Composite Forming Apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016207266-A1
Application number	US-201514599451-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 16, 2015
Priority date	Jan 16, 2015
Publication date	Jul 21, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A system and method for forming a composite structure. The apparatus comprises a base, a plate, a number of movement systems, and a number of sheets. The number of movement systems move one of the base and the plate relative to the other. The number of sheets is connected to the plate.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A composite forming apparatus comprising:
a base; a plate; a number of movement systems that moves one of the base and the plate relative to the other; and a number of sheets connected to the plate.

2 . The composite forming apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the number of sheets are formed of a polymeric material.

3 . The composite forming apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the base has a number of cavities, and wherein the plate is associated with a cavity of the number of cavities.

4 . The composite forming apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the number of movement systems are within the cavity of the number of cavities.

5 . The composite forming apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the plate is depressible and associated with the number of movement systems.

6 . The composite forming apparatus of claim 4 further comprising a drape.

7 . The composite forming apparatus of claim 6 further comprising a vacuum source associated with at least one of the drape or the base.

8 . An apparatus comprising:
a base having a number of cavities; a plate associated with a cavity of the number of cavities; a number of movement systems within the cavity of the number of cavities; and a number of sheets connected to the plate.

9 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the plate is associated with the number of movement systems.

10 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the number of sheets are formed of a polymeric material.

11 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein each of the number of sheets has substantially the same cross-sectional area as the plate.

12 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the number of movement systems is a number of scissor lifts.

13 . The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising:
a drape; and
a vacuum source associated with at least one of the drape or the base.

14 . A method comprising:
interleaving a number of composite plies and portions of a number of sheets; and lowering a plate connected to the number of sheets.

15 . The method of claim 14 further comprising:
drawing a vacuum on the number of composite plies and the number of sheets.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein lowering the plate connected to the number of sheets is performed while the number of composite plies and the number of sheets is under the vacuum.

17 . The method of claim 15 further comprising:
placing a drape over the number of composite plies and the number of sheets, and wherein drawing the vacuum on the number of composite plies and the number of sheets comprises pulling a vacuum under the drape.

18 . The method of claim 14 , wherein lowering the plate connected to the number of sheets pulls the portions of the number of sheets from between each of the number of composite plies.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein lowering the plate forms the number of sheets against the plate.

20 . The method of claim 14 further comprising:
placing the number of composite plies on a base having a cavity, wherein the plate is associated with the cavity, and wherein lowering the plate connected to the number of sheets forms the number of composite plies to the base.

21 . The method of claim 20 , wherein forming the number of composite plies to the base includes forming a portion of the number of composite plies to the base within the cavity.

22 . The method of claim 14 further comprising:
heating the composite plies to a forming temperature prior to lowering the plate.

23 . A method comprising:
placing a first ply onto a base having a number of cavities; placing a portion of a first sheet onto the first ply; placing a second ply onto the first ply; placing a drape over the first ply, the second ply, and the first sheet; drawing a vacuum under the drape; and lowering a plate connected to the first sheet.

24 . The method of claim 23 , wherein lowering the plate connected to the first sheet pulls the portion of the first sheet from between the first ply and the second ply.

25 . The method of claim 24 , wherein lowering the plate forms the first sheet against the plate.

26 . The method of claim 24 , wherein lowering the plate connected to the first sheet forms the first ply and the second ply to the base.

27 . The method of claim 26 , wherein forming the first ply and the second ply to the base includes forming a portion of the first ply and a portion of the second ply to the base within the cavity.

28 . The method of claim 23 further comprising:
heating the first ply and the second ply to a forming temperature prior to lowering the plate.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Koncz Tibor A

Classifications

• B29L2031/3076

  Aircrafts (blades, propellers B29L2031/08) · CPC title

• B29C70/44 Primary

  using isostatic pressure, e.g. pressure difference-moulding, vacuum bag-moulding, autoclave-moulding or expanding rubber-moulding · CPC title

• B29C33/22

  by rectilinear movement · CPC title

• B29C70/02 Primary

  comprising combinations of reinforcements, {e.g. non-specified reinforcements, fibrous reinforcing inserts} and fillers, {e.g. particulate fillers}, incorporated in matrix material, forming one or more layers and with or without non-reinforced or non-filled layers {(combinations of fibrous reinforcement only B29C70/04; combinations of fillers only B29C70/58; combinations with non reinforcing inserts, e.g. foam blocks, B29C70/68)} · CPC title

• B29C70/302 Primary

  Details of the edges of fibre composites, e.g. edge finishing or means to avoid delamination · CPC title