Method for producing body structure of fiber-reinforced composite, and body structure produced thereby

• US 6,511,570 B2
• Filed: 04/26/2001
• Issued: 01/28/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Honda Patents and Technologies North America, LLC (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Matsui, Nobuo
• Primary Examiner(s): SELLS, JAMES D
• Application Number:
  US09/842,160
• Publication Number:
  US 20010035251A1
• Time in Patent Office: 642 Days
• Field of Search: 156/242, 156/245, 156/297, 156/500, 428/119, 428/172, 244/119
• US Class Current: 156/245
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 70/345 using matched moulds
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 99/0014 provided with ridges or ribs, e.g. joined ribs
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 1/12 Construction or attachment of skin panels
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 3/26 Construction, shape, or attachment of separate skins, e.g. panels
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/40 Weight reduction
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1089 of discrete laminae to single face of additional lamina
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24612 Composite web or sheet

Abstract

A method for producing a body structure composed of a stiffened panel of a fiber-reinforced composite, wherein (a) a skin member is placed on a forming tool, (b) a plurality of preformed stringer members are arranged on the skin member at predetermined intervals, (c) a plurality of preformed outer frame members are arranged on the skin member to intersect the preformed stringer members, (d) the skin member, the preformed stringer members and the preformed outer frame members are integrally hardened by heating under a pressure to prepare an assembly having a skin, stringers and an outer frame, (e) an inner frame member hardened by heating under a pressure beforehand is put into contact with the outer frame, and (f) the inner frame member and the assembly are adhesive-formed by heating under a pressure. A body structure produced by the method is also provided.

Claims

1. A method for producing a body structure, wherein a skin member, a plurality of preformed stringer members, a plurality of preformed outer frame members and an inner frame member each made of a fiber-reinforced composite are used, and (a) said skin member is placed on a forming tool, (b) said preformed stringer members are arranged on said skin member at predetermined intervals, (c) said preformed outer frame members are arranged on said skin member to intersect said preformed stringer members, (d) said skin member, said preformed stringer members and said preformed outer frame members are integrally hardened by heating under a pressure to prepare an assembly having a skin, stringers and an outer frame, (e) said inner frame member hardened by heating under a pressure beforehand is put into contact with said outer frame, and (f) said inner frame member and said assembly are adhesive-formed by heating under a pressure.

2. The method for producing a body structure according to claim 1, wherein said preformed outer frame members have a T-shaped section and said inner frame member has an L-shaped section.

3. The method for producing a body structure according to claim 1, wherein said inner frame member is a seamless ring in shape.

4. The method for producing a body structure according to claim 1, wherein said inner frame member is hardened by heating at 120 to 250°

C. under a pressure beforehand, said skin member, said preformed stringer members and said preformed outer frame members are integrally hardened by heating at 120 to 250°

C. under a pressure, and said inner frame member and said assembly are adhesive-formed by heating at 120 to 180°

C. under a pressure.

5. A body structure obtained by the method recited in claim 1.