Patent classifications
B29C70/885
Method of manufacturing simple curvature thermoplastic composite parts
A method for manufacturing a composite part by laying up courses of composite tape using an automated tape layup (ATL) machine onto a conductive flexible facesheet laid flat on a flat surface, and then transferring the facesheet with the composite material thereon to a curved tooling surface for attachment of substructures and curing into the composite part. The method may also include applying insulation below the facesheet and above the composite material, then heating the conductive facesheet to cure the composite tape and fuse the composite tape to the substructures without heating the tooling surface or any other items used to compress and cure the composite material into the composite part. Heating of the facesheet may be performed using joule heat provided by a single turn transformer inducing current to a plurality of conductive wires attached at opposing ends to the facesheet.
Methods of embedding an elongate susceptor within a thermoplastic body
Methods of embedding an elongate susceptor within a thermoplastic body and systems that perform the methods are disclosed herein. The methods include extending the elongate susceptor such that an extended portion of the elongate susceptor extends between a guide structure and a body-contacting structure. The methods also include heating a segment of the elongate susceptor to produce a heated portion of the elongate susceptor. The methods further include pressing a leading region of the heated portion of the elongate susceptor through a body surface of the thermoplastic body and into the thermoplastic body. The methods also include operatively translating at least one of the guide structure, the body-contacting structure, and an application tool that includes the guide structure and the body-contacting structure along an embedment pathway for the elongate susceptor.
Wind turbine blade comprising a root end structure with a pultruded element having a transition portion
This invention relates to a root end structure, a wind turbine blade comprising such a root end structure and a method of manufacturing such a wind turbine blade. The root end structure comprises a plurality of fastening members distributed along a root end of a blade part, wherein a first plurality of pultruded elements are arranged in between the fastening members and a second pultruded element is further arranged at the blade joint ends adjacent to an outermost fastening member. Each first pultruded element has opposite facing second sides each facing a first side of an adjacent fastening member. The second pultruded element has one second side facing the outermost fastening member and another second side facing the blade joint interface. The second pultruded element comprises a transition portion forming a smooth transition for the inner layers extending further along the mould edge surface.
AN INTERLAYER, A SPAR CAP AND A WIND TURBINE BLADE
The present disclosure relates to an interlayer for being arranged between a first element and a second element of a fibre reinforced composite material, the interlayer comprises an interlayer sheet comprising one or more fibre layers extending in a fibre layer plane, the one or more fibre layers including a first fibre layer comprising a first plurality of fibres and having a first upper fibre surface and a first lower fibre surface, wherein the interlayer sheet has an upper interlayer surface and a lower interlayer surface and wherein the interlayer comprises a plurality of conductive fibres, wherein each of the plurality of conductive fibres forms part of the upper interlayer surface as well as the lower interlayer surface.
METHOD OF FORMING A STRUCTURAL PORTION OF A FUEL TANK FOR AN AIRCRAFT
The present application relates to a method of forming a structural portion of a fuel tank for an aircraft in which the structural portion is formed from a fibre reinforced polymer and a sensor is integrated in the structural portion. The method includes providing a fibre ply which acts as a structural component, and embroidering an electrically conductive wire in a predetermined pattern on the fibre ply to form the sensor. The fibre ply acts as a sensor substrate. Furthermore, the method includes applying a polymer matrix to the fibre ply so that the fibre ply and electrically conductive wire are covered by the polymer matrix. The present application also relates to a fuel tank for an aircraft, a fuel quantity indicating system, and an aircraft.
Lightweight electronic device for automotive applications and method
A lightweight radio/CD player for vehicular application is virtually “fastenerless” and includes a case and frontal interface formed of polymer based material that is molded to provide details to accept audio devices such as playback mechanisms (if desired) and radio receivers, as well as the circuit boards required for electrical control and display. The case and frontal interface are of composite structure, including an insert molded electrically conductive wire mesh screen that has been pre-formed to contour with the molding operation. The wire mesh provides EMC, RFI, BCI and ESD shielding and grounding of the circuit boards via exposed wire mesh pads and adjacent ground clips. The major components and subassemblies self-interconnect by integral guide and connection features effecting “slide lock” and “snap lock” self-interconnection. The major components and subassemblies self-ground by establishing an interference fit with exposed, resilient, embossed portions of wire mesh.
LIGHTNING STRIKE DISPERSION FOR COMPOSITE AIRCRAFT STRUCTURES
A lightning strike dispersion structure may include a composite component having an outboard surface, wherein the composite component is electrically nonconductive. The lightning strike dispersion structure may include a metal sheet coupled to and extending across a minority portion of the outboard surface of the composite component, wherein the metal sheet is electrically conductive. The lightning strike dispersion structure may also include a metal stud coupled to and in electrical contact with the metal sheet, the metal stud extending completely through the composite component, wherein the metal stud is electrically conductive.
VANE MADE OF COMPOSITE MATERIAL COMPRISING METALLIC REINFORCEMENTS, AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING SUCH A VANE
A method for manufacturing a blade made of composite material for a turbine engine, in particular of an aircraft, the steps of injecting a resin in order to impregnate a fibrous preform woven in three dimensions and polymerizing the resin so as to form the blade that includes an airfoil, one longitudinal end of which is connected to a platform. The platform includes pressure and suction portions connected to the airfoil by a fillet, wherein a separation is formed in the fibrous preform between the pressure and suction portions. The method further includes reinforcing a leading edge of the airfoil; and reinforcing the fillets by integration of a metal reinforcement on at least one part of the pressure and suction portions of the platform and in the separation.
Method and system for attaching a piece of equipment to a structure made from composite material
A method of placing a fastener plate on a structure made of composite material, the structure being obtained by a technique of injecting resin under a vacuum, the technique including placing a fiber preform in a closed mold, injecting a thermosetting resin into the mold, and polymerizing the resin prior to cooling. The method includes mounting a metal fastener plate against a wall of the mold before putting the fiber preform into place, the fastener plate coming into contact with one of faces of the fiber preform while the fiber preform is being put into place in the mold, and the resin becoming deposited between the fastener plate and the fiber preform while the resin is being injected into the mold. The method may be used in particular for fastening equipment on a composite material fan casing of a gas turbine for an aeroengine.
Pouch Forming Apparatus and Method
To solve the above problem, a pouch forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a die in which a forming space is recessed inward from a top surface thereof; a partition wall partitioning the forming space into first and second forming spaces; a stripper disposed above the die and configured to descend to contact the die with the pouch film therebetween to fix the pouch film to be seated on a top surface of the die; and an electromagnetic force generation part disposed above the forming space and configured to generate electromagnetic force and configured to apply the electromagnetic force to the forming space.