Stiffened composite structural member and method of fabrication
US4086378A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 20, 1975 |
| Grant date | Apr 25, 1978 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 20, 1995 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T428/249945
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
Stiffened structural components, particularly integrally stiffened light weight shell structures, produced by molding astiffening member, preferably formed of a graphite-epoxy composition and having a so-called isogrid rib stiffening configuration, to a partially cured (B-stage) condition, injecting a suitable elastomer, e.g. a silicone, into the open spaces of the isogrid rib stiffener, to stabilize the partially cured composite during subsequent heat forming and curing operations, heat forming the resulting stiffening member to the required contour, e.g. for a cylinder into approximately 90.degree. arcuate isogrid panels, heat forming the skin of the shell structure by laying up a plurality of layers of a pre-impregnated tape within a cylindrical mold, installing a plurality, e.g. four, of the heat formed isogrid stiffening panels into the interior of the skin, co-curing the skin and the isogrid panels to form an integral stiffened shell structure, removing the cylindrical mold from the co-cured stiffened shell structure and removing the elastomer from the spaces between the isogrid rib stiffeners.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.