METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR MANUFACTURING A FAMILY OF AIRCRAFT WINGS AND OTHER COMPOSITE STRUCTURE

• Main Authors: ALAN K. PRICHARD, JOSEPH R. OLIVADOTI, VICTOR K. STUHR
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 04.05.2007
• Subjects: AEROPLANES; AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS; HAND TOOLS; HELICOPTERS; MANIPULATORS; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PORTABLE POWER-DRIVEN TOOLS; PRODUCING PARTICULAR ARTICLES FROM PLASTICS OR FROM SUBSTANCESIN A PLASTIC STATE; STORAGE MEANS FOR WORKSHOPS; TRANSPORTING; WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE, IN GENERAL; WORKSHOP EQUIPMENT, e.g. FOR MARKING-OUT WORK

Method for manufacturing composite aircraft wings using a movable support system is described herein. The tool plate includes a tool surface configured to support fiber-reinforced resin material and define an outer mold line (OML) of the fiber-reinforced resin material. The movable support system is configured to respond to signals from a controller to automatically change the shape of the tool surface and alter the OML of the finished part to suit the particular application. In one embodiment, the movable support system can include a plurality of telescoping actuators operably coupled to the tool plate. The method comprises the steps of laminating and curing a first wing skin, removing it from the wing skin tool, and manufacturing and curing a second wing skin with a span length inferior to the span length from the first skin.