System and method for minimizing wrinkles in composites
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of controlling wrinkle formation in a composite laminate, comprising the steps of:
- providing a tooling rod assembly including a plurality of tooling rods protruding above a tool surface on a tool side of a tool at a location adjacent to a juncture of the side with a contoured surface of the tool, the plurality of tooling rods having a lengthwise direction oriented locally parallel to the tool surface, the tooling rod assembly being one of;
mounted to the tool surface;
integral with the tool surface;
applying two or more composite plies over the tooling rod assembly and the tool surface such that an entirety of the tooling rod assembly is located immediately adjacent the tool surface on a side of the two or more composite plies facing the tool surface and such that at least one of the composite plies is in direct physical contact with the plurality of tooling rods;
applying a compaction pressure to the two or more composite plies against the plurality of tooling rods and against the tool surface; and
forming the two or more composite plies into a corrugated shape over the plurality of tooling rods with no tooling rods located between the two or more composite plies, the tooling rod assembly controlling wrinkle formation in the two or more composite plies, the tooling rod assembly being stationary relative to the tool surface during formation of the two or more composite plies into the corrugated shape having a plurality of corrugations.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A wrinkle mitigation system may include at least one tooling rod disposed against a tool surface at a location on the tool where a composite ply is configured to overlap the tooling rod. The tooling rod may have an elongated shape and may be generally oriented along a direction of wrinkle formation in the composite ply. The tooling rod may have a rod width that results in the composite ply assuming a corrugated shape when compaction pressure is applied to the composite ply.
-
Citations
27 Claims
-
1. A method of controlling wrinkle formation in a composite laminate, comprising the steps of:
-
providing a tooling rod assembly including a plurality of tooling rods protruding above a tool surface on a tool side of a tool at a location adjacent to a juncture of the side with a contoured surface of the tool, the plurality of tooling rods having a lengthwise direction oriented locally parallel to the tool surface, the tooling rod assembly being one of; mounted to the tool surface; integral with the tool surface; applying two or more composite plies over the tooling rod assembly and the tool surface such that an entirety of the tooling rod assembly is located immediately adjacent the tool surface on a side of the two or more composite plies facing the tool surface and such that at least one of the composite plies is in direct physical contact with the plurality of tooling rods; applying a compaction pressure to the two or more composite plies against the plurality of tooling rods and against the tool surface; and forming the two or more composite plies into a corrugated shape over the plurality of tooling rods with no tooling rods located between the two or more composite plies, the tooling rod assembly controlling wrinkle formation in the two or more composite plies, the tooling rod assembly being stationary relative to the tool surface during formation of the two or more composite plies into the corrugated shape having a plurality of corrugations. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
-
-
20. A method of controlling wrinkle formation in a composite laminate, comprising the steps of:
-
mounting a tooling rod assembly including a plurality of tooling rods to a tool surface in a manner such that the plurality of tooling rods protrude above the tool surface on a tool side of a tool at a location adjacent to a juncture of the tool side with a contoured surface of the tool, the plurality of tooling rods having a lengthwise direction oriented locally parallel to the tool surface; laying up a plurality of composite plies over the tooling rod assembly and the tool surface such that an entirety of the tooling rod assembly is located immediately adjacent the tool surface on a side of the plurality of composite plies facing the tool surface and such that at least one of the composite plies is in direct physical contact with the plurality of tooling rods; applying a compaction pressure to the plurality of composite plies against the plurality of tooling rods and against the tool surface; and forming the plurality of composite plies into a corrugated shape over the plurality of tooling rods with none of the plurality of tooling rods being located between the plurality of composite plies, the tooling rod assembly controlling wrinkle formation in the plurality of composite plies, the tooling rod assembly being stationary relative to the tool surface during formation of the plurality of composite plies into the corrugated shape having a plurality of corrugations. - View Dependent Claims (21)
-
Specification