Apparatus for planar forming of zero degree composite tape
First Claim
1. Apparatus for forming fiber reinforced composite material tape in the general plane of the tape, comprising:
- restraint means for exerting pressure on the tape in a thicknesswise direction perpendicular to said plane to confine the tape to an elongated space during forming of the tape in the general plane of the tape, to confine the tape to said general plane and thereby prevent buckling and wrinkling of the tape;
said restraint means including portions that define the thickness of said space and that are flexible in a widthwise direction perpendicular to said thicknesswise direction; and
bending means for exerting a force on said portions in said widthwise direction, to bend said portions and said space and any tape confined therein in said widthwise direction, to form said space and said tape confined therein into a predetermined planform configuration without changing the width and thickness of the space and the width and thickness of the tape.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A straight length of tape (100) is confined in a cavity having a thickness and width essentially the same as the thickness and width of the tape (100). The cavity is defined by upper and lower opposing sets of thin flexible strips (24). In each set, strips (24) are positioned with their faces abutting each other and their inner side edges confronting the inner side edges of the strips (24) in the other set to define the thickness of the cavity therebetween. A series of longitudinally spaced clamps (28) press the strips (24) against the tape (100) to exert on the tape (100) pressure of sufficient magnitude and uniformity of prevent buckling and wrinkling of the tape (100). With the tape confined, a series of longitudinally spaced drive units (50) bend the strips (24) and tape (100) into a desired planform configuration. The tape (100) is held confined in this planform configuration until the tape (100) stabilizes in its new configuration.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. Apparatus for forming fiber reinforced composite material tape in the general plane of the tape, comprising:
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restraint means for exerting pressure on the tape in a thicknesswise direction perpendicular to said plane to confine the tape to an elongated space during forming of the tape in the general plane of the tape, to confine the tape to said general plane and thereby prevent buckling and wrinkling of the tape;
said restraint means including portions that define the thickness of said space and that are flexible in a widthwise direction perpendicular to said thicknesswise direction; andbending means for exerting a force on said portions in said widthwise direction, to bend said portions and said space and any tape confined therein in said widthwise direction, to form said space and said tape confined therein into a predetermined planform configuration without changing the width and thickness of the space and the width and thickness of the tape. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16)
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11. Apparatus for changing the planform of a length of composite material tape having reinforcing fibers in a resin matrix, comprising:
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cavity defining means defining the thickness of a cavity;
said cavity defining means being bendable in a widthwise direction perpendicular to the thickness of the cavity, without changing the width and thickness of the cavity;pressure means for exerting pressure, in the direction of the thickness of the cavity, on tape positioned in the cavity to confine the thickness of the tape to the thickness of the cavity; and means for applying a bending force to the cavity defining means, in said widthwise direction perpendicular to said pressure, for changing the planform of the cavity and any tape within the cavity, without changing the width and thickness of the cavity and without buckling or wrinkling of the tape. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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17. Apparatus as described in claim 21, in which the pressure means comprises a plurality of clamping devices that engage said cavity defining means at longitudinally spaced intervals;
- each drive unit has a movable portion that is attached to a different one of said clamping devices; and
the configuration defining means includes means for independently controlling widthwise movement of each such movable portion.
- each drive unit has a movable portion that is attached to a different one of said clamping devices; and
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18. Apparatus for forming fiber reinforced composite material tape in the general plane of the tape, comprising:
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restraint means for confining the tape to an elongated space during forming of the tape in the general plane of the tape, to confine the tape to said general plane and maintain the thickness and width of the tape essentially constant, and thereby prevent buckling and wrinkling of the tape;
said restraint means including portions that define said space and that are flexible widthwise of said space; and
said space having along its length essentially the same thickness and width as the tape; andbending means for exerting a force on said portions in a widthwise direction, to form said space and any tape confined therein into a predetermined planform configuration without changing the width and thickness of the space and the width and thickness of the tape; in which said portions include first and second opposing members, each such member including a plurality of thin flexible strips positioned with their faces abutting each other and their inner side edges confronting the inner side edges of the strips in the other member to define the thickness of said space therebetween; and
in which the restraint means further includes means for pressing said members together, to cause said inner side edges to exert on tape positioned therebetween pressure of sufficient magnitude and uniformity to prevent buckling and wrinkling of the tape.
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19. Apparatus for changing the planform of a length of composite material tape having reinforcing fibers in a resin matrix, comprising:
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cavity defining means defining a cavity having along its length essentially the same thickness and width as the tape, for confining the width and thickness of the tape, when the tape is positioned in the cavity, to the width and thickness of the cavity;
said cavity defining means being bendable widthwise of the cavity without changing the width and thickness of the cavity; andmeans for applying a bending force to the cavity defining means, widthwise of the cavity, for changing the planform of the cavity and any tape within the cavity, without changing the width and thickness of the cavity and without buckling or wrinkling of the tape; in which said cavity defining means includes first and second opposing members, each such member including a plurality of thin flexible strips positioned with their faces abutting each other andn their inner side edges confronting the inner side edges of the strips in the other member to define the thickness of said cavity therebetween; and
which further comprises means for pressing said members together, to cause said inner side edges to exert on tape positioned in the cavity pressure of sufficient magnitude and uniformity to prevent buckling and wrinkling of the tape.
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Specification