Laser projection system to facilitate layup of complex composite shapes
US6843565B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 2, 2002 |
| Grant date | Jan 18, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 25, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02T50/60
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
The present invention provides a process for the lay-up of a composite laminate article, the article produced by this process, and the apparatus used to produce the composite laminate article. The composite laminate article may be, for example, an airfoil, particularly useful as a fan blade in a large high bypass ratio turbofan engine, wherein the blade is generally regarded as large and having a high degree of twist. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a process for laying up a composite laminate article comprising a) reading a data set to enable the projection of an image of a ply section onto a work surface, the image indicating a ply section target point; b) laying up a ply section of composite laminating material within the image, wherein the ply section first contacts the work surface at the target point; and c) repeating steps (a)-(b) until the composite laminate article is complete. In a second preferred embodiment, the present invention provides for a lamination apparatus for use in making a composite laminate article comprising a work surface for receiving, in a predetermined sequence, a plurality of ply sections of composite laminating material; a l…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.