Automated bias-ply preparation device and process

US9321220B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Orbital ATK, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Jason Slack · Clinton, US
• Christopher J. Madsen · Ogden, US
• Don C. Jones · West Haven, US
• Vernon M. Benson · Morgan, US
• Peter G. Turner · Eden, US
• Ralph Douglas Cope · Elkton, US
• Kimberly Ann Ferrara · Middletown, US
• Anthony Dale Johnson · Havre de Grace, US
• Michael James Case · Bear, US
• Jesse Paul Brown · Syracuse, US
• James Gargel · Bear, US
• Steven Andrew Cope · North Little Rock, US
• Kyle Putnam Tarry · Middletown, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 13, 2010
• Grant date: Apr 26, 2016
• Expiry date: Sep 20, 2030

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T156/1052
• WIPO field: Other special machines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A material preparation device is provided. The material preparation device includes a bias-ply assembly, a feedstock assembly and an application head. The bias-ply assembly is configured to pass a bias-ply backing material along a first path. The feedstock assembly is configured to pass a feedstock along a second path that crosses the first path at a select angle. The feedstock includes resin pre-impregnated fiber reinforced material (pre-preg) having the fibers at a first orientation relative to an edge of the feedstock. The application head is configured to transfer the pre-preg from the feedstock to the bias-ply backing material at a location where the first path crosses the second path to form a bias-ply with the fibers of the pre-preg having a second different orientation relative to an edge of the formed bias-ply.