| (19) |
 |
|
(11) |
EP 2 014 448 A8 |
| (12) |
CORRECTED EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
|
Note: Bibliography reflects the latest situation |
| (15) |
Correction information: |
|
Corrected version no 1 (W1 A2) |
| (48) |
Corrigendum issued on: |
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17.06.2009 Bulletin 2009/25 |
| (43) |
Date of publication: |
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14.01.2009 Bulletin 2009/03 |
| (22) |
Date of filing: 21.06.2008 |
|
| (51) |
International Patent Classification (IPC):
|
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| (84) |
Designated Contracting States: |
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AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MT NL NO PL
PT RO SE SI SK TR |
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Designated Extension States: |
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AL BA MK RS |
| (30) |
Priority: |
27.06.2007 US 769082
|
| (71) |
Applicant: The Boeing comany |
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Chicago, IL 60606-2016 (US) |
|
| (72) |
Inventors: |
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- Nelson, Paul E.
University Place, Washington 98466-3216 (US)
- McCowin, Peter D.
Enumclaw, Washington 98022-8744 (US)
- Lund, Worm
Bellevue, Washington 88006 (US)
|
| (74) |
Representative: Lindner, Michael et al |
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Witte, Weller & Partner
Patentanwälte
Postfach 10 54 62
70047 Stuttgart
70047 Stuttgart (DE) |
|
| |
|
| (54) |
Method and apparatus for contouring composite pre-preg articles |
(57) A forming tool and method for its use with flat pre-preg composite laminate assemblys
which incorporates a mandrel (10) segmented into multiple forming blocks, the forming
blocks sized to receive a draped composite laminate assembly (14) with all portions
of the composite laminate assembly spaced from a shaping surface on each block. A
spline plate (12) engages the shaping surface of the forming blocks to provide a neutral
axis for maintaining the entire composite laminate assembly in tension during forming.
In the exemplary embodiments, the draped composite laminate assembly (14) is formed
to the forming blocks from the flat composite laminate assembly and maintained in
contact with the forming blocks using a vacuum bag. The mandrel forming blocks are
then displaced to a desired curvature on the spline plate.