Advanced composite aerostructure article having a braided co-cured fly away hollow mandrel and method for fabrication

a composite aerostructure and hollow mandrel technology, applied in the field of advanced composite aerostructure articles and methods of fabrication, can solve the problems of requiring costly non-recurring tooling and/or costly recurring manufacturing steps, requiring at least three very expensive and man-hour consuming cure cycles, and presenting additional challenges to current techniques for fabricating composite structures. , to achieve the effect of easy repair and light assembly weigh
US20100038030A1Inactive Publication Date: 2010-02-18ALLEN GREGORY A +1
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Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
US · United States
Patent Type
Applications(United States)
Current Assignee / Owner
ALLEN GREGORY A
Publication Date
2010-02-18
Estimated Expiration
Not applicable · inactive patent

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Abstract

An article of fiber-reinforced composite material formed by co-curing a lay up under a cycle of heat and pressure. The lay up comprises a first uncured composite layer having at least one uncured resin-impregnated laminate layer. At least one hollow mandrel is provided comprised of a stiffened braided fabric and having an upper, a lower and side surfaces. The mandrel is secured on the upper surface of the first composite layer with the lower surface thereof in engagement with the upper surface of the first composite layer. A second uncured composite layer is positioned over the upper and side surfaces of the hollow mandrel and at least a portion of the upper surface the first uncured composite layer. The second uncured composite layer has at least one uncured resin-impregnated layer. After the cycle of heat and pressure in an autoclave, the hollow mandrel is retained in the co-cured article.
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Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates generally to the field of advanced composite aerostructure articles and methods of fabrication, more particularly, to an advanced composite aerostructure article having an integral co-cured fly away hollow mandrel and a method of fabrication.

[0003] 2. Background Information

[0004] There is a growing trend in the aerospace industry to expand the use of advanced composite materials for a diverse array of structural and dynamic aerostructural applications because of the strength-to-weight advantage provided by composite materials. One particular application for the use of such advanced composite materials lies in the fabrication of advanced composite articles such as panels for nacelles for aircraft jet engine propulsion systems and for control surface components, such as spoilers. Such structural articles generally comprise inner and outer composite skins, which are formed from composite materia...

Claims

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