SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ASSEMBLING ELONGATE COMPOSITE STRUCTURES

• Main Authors: Reeves, Jake Adam, Coxon, Brad A, Morris, John Dempsey, Forston, Gabriel Zane, Pham, Khanh Mai, Hansen, Steven Philip, Rotter, Daniel M, Metschan, Stephen Lee, Shephard, Patrick, Dodgson, Brian
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French; German
• Published: 24.10.2018
• Subjects: AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING; INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULARARTICLES; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDEDFOR; SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; TRANSPORTING; WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE, IN GENERAL

Systems and methods for assembling elongate composite structures are disclosed. The systems include a first rigid elongate cure tool (31) defining a first elongate support surface (41) for supporting a first elongate charge (81) of composite material (FEC), a second rigid elongate cure tool (32) defining a second elongate support surface (42) for supporting a second elongate charge (82) of composite material (SEC), and a flexible elongate caul plate (50). The systems further include a vacuum compaction film (60), a translation structure (90), and a vacuum source (66). Methods according to the present disclosure include positioning a vacuum compaction film (60), positioning a flexible elongate caul plate (50), and positioning an FEC. The methods further include positioning an SEC, contacting a region of the FEC with a region of the SEC, sealing the vacuum compaction film (60), evacuating the enclosed volume (64) to generate an elongate composite assembly, and heating the elongate composite assembly to define the elongate composite structure.