METHOD FOR PRODUCING A COMPOSITE COMPONENT

Abstract

A method for producing a composite component including a bottom layer, cover layer and honeycomb structure, including applying the honeycomb structure to the bottom layer wherein honeycomb chambers are formed. Honeycomb chambers are filled in a reinforcement region with a granular material and granular material is removed from other honeycomb chambers wherein each honeycomb chamber is filled up to a granular-material filling height and honeycomb chambers outside the reinforcement region are free of granular material. The cover layer is applied to the honeycomb structure wherein the honeycomb chambers are closed. The composite component is heated so the granular material in the honeycomb chambers expands to fill it with granular material and the cover layer, the bottom layer, the honeycomb structure and the expanded granular material harden, the density of the expanded granular material in the honeycomb chambers filled with granular material being dependent on the granular-material filling height.

Claims

1. A method for producing a composite component which comprises a base layer, a cover layer and a honeycomb structure disposed between the base layer and the cover layer, the method comprising: applying the honeycomb structure to the base layer such that a multiplicity of honeycomb chambers which are open on a side pointing away from the base layer are formed; filling honeycomb chambers in a reinforcement region with granules during a filling procedure, wherein the granules at a processing temperature at which the filling is carried out do not adhere to the honeycomb structure, the base layer or one another; removing granules to be removed from honeycomb chambers such that, after the filling of honeycomb chambers and the removal of granules to be removed, each honeycomb chamber in the reinforcement region is filled with the granules up to a granule filling level and honeycomb chambers outside the reinforcement region are free of granules; applying the cover layer to the honeycomb structure such that the honeycomb chambers are closed; and heating the composite component to a first process temperature at which the granules filled into the honeycomb chambers expand to fill up the honeycomb chambers filled with granules, and subsequently to a second process temperature at which the cover layer, the base layer, the honeycomb structure as well as the expanded granules cure, wherein a density of the expanded granules in the honeycomb chambers filled with granules depends on the granule filling level.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein granules previously removed from honeycomb chambers are re-used for filling other honeycomb chambers.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the granules previously removed from honeycomb chambers are cleaned prior to being re-used.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein honeycomb chambers in the reinforcement region during the filling procedure are first completely filled up with the granules, and the granules are subsequently removed from the completely filled-up honeycomb chambers until each honeycomb chamber in the reinforcement region is filled up to the granule filling level with the granules.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein an incorporation of the granules into the honeycomb chambers during the filling procedure is monitored such that the honeycomb chambers in the reinforcement region are filled only up to the granule filling level.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein an actual filling level of each honeycomb chamber is checked and, should the actual filling level in a honeycomb chamber exceed the granule filling level plus a tolerance, granules are removed from the respective honeycomb chamber.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein honeycomb chambers which are to be completely filled up are initially overfilled such that granules protrude from the honeycomb chambers to be completely filled up, and granules protruding from the honeycomb chambers to be completely filled up are subsequently removed by a scraper.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the granules removed by the scraper are suctioned on the scraper.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the reinforcement region has a plurality of sub-regions which are not necessarily connected to one another.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein different granule filling levels are provided for different sub-regions of the reinforcement region, wherein sub-regions having different granule filling levels have different densities after the expansion and curing of the granules.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the base layer having the applied honeycomb structure is set in vibration during the filling procedure to distribute the granules uniformly in the individual honeycomb chambers.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the honeycomb chambers filled with granules are ventilated when heating the composite component to the first process temperature.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein, for ventilating the honeycomb chambers filled with granules, the cover layer which otherwise is stressed with a tool while heating to the first and the second process temperature is destressed for ventilation intervals such that air displaced from the honeycomb chambers can escape.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein granules to be removed are suctioned.

15. A composite component produced by the method of claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] The disclosure herein will be explained in more detail hereunder with reference to the drawing in which:

[0032] FIG. 1 shows a flow chart of an example method for producing a composite component;

[0033] FIG. 2A shows a vertical sectional view of a composite component while carrying out the method from FIG. 1;

[0034] FIG. 2B shows a plan view of the composite component from FIG. 2A having a schematically illustrated metering device;

[0035] FIG. 2C shows a further vertical sectional view of the composite component from FIG. 2A while carrying out the method from FIG. 1;

[0036] FIG. 3A shows a lateral view of a first example for a metering device for filling honeycomb chambers of a composite component with granules;

[0037] FIG. 3B shows a lateral view of a second example for a metering device for filling honeycomb chambers of a composite component with granules;

[0038] FIG. 4A shows a vertical sectional view of a first example of a metering head for a metering device;

[0039] FIG. 4B shows a vertical sectional view of a second example of a metering head for a metering device;

[0040] FIG. 4C shows a vertical sectional view of a third example of a metering head for a metering device;

[0041] FIG. 5A shows a horizontal sectional view of a first example of a metering head having a suction installation;

[0042] FIG. 5B shows a horizontal sectional view of a second example of a metering head having a suction installation;

[0043] FIG. 5C shows a vertical sectional view of the metering head having a suction installation from FIG. 5B;

[0044] FIG. 6A shows a perspective sectional view of a third example of a metering head having a suction installation;

[0045] FIG. 6B shows a perspective sectional view of a fourth example of a metering head having a suction installation; and

[0046] FIG. 7 shows a schematic illustration of processing granules during an example method for producing a composite component.

[0047] An example embodiment of a method according to the disclosure herein for producing a composite component according to the disclosure herein will be explained hereunder. A flow chart having steps 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 of the example embodiment of a method according to the disclosure herein is shown in FIG. 1. Steps 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 of the method will be explained in more detail hereunder with reference to FIG. 1 and the other figures. Identical elements are identified by the same reference sign in all of the figures.

[0048] As is illustrated in FIG. 2A, in a first method step 1, a honeycomb structure 17 is disposed on a base layer 13 of the composite component 15 to be produced, which can also be referred to as a composite 15. The base layer 13 consists of or comprises a multiplicity of tiers of prepreg materials which are not individually identified in the figures. As a result of the disposal of the honeycomb structure 17 on the base layer 13, a multiplicity of honeycomb chambers 19 illustrated only in FIG. 2A are created. Each honeycomb chamber 19 is a cavity which on the side pointing away from the base layer 13 is open. Only a few of the honeycomb chambers 19 have been provided with a reference sign in order to avoid that FIG. 2A loses clarity by virtue of an excessively large number of reference signs. For the same reason, the illustration of individual honeycomb chambers 19 has been dispensed with in the remaining figures. The workpiece 23 composed of the base layer 13 and the honeycomb structure 17 is disposed on a tool 21.

[0049] Prior to carrying out the second method step 3, the workpiece 23 is disposed in a metering system 25 which comprises a table 27 and a metering device 29 which is able to travel across the table 27, the table 27 and the metering device 29 being illustrated in more detail in FIG. 2B. In the second method step, those honeycomb chambers 19 of the workpiece 23 that are situated in a reinforcement region 31, which is illustrated in FIG. 2B, are then filled with granules. Specifically, the reinforcement region 31 of the workpiece 23 comprises a multiplicity of sub-regions 31a, 31b, 31c, 31d, 31e, 31f, 31g, 31h, 31k, 31m, 31n where the composite component 15 to be produced is to be reinforced for various reasons. Each sub-portion 31a, 31b, 31c, 31d, 31e, 31f, 31g, 31h, 31k, 31m, 31n has only been identified by the respective unequivocal reference sign and not additionally by the general reference sign 31 pertaining to the reinforcement region, so as not to overload FIG. 2B. However, the reference sign 31 conjointly denotes all sub-portions 31a, 31b, 31c, 31d, 31e, 31f, 31g, 31h, 31k, 31m, 31n. As can likewise be seen in FIG. 2B, the sub-portions 31f, 31h, 31k, 31n have already been filled with the granules, while the other sub-portions 31a, 31b, 31c, 31d, 31e, 31g, 31m have yet to be filled. The table 27 of the metering system 25 can be set in vibration while filling the honeycomb chambers 19 so that the incorporated granules are distributed uniformly in the respective filled honeycomb chamber 19, i.e. each individual honeycomb chamber 19.

[0050] The metering device 29, which in various embodiments will be described in more detail hereunder with reference to FIGS. 3A to 7, is used for filling the honeycomb chambers 19. The metering device 29, also referred to as a CNC metering device 29, is monitored by a control computer (not illustrated) and automatically fills completely the honeycomb chambers 19 of the workpiece 23 according to previously defined items of control information, the latter being able to be predefined in the form of CAD data, for example. To this end, the device 29 can be moved in three axes (parallel to the plane of the tool as well as perpendicular to this plane) and control the volumetric flow of granules, or suction excess granules again, respectively.

[0051] Examples of metering devices 29, which can in each case be used as part of the metering system 25 from FIG. 2B, are shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B. The metering devices 29 comprise in each case one hopper 33 for the granules, the latter being, for example, spherical pellets which are known from WO 2010/059622 A1 and have a diameter between 0.5 mm and 0.9 mm. Pellets with other dimensions can also be used. The grains of the granules, or the pellets, respectively, are designed such that they freely flow, thus do not adhere to one another, or adhere to one another only to a minor degree, and are readily suitable for pouring, at a processing temperature of preferably between 10° C. and 25° C. The granules moreover do not adhere to the honeycomb structure 17 and to the base layer 13, or adhere thereto only to a minor extent, so that the granules can be easily removed again.

[0052] The granules from the hopper 33 are incorporated into the honeycomb chambers 19 by way of a respective metering head 35 which either bears directly on the honeycomb structure 17 (FIG. 3A) or is spaced apart from the honeycomb structure 17 (FIG. 3B). Each metering head 35 comprises a closure element 37 by way of which the flow of granules through the metering head 35 can be stopped. The closure element 37 can be, for example, a flap 37 as is shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B. However, other design embodiments in which a screw conveyor 43 is also used as a closure element 37 are also conceivable, as shown in FIG. 4C, for example. Moreover, provided are downholder units 39 by way of which the honeycomb structure 17 is pressed onto the base layer 13 during the filling procedure so as to prevent that the honeycomb structure 17 is released from the base layer 13.

[0053] Illustrated in FIGS. 4A to 4C are various embodiments of metering heads 35 which can in each case be used as a metering head 35 in the metering devices 29 shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B. The metering head 35 illustrated in FIG. 4A is used as an upright column for incorporating granules 41. The weight of the granules 41 situated in the hopper 33 here bears continuously on the granules 41 in the metering head 35 so that these granules 41 by way of a constant volumetric flow are forced out of the metering head 35 as a wide jet. This is particularly expedient when the honeycomb chambers 19 are to be completely filled with granules 41, and the metering head 35 bears directly on the honeycomb structure 17, as is shown in FIG. 3A.

[0054] A second embodiment in which the grains of the granules 41 drop freely from the metering head 35 is shown in FIG. 4B. This metering head 35 can in particular also be used when the honeycomb chambers 19 are not to be completely filled but filling is envisaged only up to a predefined granule filling level.

[0055] Finally shown in FIG. 4C is a third example embodiment of a metering head 35 which comprises a screw conveyor 43 by which the flow of the granules 41 can be controlled in a targeted manner. This embodiment is also particularly suitable when the honeycomb chambers 19 are to be filled only up to a specific granule filling level.

[0056] As has already been explained above, in the second method step 3 those honeycomb chambers 19 of the workpiece 23 that lie within the reinforcement region 31 are filled with the granules 41. It is the objective of the filling procedure to fill the honeycomb chambers 19 up to a predetermined granule filling level, wherein the granule filling level may be uniform for the entire reinforcement region 31, or else the granule filling levels are independently established for each sub-region 31a, 31b, 31c, 31d, 31e, 31f, 31g, 31h, 31k, 31m, 31n. Because the size of the sub-regions toward the bottom is only restricted by the size of the honeycomb chambers 19, an individual granule filling level which is between 100% (completely filled) and a minimum filling level can be fundamentally established for each honeycomb chamber 19. A granule filling level of 0% is not provided within the reinforcement region because the latter comprises only honeycomb chambers 19 filled with granules, and empty honeycomb chambers 19 lie outside the reinforcement region 31. The minimum filling level is preferably chosen such that the honeycomb chamber 19 after the complete expansion of the granules 41 is completely filled up and the lowest possible density of the expanded granules 41 is achieved.

[0057] The granule filling level can be achieved in two different ways. The honeycomb chambers 19 are either filled directly only up to the envisaged granule filling level including a tolerance range. To this end, the metering heads 35 shown in FIGS. 4B and 4C can in particular be used, the metering heads 35 moreover preferably having an optical, acoustic or capacitive sensor assembly by way of which the actual filling level can be continuously monitored. Alternatively, each honeycomb chamber 19 can first be completely filled before granules 41 are again removed from the honeycomb chambers 19 until the envisaged granule filling level is reached in the third method step 5.

[0058] Suitable to this end are in particular the metering heads 35 which are shown in FIGS. 5A to 6B, have an integrated suction device 45 and can likewise be used as the metering head 35 in the metering devices 29 shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B. The actual construction of the metering head 35 can correspond to that of one of the metering heads 35 from FIGS. 4A to 4C. Apart from the suction device 45, the metering heads shown in FIG. 5A as well as 5B and 5C comprise also a scraper 47 which is guided directly along a surface of the honeycomb structure 117 and picks up excess granules 41, as can be best seen in FIG. 5C. The picked-up granules 41 are subsequently suctioned by a vacuum by the suction device. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5A, the scraper 47 and the suction device 45 are integrated directly in the metering head 35, while the scraper 47 and the suction device 45 in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 5B and 5C are disposed so as to be spaced apart. As a result thereof, the relative disposal of the scraper 47 and of the metering head 35 can be adapted to various filling geometries.

[0059] In the example embodiments shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the suction device 45 is integrated directly in the metering head 35. An annular cavity 49 which toward the honeycomb structure 17 has an annular opening 51 through which granules 41 can be suctioned from the honeycomb chambers 19 is thus provided in FIG. 6A, for example.

[0060] A similar arrangement is provided in the embodiment shown in FIG. 6B. The suction device 45 here additionally comprises one or a plurality of isolating elements 53 which can be lowered onto the surface of a honeycomb structure 17 so as to separate or isolate, respectively, an individual honeycomb chamber 19 from the remaining honeycomb chambers 19 in order to ensure that granules 41 are in each case incorporated only into the one honeycomb chamber 19, or suctioned only from the one honeycomb chamber 19, respectively. Excess granules here are suctioned through a gap 55 between the isolating elements 53 and the metering head 35.

[0061] In the third method step 5, however, excess granules 41 are not only removed from honeycomb chambers 41 which form part of the reinforcement region in order for the envisaged granule filling level to be achieved. Rather, granules 41 are additionally also suctioned from the honeycomb chambers 19 that lie outside the reinforcement region 31 and are therefore not to be reinforced. It is thus preferably avoided that the weight of the composite component 15 is unnecessarily increased.

[0062] The suctioned granules 41 can be advantageously re-used, as is schematically illustrated in FIG. 7. In the preferred embodiment which can be integrated in the metering system 25 from FIG. 2B, the granules 41 removed by the metering head 35 having the integrated suction device are first suctioned into a vacuum vessel 57 and from there directed onward into a cleaning station 59 in which the suctioned granules are treated. The cleaned granules by way of a mixing valve 61 are directed into the hopper 33 of the metering system 25 again, wherein the ratio between treated granules from the cleaning station 59 and fresh granules from a storage container 63 is set by the mixing valve 61 so as to ensure an adequate quality of the granules.

[0063] Once all of the excess granules have been removed from the honeycomb chambers 19 so that all of the honeycomb chambers 19 within the reinforcement region 31 have been filled within a tolerance up to the respective granule filling level with granules 41 and have been completely removed, i.e. preferably as far as technically expedient, from all honeycomb chambers outside the reinforcement region 31, the cover layer 65 is applied to the workpiece 23 in the fourth method step 7, the cover layer 65 being illustrated in FIG. 2C.

[0064] In the fifth method step 9, the composite component 15 is finally heated to a first process temperature at which the granules 41 in the honeycomb chambers 19 expand and fill up the latter. To this end, the workpiece 25 is firmly held between an upper tool 67 and a lower tool 69 such that the workpiece 25 cannot be deformed. However, in order for the granules 41 to be able to expand without impediment, the upper tool 67 is lifted for ventilation intervals so that air which conjointly with the granules 41 is situated in the honeycomb chambers 19 can escape beforehand.

[0065] Finally, the workpiece 25 in a final sixth method step 11 is cured so as to form the composite component 15. To this end, the process temperature here is kept constant because the first process temperature at which the granules 41 expand or foam, respectively, and the second process temperature at which the expanded granules 41, the base layer 13, the honeycomb structure 17 and the cover layer 65 cure and connect to one another, are identical. The workpiece 25 is held between the upper and the lower tool 67, 69 also during the sixth method step 11.

[0066] A composite component 15 which has been locally reinforced in that granules 41 are incorporated in a targeted manner into honeycomb chambers 19 in the reinforcement region 31 and expanded therein has thus been produced by the example method. Because the filling level in the individual honeycomb chambers 19 can be set, it is moreover possible for the density of the expanded honeycomb chambers 19 to be adapted in a targeted manner to the arising loads and thus for an ideally positive balance between a sufficiently high load-bearing capability and a low weight of the composite component 15 to be achieved, this being particularly advantageous in the aerospace industry in which already minor reductions in weight are associated with significant savings in terms of fuel consumption. Moreover, the proportion of the granules 41 actually used in the composite component 15 can be significantly increased in comparison to conventional methods, because excess granules 41 can be suctioned, treated and further processed.

[0067] While at least one example embodiment of the present invention(s) is disclosed herein, it should be understood that modifications, substitutions and alternatives may be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art and can be made without departing from the scope of this disclosure. This disclosure is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the example embodiment(s). In addition, in this disclosure, the terms “comprise” or “comprising” do not exclude other elements or steps, the terms “a”, “an” or “one” do not exclude a plural number, and the term “or” means either or both. Furthermore, characteristics or steps which have been described may also be used in combination with other characteristics or steps and in any order unless the disclosure or context suggests otherwise. This disclosure hereby incorporates by reference the complete disclosure of any patent or application from which it claims benefit or priority.