APPARATUS FOR CARRYING A FIBER COMPOSITE RESIN SYSTEM IN A HEAT TRANSFER DEVICE

Abstract

An apparatus for carrying a fiber composite resin system in a heat transfer device, in particular an autoclave, for transferring heat between the fiber composite resin system and a directed gas flow, to produce a fiber composite aircraft component. The apparatus comprises a carrier structure for carrying the fiber composite resin system, the carrier structure having at least one flow path which, when the apparatus is accommodated in the heat transfer device, extends from an inlet on a side facing the directed gas flow along the fiber composite resin system accommodated by the carrier structure, to allow heat exchange between the gas flow in the flow path and the fiber composite resin system, and a diverting device for diverting at least a part of the directed gas flow when the apparatus is accommodated in the heat transfer device, to feed this part to the carrier structure flow path.

Claims

1. An apparatus for carrying a fiber composite resin system in a heat transfer device, for transferring heat between the fiber composite resin system and a directed gas flow, to produce a fiber composite component for an aircraft, comprising: a carrier structure to carry the fiber composite resin system, wherein the carrier structure has at least one flow path which, when the apparatus is accommodated in the heat transfer device, extends from an inlet on a side facing the directed gas flow along the fiber composite resin system accommodated by the carrier structure, to allow heat exchange between the gas flow in the flow path and the fiber composite resin system, and a diverting device to divert at least a part of the directed gas flow when the apparatus is accommodated in the heat transfer device, to feed this part to the flow path of the carrier structure.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the diverting device is provided at one end of the carrier structure to feed the part of the directed gas flow to the inlet of the flow path of the carrier structure.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the diverting device has a diverting plate.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the diverting device has a diverting funnel which widens from the inlet of the flow path in a funnel shape in a direction of the directed gas flow when the apparatus is accommodated in the heat transfer device.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the diverting device has a flexible material with a holding device which allows the flexible material to be fastened releasably to at least one of the heat transfer device or the carrier structure.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the holding device comprises a zipper.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the flow path of the carrier structure extends from the inlet to an outlet on the opposite side of the carrier structure along the entire fiber composite resin system when the fiber composite resin system is carried by the carrier structure, and the apparatus furthermore has at least one further flow path between the inlet and an opening in a side face which is arranged between the inlet and the outlet.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the carrier structure is formed in a honeycomb-like manner from individual chambers and a top side, wherein each of the chambers has an opening in its side faces, that is, its faces having a component perpendicular to the top side, such that adjacent chambers are each connected together via an opening.

9. The apparatus according to claim 7, which has a sealing element for sealing off the at least one opening in the side face between the inlet and outlet. wherein the apparatus is configured such that every opening in the side faces between the inlet and outlet is sealed off with one or more sealing elements.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the carrier structure has a shaping surface to impart a shape of the fiber composite component to be produced with the apparatus on the fiber composite resin system.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the shaping surface is configured to produce a fuselage shell, a wing shell, a tail unit part or a rib for an aircraft.

12. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the shaping surface is curved inward in the widthwise direction of the carrier structure, wherein the apparatus is furthermore configured to feed a part of the directed gas flow to the curved region with the diverting device such that this part of the gas flow can flow past the fiber composite resin system through the curved region.

13. An autoclave for producing a fiber composite component for aviation, having a chamber, a flow generating device for generating a directed gas flow in the chamber, and an apparatus for carrying a fiber composite resin system according to claim 1, wherein the autoclave is configured such that at least a part of the directed gas flow can be fed to the inlet of the carrier structure by being diverted by the diverting device.

14. The autoclave according to claim 13, which is configured such that the diverting device extends from the carrier structure to the chamber inner face in order to close a free space between these components.

15. A method for producing a fiber composite component for an aircraft, using an autoclave according to claim 13, comprising feeding a directed gas flow to a carrier structure which carries a fiber composite resin system, wherein the carrier structure has a flow path which extends from an inlet, which faces the directed gas flow, along the fiber composite resin system, and diverting a part of the directed gas flow in order to feed this part to the inlet of the flow path of the carrier structure.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the heat transfer device comprises an autoclave.

17. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the diverting plate, which, when the apparatus is accommodated in the heat transfer device, is arranged perpendicularly to the directed gas flow.

18. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the diverting device is made of rubber.

19. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the apparatus is configured such that every opening in the side faces between the inlet and outlet is sealed off with one or more sealing elements.

20. The autoclave according to claim 13, wherein the chamber has the form of a cylinder.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] FIG. 1 shows an isometric view of a carrier structure for a fiber composite resin system, as is known from the prior art.

[0028] FIG. 2 shows a schematic side view of an autoclave with a carrier structure which carries a fiber composite resin system, as is known from the prior art.

[0029] FIG. 3 shows a front view of the autoclave shown in FIG. 2, together with the carrier structure and fiber composite resin system.

[0030] FIG. 4 shows an apparatus for carrying a fiber composite resin system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] FIG. 5 shows a schematic side view of an autoclave with an apparatus, provided therein, for carrying a fiber composite resin system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0032] FIG. 4 shows an apparatus for carrying a fiber composite resin system 1 in a heat transfer device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The apparatus 1 has a carrier structure 2 and a diverting device 3.

[0033] The carrier structure 2 is preferably formed in a cuboidal manner with a continuous top side 4. Other forms are also conceivable here. Provided on the top side 4 of the carrier structure 2 is a shaping surface. The shaping surface is configured such that the final shape, i.e., the shape of the finished fiber composite material, can be imparted on a fiber composite resin system which is accommodated by this surface. In particular, the shaping surface of this embodiment is designed to form extensive fiber composite components, such as a fuselage shell, a wing shell, a tail unit part or a relatively large rib. In the context of this embodiment, however, other forms of the shaping surface are also conceivable here. In FIG. 4, the shaping surface is illustrated merely as a level plane.

[0034] In the context of the present invention, one or more pressure pieces for weighing down the fiber composite resin system can be provided on a fiber composite resin system which has been placed on the shaping surface, in order to keep the fiber composite resin system in form.

[0035] The carrier structure 2 according to the embodiment has, beneath the top side 4, a honeycomb-like structure 5. This honeycomb-like structure 5, as a whole, is preferably likewise formed in a cuboidal manner and supported on a plurality of feet 6. It should be noted here that other configurations of the honeycomb-like structure, for example a cylindrical configuration, are also conceivable. The feet 6 are also merely optional for this embodiment.

[0036] The honeycomb-like structure 5 is constructed from individual chambers 7 which each have an opening 8 in every side face, i.e., in every face with an extent component perpendicular to the top side 4. Thus, the honeycomb-like structure 5, as a whole, also has openings 8 in every side face. To be more precise, the honeycomb-like structure 5 comprises openings 8 in the front face 9, in the rear face 12, shown in FIG. 5, on the opposite side from the front face, and in the two-parallel side faces 10 of the honeycomb-like structure 5, which are arranged between the front face 9 and the rear face 12 of the honeycomb-like structure 5.

[0037] Each of the chambers 7 of the honeycomb-like structure 5 is thus connected to every other chamber 7 via a flow path. In particular, the honeycomb-like structure 5 has a flow path between the openings 8 of the chambers 7 in the front face 9, the inlet, and the openings 8 of the chambers 7 in the rear face 12, the outlet. To be more precise, the present embodiment has a plurality of flow paths between the inlet and outlet.

[0038] Furthermore, the carrier structure 2 of this embodiment has a plurality of sealing elements 11. The sealing elements 11 are provided on the opposite side faces 10 of the carrier structure 2 in order to seal off all the openings 8 in the side faces 10. These sealing elements 11 preferably close any flow path within the honeycomb-like structure 5 between the openings 8 of the side faces 10 and the inlet or the outlet, respectively. In other words, these sealing elements ensure that the gas flow that has entered the honeycomb-like structure 5 through the inlet can escape only through the outlet. Any escape via openings 8 between the inlet and outlet is thus prevented by the sealing elements 11. In the context of the present embodiment, it is likewise conceivable for only some openings 8 in the side face 10 between the inlet and outlet to be closed by a sealing element 11.

[0039] Furthermore, this first preferred embodiment has a diverting device 3. The diverting device 3 is provided on the front face 9 of the honeycomb-like structure 2 and extends preferably perpendicularly to the top side 4. The diverting device 3 is configured, in this first embodiment, in the form of a diverting plate which extends from the top side 4 and can have a semicircular shape, in order in this way to fill an intermediate space between the carrier structure 2 and the inner face of an autoclave with a circular cross section. Other forms of this diverting plate are also conceivable here. Preferably, however, the diverting plate is configured such that it can close a free space between the carrier structure and the heat transfer device in order, in this way, to divert a part of a gas flow in the heat transfer device and to feed it to the inlet of the honeycomb-like structure 5. The diverting device 3 can also be configured in some other way in the context of this first embodiment. For example, it can be configured in a funnel-shaped manner and/or comprise a flexible material which is able to be connected to the carrier structure 2 and/or a heat transfer device in particular via a zipper.

[0040] FIG. 5 shows an apparatus 20 for carrying a fiber composite resin system W according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The apparatus 20 comprises a carrier structure 2 which is configured in a manner corresponding to the carrier structure 2 of the first embodiment. The carrier structure 2 will accordingly not be described again in the context of this second embodiment.

[0041] Furthermore, the apparatus 20 for carrying a fiber composite resin system W according to this second embodiment comprises a diverting device 21 which is configured in a funnel-shaped manner The diverting funnel 21 of this second embodiment is configured such that it widens from the inlet of the honeycomb-like structure 5 at the front face 9 in the direction of the directed gas flow G within a heat transfer device, for example an autoclave. Other configurations of the diverting device are also conceivable here.

[0042] The apparatus 20 for carrying a fiber composite resin system W according to this second embodiment is accommodated in a heat transfer device 22 in FIG. 5. The heat transfer device 22 is in particular an autoclave, but can also be a furnace, for example. Preferably, the heat transfer device is formed with a chamber 23 which is, for example, cylindrical. The heat transfer device 22 furthermore has a flow generating device (not shown) in order to generate a directed gas flow G. The directed gas flow G in this case flows preferably parallel to an axis of symmetry of the heat transfer device. If the heat transfer device is formed in a cylindrical manner, the directed gas flow preferably flows along the cylinder axis.

[0043] In the context of the second embodiment of the apparatus 20 for carrying a fiber composite resin system W according to the present invention, the funnel-shaped diverting device 21 is configured such that it extends from the inlet of the carrier structure 2 at the front face 9 to the inner face of the chamber 23 of the heat transfer device. Other configurations are also conceivable here.

[0044] In order to cure a fiber composite resin system W which is provided on a shaping surface that is arranged on the top side 4 of the carrier structure 2, the entire carrier structure 2, together with the workpiece W, is pushed into a heat transfer device 22, as can be seen in FIG. 5. Subsequently, a directed gas flow G is generated by the heat transfer device 22. The directed gas flow G is diverted by the diverting device 21 in order, in this way, to feed the entire gas flow within the heat transfer device 22 to the inlet of the carrier structure 2. On account of the sealing elements 11 at the side faces 10 of the carrier structure 2, the entire gas flow G generated in the heat transfer device 22 flows from the inlet to the outlet of the carrier structure and thus along the entire fiber composite resin system W. This results in uniform and high heat transfer between the gas flow, which is located within the carrier structure 2, and the carrier structure 2 and thus the fiber composite resin system W, this resulting in short process times and high energy efficiency.

[0045] While at least one exemplary 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 exemplary embodiment(s). In addition, in this disclosure, the terms comprise or comprising do not exclude other elements or steps, the terms a 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.