Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090127393 | FOAM STIFFENED HOLLOW COMPOSITE STRINGER - A method and apparatus for a composite stringer. A method is used for manufacturing a hollow composite stringer. Foam is formed with a mandrel installed into the foam. A composite material and the foam is laid up onto a tool in a form of a stringer. The composite material and the foam in the form of the stringer is cured to form a cured stringer. The mandrel from the foam is removed to form the hollow composite stringer. | 05-21-2009 |
20100006739 | Composite Mandrel For Autoclave Curing Applications - A composite mandrel includes a generally elongated mandrel body comprising a resilient mandrel core and an elastomeric mandrel outer layer disposed outside the mandrel core. A method for fabricating a contoured stiffened composite panel is also disclosed. | 01-14-2010 |
20100078845 | WRINKLE REDUCTION IN UNCURED COMPOSITE LAMINATES - Wrinkles are removed from fiber reinforced resin plies of an uncured composite layup by subjecting the wrinkles to vibration and pressure. | 04-01-2010 |
20100129589 | REINFORCED FOAM-FILLED COMPOSITE STRINGER - A method and apparatus for manufacturing a composite stringer. A composite material and foam are laid up onto a tool in the form of a stringer. The foam has a plurality of structural members within the foam. The plurality of structural members has a number of orientations to resist a number of loads. The composite material, the foam in the form of the stringer, and the plurality of structural members are cured to form the composite stringer. | 05-27-2010 |
20100154984 | AUTOMATED ELONGATE INSERT WRAPPING SYSTEM - A method and apparatus for a tray, a folding section connected to the tray, and a tape application system. The tray has a channel for receiving an elongate insert for a composite material with a number of layers for a release system. The folding section is capable of folding a number of layers around the elongate insert to cover the elongate insert as the elongate insert is moved through the folding unit. The tape application system is capable of applying a tape to the number of layers for covering the elongate insert to form the release system. | 06-24-2010 |
20100155984 | MANUFACTURING ONE-PIECE COMPOSITE SECTIONS USING OUTER MOLD LINE TOOLING - A method for manufacturing composite parts. A temporary removal layer may be placed on an inner mold line tool. A composite material may be laid up on the inner mold line tool for a composite part. The inner mold line tool may be positioned with the composite part inside an outer mold line tool. The composite part and the temporary removal layer may be transferred from the inner mold line tool to the outer mold line tool. The inner mold line tool and the temporary removal layer may be removed from inside of the outer mold line tool after transferring the composite part and the temporary removal layer to the outer mold line tool. | 06-24-2010 |
20110027526 | Multi-Functional Aircraft Structures - A method and apparatus for manufacturing a composite structure. A filler material with a barrier material for a channel in the filler material is formed. A composite material and the filler material with the barrier material are laid up onto a tool in a shape of the composite structure. The composite material and the filler material in the shape of the composite structure are cured. | 02-03-2011 |
20110088833 | SHAPED COMPOSITE STRINGERS AND METHODS OF MAKING - A stiffened skin panel of an aircraft that includes an aircraft skin panel of composite material and a composite stringer consolidated with the aircraft skin panel. The stringer has a pair of stringer sides, each extending from a stringer top to a stringer leg. The stringer sides may each extend through a wide radius, smooth continuous curve to a stringer leg. The wide radius, smooth continuous curve may be proximate the base of the stringer side in a region where the stringer side transitions to the stringer leg. | 04-21-2011 |
20110111183 | Foam Stiffened Hollow Composite Stringer - A method and apparatus for a composite stringer. A method is used for manufacturing a hollow composite stringer. Foam is formed with a mandrel installed into the foam. A composite material and the foam is laid up onto a tool in a form of a stringer. The composite material and the foam in the form of the stringer is cured to form a cured stringer. The mandrel from the foam is removed to form the hollow composite stringer. | 05-12-2011 |
20110259515 | Method and Apparatus For Forming And Applying Composite Layups Having Complex Geometries - A composite layup is formed on a tool and placed on a contoured part. The tool is contoured to substantially match the contour of the part. A set of location data is generated which represents the location of the part in space relative to the tool. An automated manipulator uses the location data to move the tool into proximity to the part and place the contoured layup on the part. | 10-27-2011 |
20120273121 | AUTOMATED ELONGATE INSERT WRAPPING SYSTEM - A method and apparatus for a tray, a folding section connected to the tray, and a tape application system. The tray has a channel for receiving an elongate insert for a composite material with a number of layers for a release system. The folding section is capable of folding a number of layers around the elongate insert to cover the elongate insert as the elongate insert is moved through the folding unit. The tape application system is capable of applying a tape to the number of layers for covering the elongate insert to form the release system. | 11-01-2012 |
20130049258 | Method and Apparatus for Fabricating Variable Gauge, Contoured Composite Stiffeners - Tooling apparatus for forming a composite charge into a contoured composite blade stringer includes an elongate punch and an elongate die flexible along their lengths. The charge is press formed by using the punch to drive the charge into the die. The punch and the die are mounted between a pair of flexible plates. A press coupled with the plates contours the charge by bending the plates into a desired contour. | 02-28-2013 |
20130280491 | METHOD OF FORMING A REINFORCED FOAM-FILLED COMPOSITE STRINGER - A method and apparatus for manufacturing a composite stringer. A composite material and foam are laid up onto a tool in the form of a stringer. The foam has a plurality of structural members within the foam. The plurality of structural members has a number of orientations to resist a number of loads. The composite material, the foam in the form of the stringer, and the plurality of structural members are cured to form the composite stringer. | 10-24-2013 |
20140299262 | SYSTEMS, TOOLS, AND METHODS FOR FORMING COMPOSITE TUBULAR STRINGERS AND STIFFENED COMPOSITE STRUCTURES HAVING COMPOSITE TUBULAR STRINGERS - Systems, tools, and methods for forming composite tubular stringers and stiffened composite structures having composite tubular stringers are disclosed. Systems include a tool, a supply of pliable blanks for forming composite tubular stringers with the tool, a supply of skin segments for forming a skin, and a layup mandrel for receiving the composite tubular stringers and the skin to form a stiffened composite structure. Tools include a wrapping mandrel for forming from a pliable blank a tubular structure with a first circumferential profile, and a transition mandrel for conforming the tubular structure to a second circumferential profile. Methods include wrapping a pliable blank around a wrapping mandrel to define a tubular structure having a first circumferential profile, and transitioning the tubular structure from having the first circumferential profile to having a second circumferential profile. | 10-09-2014 |
20140318705 | MULTI-FUNCTIONAL AIRCRAFT STRUCTURES - A method for manufacturing a composite structure. A filler material with a barrier material for a channel in the filler material is formed. A composite material and the filler material with the barrier material are laid up onto a tool in a shape of the composite structure. The composite material and the filler material in the shape of the composite structure are cured. | 10-30-2014 |
20140367039 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR COMPACTING A CHARGE OF COMPOSITE MATERIAL - Systems and methods for compacting a charge of composite material. These systems and methods may utilize a vacuum compaction device to compact the charge of composite material on a supporting surface. The vacuum compaction device may be reusable and may be configured to define an enclosed volume when positioned on the supporting surface and may include a barrier structure and a sealing structure that is configured to form a fluid seal when compressed between the supporting surface and the barrier structure. The vacuum compaction device also may include a vacuum distribution manifold that is in fluid communication with and configured to selectively apply a vacuum to the enclosed volume. Application of the vacuum to the enclosed volume may decrease a pressure within the enclosed volume and transition the vacuum compaction device from an undeformed configuration to a deformed configuration, thereby compacting the charge of composite material on the supporting surface. | 12-18-2014 |