Systems and methods of constructing composite assemblies

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9638048-B2
Application number	US-201313840881-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 15, 2013
Priority date	Mar 15, 2013
Publication date	May 2, 2017
Grant date	May 2, 2017

Abstract

A method of constructing a cured composite assembly includes positioning a composite assembly within a bonding tool, wherein the composite assembly comprises an uncured composite spar and a skin and performing a curing cycle on the composite assembly to simultaneously cure the uncured composite spar and bond the skin to the cured composite spar.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of constructing a cured composite assembly, comprising:
positioning a composite assembly within a bonding tool, wherein the composite assembly comprises:
an upper skin assembly comprising an integrally formed upper spar key, the upper skin assembly extending between a leading edge and a trailing edge of the composite assembly;
a lower skin assembly comprising an integrally formed lower spar key, the lower skin assembly extending between the leading edge and the trailing edge of the composite assembly; and
an uncured composite spar disposed between the upper skin assembly and the lower skin assembly;

reducing the size of a cavity formed between the outer surface of the spar and an inner concave surface of an abrasion strip assembly; and
performing a curing cycle on the composite assembly to simultaneously cure the uncured composite spar and bond the upper skin assembly and the lower skin assembly to the cured composite spar.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising expanding an inflatable bladder disposed within a cavity of the composite spar.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising expanding an outer surface of the composite spar.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising restricting expansion of the composite spar in the aft direction by physically engaging the outer surface of the spar with the upper spar key and the lower spar key.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising physically engaging a spar dam with the upper spar key and the lower spar key.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising physically engaging a support layer disposed within a core of the composite assembly against the spar dam.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising physically engaging the outer surface of the spar against the inner concave surface of the abrasion strip assembly.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the upper spar key of the upper skin assembly comprises a flanged portion that extends toward the lower skin assembly and the lower spar key of the lower skin assembly comprises a flanged portion that extends toward the upper skin assembly.

9. A method of constructing a cured composite assembly, comprising:
positioning a composite assembly within a bonding tool, wherein the composite assembly comprises:
an upper skin assembly comprising an integrally formed upper spar key, the upper skin assembly extending between a leading edge and a trailing edge of the composite assembly;
a lower skin assembly comprising an integrally formed lower spar key, the lower skin assembly extending between the leading edge and the trailing edge of the composite assembly; and
an uncured composite spar disposed between the upper skin assembly and the lower skin assembly;

physically engaging the outer surface of the spar against an inner concave surface of an abrasion strip assembly; and
performing a curing cycle on the composite assembly to simultaneously cure the uncured composite spar and bond the upper skin assembly and the lower skin assembly to the cured composite spar.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising expanding an inflatable bladder disposed within a cavity of the composite spar.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising expanding an outer surface of the composite spar.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising restricting expansion of the composite spar in the aft direction by physically engaging the outer surface of the spar with the upper spar key and the lower spar key.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising physically engaging a spar dam with the upper spar key and the lower spar key.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising physically engaging a support layer disposed within a core of the composite assembly against the spar dam.

15. The method of claim 9 , further comprising reducing the size of a cavity formed between the outer surface of the spar and an inner concave surface of an abrasion strip assembly.

Assignees

• Bell Helicopter Textron Inc

Inventors

• Measom Ronald J
• Stamper Jr James R
• Self Robert
• Sherrill Paul
• Oldroyd Paul
• Morrow Neil Edward
• Cole Russell

Classifications

• B29C70/46

  using matched moulds, e.g. for deforming sheet moulding compounds [SMC] or prepregs · CPC title

• F01D5/282 Primary

  Selecting composite materials, e.g. blades with reinforcing filaments · CPC title

• Y10T29/49337

  Composite blade · CPC title

• B29C70/541

  Positioning reinforcements in a mould, e.g. using clamping means for the reinforcement (positioning inserts in moulds B29C33/12; lay-up on a mould B29C70/30) · CPC title

• B29C70/342 Primary

  using isostatic pressure · CPC title