Bond assembly jig and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9358732-B2
Application number	US-201514842381-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 1, 2015
Priority date	Oct 1, 2012
Publication date	Jun 7, 2016
Grant date	Jun 7, 2016

Abstract

A method for forming a composite structure on an assembly jig includes assembling an anchor member and block member on a support plate, arranging composite materials on the support plate adjacent to the anchor member, placing a shroud over the anchor member and block member, and applying heat and pressure to the bond assembly jig to cure the composite materials.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of manufacturing a composite part on an assembly jig, comprising:
attaching an anchor member on a support plate of an assembly jig;
connecting a block member to the anchor member;
arranging a first skin section on the support plate adjacent to the anchor member;
arranging a spar on the block member and on the first skin section;
arranging a core section on the first skin section;
arranging a second skin section on the core section;
removably attaching a shroud on the support plate, covering at least a portion of the anchor member without covering the first skin section and core section;
enclosing the assembly jig in a chamber; and
subjecting the assembly jig to heat and pressure to bond at least the first skin section to the core section.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein attaching the shroud on the support plate further comprises extending the shroud to meet the second skin section.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising providing a seal between the second skin section and the shroud.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein attaching the shroud on the support plate further comprises arranging the shroud to completely enclose a base section and at least a portion of a protruding section of the anchor member.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising forming the first skin section, the core section and the second skin section into an airfoil shape.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein connecting the block member to the anchor member further comprises movably connecting the block member to the anchor member, such that the block member can move in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the support plate.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein connecting the block member to the anchor member further comprises connecting the block member to a protruding section of the anchor member using a t-slot.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein enclosing the assembly jig in a chamber and subjecting the assembly jig to heat and pressure further comprises placing the assembly jig in an autoclave.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein arranging the second skin section on the core section further comprises arranging the second skin section that is at least partially cured.

10. A method for assembling and curing a structure formed from composite materials, comprising:
removably fastening an anchor member upon a support plate of an assembly jig having a support surface;
moveably attaching a block member to the anchor member in a manner that allows the block member to travel in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the support surface;
placing a structure of composite materials upon the support plate adjacent to the anchor member; and
removably fastening a shroud to the support surface, such that the shroud extends from the support plate and covers at least a portion of the anchor member without covering the structure of composite materials.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising providing a seal between the shroud and the structure of composite materials.

12. The method of claim 10 , further comprising enclosing the assembly jig in an autoclave and subjecting the assembly jig to heat and pressure.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein moveably attaching the block member to the anchor member further comprises attaching the block member substantially perpendicularly to a protruding section of the anchor member.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein moveably attaching the block member to the protruding section further comprises attaching the block member using a t-slot.

15. The method of claim 10 , wherein placing the structure of composite materials upon the support plate further comprises placing composite materials including a first skin component, a core component, and a second skin component that is at least partially cured.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising extending the shroud to meet the second skin component.

17. A method for assembling and curing a structure formed from composite materials, comprising:
removably fastening a base section of an anchor member to a support plate of an assembly jig, the base section having a protruding section that extends from and is oriented generally at a right angle with respect to the base section;
placing composite materials upon a support surface of the support plate, wherein the composite materials are adjacent to the anchor member;
slidably attaching a block member to a first side of the protruding section of the anchor member in a manner that allows the block member to travel in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the support surface;
removably fastening a shroud to the support plate, the shroud covering at least a portion of the anchor member and the shroud covering at least a portion of the protruding section without covering the composite materials; and
placing the assembly jig with the composite materials in an autoclave, and subjecting the assembly jig to heat and pressure.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the shroud is arranged to completely enclose the base section and the first side of the protruding section of the anchor member.

19. The method of claim 17 , further comprising providing a seal between a top of the shroud and the composite materials.

20. The method of claim 17 , wherein placing the composite materials upon the support plate further comprises placing composite materials including a first skin component, a core component, and a second skin component that are at least partially cured.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Lockleer John C
• Pham Doan D

Classifications

• B25B11/02 Primary

  Assembly jigs · CPC title

• B29C70/54 Primary

  Component parts, details or accessories; Auxiliary operations {, e.g. feeding or storage of prepregs or SMC after impregnation or during ageing} · CPC title

• B29C33/306

  Exchangeable mould parts, e.g. cassette moulds, mould inserts (moulds with exchangeable mould parts for injection moulding B29C45/2673; mounting of exchangeable mould inserts for injection moulding B29C45/2675) · CPC title

• B29D99/0021

  provided with plain or filled structures, e.g. cores, placed between two or more plates or sheets, e.g. in a matrix · CPC title

• B29C70/44

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