Method of fabricating a composite article having an integral, co-cured composite stiffening member
US5580502A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 23, 1995 |
| Grant date | Dec 3, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 23, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T428/24157
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A method for fabricating a composite article having a composite stiffening member co-cure bonded in integral combination therewith wherein the composite article comprises outer mold line (OML) and inner mold line (IML) composite skins and a modified honeycomb core interposed therebetween. The method includes a first set of steps for modifying the honeycomb core of the composite article and includes the steps of providing a detail mold that defines a detail cavity and a core engagement surface, aligning the honeycomb core with the detail mold by abuttingly engaging a first surface of the honeycomb core with the core engagement surface wherein a base segment of the honeycomb core is aligned with the detail cavity, to injecting a RIM foam to fill the detail cavity and the honeycomb cells of the base segment, and curing the injected RIM foam to form the modified honeycomb core that includes a densified base segment and a detail mandrel integral with the densified base segment. The detail mandrel is operative to define the configuration of the composite stiffening member to be co-cure bonded in integral combination with the composite article. A second set of steps includes laying up a f…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.