Systems and methods for bladder pressure forming a preform into a shaped body

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12508747-B2
Application number	US-202217978053-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 31, 2022
Priority date	Oct 31, 2022
Publication date	Dec 30, 2025
Grant date	Dec 30, 2025

Abstract

A manufacturing method is provided. A preform is arranged over a surface of an inner mold line. The preform is folded over sides of the inner mold line. An end of the preform is clamped to a floating plate using a bladder-activated clamp. The floating plate is translated in a first direction to tension the preform into a shaped body. A plurality of compressing bladders are activated to apply compressive forces to the preform.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A manufacturing method, comprising:
arranging a preform over a surface of an inner mold line; folding the preform over sides of the inner mold line; positioning an end of the preform over a floating plate coupled to a side of the inner mold line; clamping the end of the preform to the floating plate, wherein the clamping is provided by activating a clamping bladder to apply a first clamping force to the preform to secure the end of the preform with respect to the floating plate; translating the floating plate in a first direction to apply a first tension on the preform into a shaped body; and activating a first compressing bladder to apply a first compressive force to the preform.

2 . The manufacturing method of claim 1 , wherein the floating plate is coupled to a tensioning system through the side of the inner mold line.

3 . The manufacturing method of claim 2 , wherein the tensioning system is at least one of a gear rack-based tensioning system or a screw-based tensioning system.

4 . The manufacturing method of claim 3 , wherein the floating plate is coupled to the tensioning system through one or more pockets in the side of the inner mold line.

5 . The manufacturing method of claim 1 , wherein the first compressing bladder is activated by inflating the first compressing bladder with a fluid.

6 . The manufacturing method of claim 1 , wherein the first compressing bladder is mounted to a caul plate moveable with respect to the inner mold line, and wherein the caul plate has a different rigidity than the first compressing bladder.

7 . The manufacturing method of claim 1 , further comprising activating a second compressing bladder to apply a second compressive force to the preform, wherein the second compressing bladder is activated after the first compressing bladder.

8 . The manufacturing method of claim 1 , further comprising:
increasing the first compressive force coupled with increasing the first tension.

9 . The manufacturing method of claim 1 , further comprising:
activating a second compressing bladder to apply a second compressive force to the preform; and activating a third compressing bladder to apply a third compressive force to the preform.

10 . The manufacturing method of claim 9 , wherein the first compressing bladder, the second compressing bladder, and the third compressing bladder are activated sequentially along a second direction.

11 . The manufacturing method of claim 9 , wherein the first compressing bladder, the second compressing bladder, and the third compressing bladder are activated starting from a center of the preform and working outward toward a periphery of the preform.

Assignees

• Rohr Inc

Inventors

• Pujar Vijay V
• Waugh Katherine E
• Koroly Christopher C

Classifications

• B29C2043/3649

  Inflatable bladders using gas or fluid and related details · CPC title

• B29C2043/3602

  with means for positioning, fastening or clamping the material to be formed or preforms inside the mould · CPC title

• B29C43/3642

  Bags, bleeder sheets or cauls for isostatic pressing · CPC title

• B21D26/033

  Deforming tubular bodies (corrugating tubes by applying fluid pressure B21D15/03, B21D15/10) · CPC title

• B29C70/549

  Details of caul plates, e.g. materials or shape · CPC title