Pressure tunable expandable mandrel for manufacturing a composite structure
US9120246B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 1, 2013 |
| Grant date | Sep 1, 2015 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 2, 2033 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB32B2305/024
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A method of making a composite core can include configuring a plurality of mandrels to have a desired thermal expansion characteristic, placing a composite material around each mandrel, placing the plurality of mandrels in a tool, the tool being configured to constrain the plurality of mandrels as the mandrels experience a thermal expansion, heating the mandrels so that the mandrels thermally expand, thereby applying a pressure to the composite material during a cure cycle, and then cooling and separating the mandrels from the composite core. The mandrel is configured as an internal form for making a tube member of a composite core.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.