Device and method

• US 8,083,976 B2
• Filed: 08/26/2009
• Issued: 12/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Original Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Inventors: Lengsfeld, Hauke, Marquardt, Hans
• Primary Examiner(s): Del Sole, Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sultana, Nahida
• Application Number:
  US12/548,032
• Publication Number:
  US 20100059169A1
• Time in Patent Office: 853 Days
• Field of Search: 425/363, 425/371, 425/112, 425/115, 425/405.1, 425/412, 425/193, 425/99, 425/122, 425/325, 425/328, 425/348.R, 425/395, 156/199, 264/112, 264/256
• US Class Current: 264/112
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 70/504 using rollers or pressure bands for corrugating B29C53/22
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 70/542 Placing or positioning the reinforcement in a covering or packaging element before or during moulding, e.g. drawing in a sleeve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1007 Running or continuous length work

Abstract

The present invention provides a device, in particular within the aeronautical and aerospace fields, comprising a first and second tool and guide means, which guide the first and second tools in such a way that they press a preliminary fabric arranged in a pressing zone of the device along a second axis as said fabric moves along a first axis through the pressing zone, said second axis being substantially transverse to the first axis, so as to form a consolidated preliminary fabric, the guide means guiding the first and second tools parallel to one another, in part, along the first axis in the pressing zone.

Claims

1. A device within the aeronautical and aerospace fields, comprising:

rollers configured to deform a preliminary fabric made of a dry fiber material provided at a deformation zone of the device;

a first and second tool, at least one of the first or second tool comprising at least one matrix feed channel for impregnating the deformed preliminary fabric with a matrix, the matrix feed channel being branched for an even distribution of the matrix; and

a guide that guides the first and second tools in such a way that the tools press the preliminary fabric deformed in the deformation zone and arranged in a pressing zone of the device along a second axis as the deformed preliminary fabric moves along a first axis through the pressing zone, said second axis being substantially transverse to the first axis, to form a consolidated preliminary fabric;

wherein the guide guides the first and second tools substantially parallel to one another, in part, along the first axis in the pressing zone, and wherein in the pressing zone the first and second tools define a gap for receiving the deformed preliminary fabric, said gap having a substantially constant, in particular Ω

-, U-, T-, and/or L-shaped cross-section extending along the first axis.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein a first chain which comprises a plurality of first chain links is provided, at least one of the first chain links carrying the first tool, and/or a second chain which comprises a plurality of second chain links is provided, at least one of the second chain links carrying the second tool.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the first chain links carry a plurality of first tools and the second chain links carry a plurality of second tools, the plurality of first and second tools being arrangeable in respective rows within the pressing zone.

4. The device according to claim 2, wherein the two chains are each provided so as to revolve about at least two wheels arranged at a distance from one another.

5. The device according to claim 2, wherein the guide is configured as two opposing rails, the first chain links or the at least one first tool being engaged with one rail, at least in the pressing zone, and the second chain links or the at least one second tool being engaged with the other rail, at least in the pressing zone.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein the rails extend substantially parallel to one another, at least in part.

7. The device according to claim 5, wherein the rails extend towards one another in an entry region of the pressing zone and away from one another in an exit region of the pressing zone.

8. The device according to claim 5, wherein the shape of at least one of the rails can be changed by way of first adjustment means.

9. The device according to claim 8, wherein the at least one rail is configured so as to be able to bend in order to change its shape by way of the first adjustment means.

10. The device according to claim 4, wherein the wheels and/or first adjustment means associated with the first chain is/are attached to a first bearing structure, and/or the wheels and/or first adjustment means associated with the second chain is/are attached to a second bearing structure, the first and second bearing structures being able to move independently of one another by way of second adjustment means.

11. The device according to claim 10, wherein the first and/or second tool comprise on at least one side of the gap sealing means for tightly clamping together a first and second vacuum film which surround the deformed preliminary fabric, at least in part.

12. The device according to claim 11, wherein a suction portion is provided which comprises a housing with a gap for guiding through a portion of the first and second vacuum films therethrough, and a connection socket, to which a vacuum pump is connected.

13. The device according to claim 12, wherein the suction portion comprises in its interior and along the gap at least one face and a counter face, in particular a pressure roller and a counter pressure roller, between which the first and second vacuum films can be tightly clamped.

14. The device according to claim 13, wherein along the gap a plurality of faces and counter faces are provided which cooperate in pairs so as to tightly clamp the first and second vacuum films together, the pairs being distanced from one another along the gap in such a way that a ventilation portion formed between the first and second vacuum films may be arranged between two pairs when viewed transverse to the gap.

15. The device according to claim 12, wherein the suction portion comprises an inner matrix trap.

16. The device according to claim 1, wherein a heating device is provided which is arranged in the pressing zone, at least in part, and by means of which heat can be transferred to the consolidated deformed preliminary fabric for curing said deformed preliminary fabric so as to form a profiled part.

17. A method within the aeronautical and aerospace fields by way of a device according to claim 1, wherein rollers deform a preliminary fabric provided at a deformation zone of the device, wherein a first and second tool are guided in such a way that the tools press the preliminary fabric deformed in the deformation zone and arranged in a pressing zone of a device along a second axis as the deformed preliminary fabric moves along a first axis through the pressing zone, said second axis being substantially transverse to the first axis, so as to form a consolidated preliminary fabric, the first and second tools being guided substantially parallel to one another, in part, along the first axis in the pressing zone.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the deformed preliminary fabric is inserted between a first and second vacuum film before being conveyed to the pressing zone.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein a vacuum is created in a space formed between the first and second vacuum films, either before the pressing zone or in the pressing zone.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein ventilation material is provided between the first and second vacuum films at portions of the edge regions thereof relative to the first axis, the first and second vacuum films being guided through a suction portion either before or in the pressing zone, air being evacuated out of the space through the ventilation material, whilst regions of the first and second vacuum films arranged between the ventilation material are sealed in the suction portion during the evacuation process.

21. The method according to claim 17, wherein the deformed preliminary fabric configured as a dry fabric is impregnated with a matrix either before or in the pressing zone.

22. The method according to claim 17, wherein heat is transferred to the deformed preliminary fabric in the pressing zone in order to cure said preliminary fabric so as to form a profiled part.

23. The method according to claim 17, wherein the deformed preliminary fabric is conveyed to the pressing zone as continuous material and pressing is carried out in the pressing zone continuously.