPC title

• B05B3/001

  incorporating means for heating or cooling, e.g. the material to be sprayed · CPC title

• B29C48/152

  the inner surfaces thereof · CPC title

• B29C64/264

  Arrangements for irradiation · CPC title

• B29C70/523

  and impregnating the reinforcement in the die · CPC title