Device and method for processing a fibre compound structure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9878502-B2
Application number	US-201615257024-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 6, 2016
Priority date	Jun 5, 2007
Publication date	Jan 30, 2018
Grant date	Jan 30, 2018

Abstract

In a method for processing a fiber compound structure, an unhardened fiber layer is arranged on a surface section of the fiber compound structure. A pressure cushion is arranged above the surface section. The pressure cushion has a pressure cap and a pressure-tight cap mat pressure-tightly connected to a circumferential border of the pressure cap such that the cap mat limits a pressure area together with the pressure cap. An overpressure in the pressure area is generated. The pressure cushion is pressed onto the fiber compound structure such that the overpressure presses the cap mat against the fiber layer while supporting the fiber compound structure on a side of the fiber compound structure that is opposed to the surface section. The fiber layer is hardened

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A processing method for processing a fibre compound structure, the method comprising:
arranging at least one unhardened fibre layer on a surface section of the fibre compound structure;
arranging a pressure cushion above the surface section, the pressure cushion comprising a pressure cap and a pressure-tight cap mat being pressure-tightly connected to a circumferential border of the pressure cap such that the cap mat limits a pressure area together with the pressure cap;
supporting a side of the fibre compound opposed to the surface section with a counter bearing surface;
generating an overpressure in the pressure area;
pressing the pressure cushion onto the fibre compound structure such that the overpressure presses the cap mat against the at least one fibre layer while supporting the fibre compound structure on a side of the fibre compound structure that is opposed to the surface section; and
hardening the at least one fibre layer,
wherein the pressure-tight cap mat fills out contours and/or step like sections according to a contour of the fibre compound structure.

2. The processing method according to claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises the steps of:
covering the at least one fibre layer by the cap mat; sealing of a low-pressuer area limited by the cap mat and the fibre compound structure; and
evacuating of the low-pressure area.

3. The processing methond according to claim 2 , wherein the sealing of the low pressure area is carried out by pressing the cap mat by means of the pressure cap onto the fibre compound structure.

4. The processing method according to claim 1 , wherein the hardening of the at least one fibre layer is carried out by heating, in particular up to a temperature of 125 C to 180 C, in accordance with a resin matrix of the fibre layer.

5. The processing method according to claim 1 , where the overpressure being applied is at least 1 bar above atmospheric pressure.

Assignees

• Airbus Operations Gmbh

Inventors

• Helfrich Felix Caspar
• Marquardt Hans

Classifications

• B29K2307/00

  Use of elements other than metals as reinforcement · CPC title

• B29L2031/3076

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

• B29C73/32

  using an elastic element, e.g. inflatable bag · CPC title

• B29C73/12

  Apparatus therefor, e.g. for applying (B29C73/30 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B29C70/44 Primary

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