Composite Lay-up Head Gas Nozzle Adhesion Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing composite material lay-up equipment faces issues with fibre reinforcement materials adhering to the components of the head due to tackiness, leading to equipment malfunction and downtime for repairs.
Innovation Solution
A composite material lay-up head with elongate tow guide channels equipped with gas nozzles that deliver jets of gas to inhibit contact between the fibre reinforcement material and the channel walls, using pneumatic apparatus to provide cool gas for cooling and hot gas for heating the material before application, preventing adhesion and ensuring smooth operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the fibre reinforcement material is kept tacky for application to the tool, then the material can be properly applied to the tool surface, but the material adheres to the channel walls and equipment components causing malfunction and downtime
Solution Approach 1:
A jet of gas is introduced as an intermediary substance between the fibre reinforcement material and the channel walls. The gas creates a protective barrier that prevents direct contact and adhesion between the tacky material and the channel surface, allowing the material to remain tacky for proper application while preventing harmful adhesion to equipment
Solution Approach 2:
Pneumatic technology is used to deliver a controlled jet of gas through the channel. The gas flow is generated and directed using pneumatic apparatus, creating a protective atmosphere within the channel that prevents material adhesion while maintaining the material's necessary tackiness for application
2Temperature
If infrared lamps are used to heat the tows, then the material temperature can be maintained for tackiness, but the equipment complexity increases and the material may overheat or adhere to heating components
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using complex infrared lamp heating systems, the patent uses a pneumatic system to deliver hot gas directly to the material. This simplifies the heating equipment by replacing optical heating components with a pneumatic delivery system that can both heat and protect the material simultaneously
Solution Approach 2:
The gas delivery system serves multiple functions: it heats the material to maintain tackiness, prevents adhesion to channel walls, and provides a protective atmosphere. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate heating equipment and adhesion prevention systems
3Object-generated harmful factors
If the material is cooled excessively to prevent adhesion, then adhesion to channel walls is reduced, but the material temperature drops below the threshold needed for proper application to the tool
Solution Approach 1:
The temperature of the gas delivered through the channel is carefully controlled and adjusted. By changing the gas temperature parameter, the system prevents adhesion (using cooler gas) while ensuring the material remains above the application temperature threshold (using sufficiently warm gas), achieving both goals simultaneously
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively prevents fibre reinforcement material from adhering to the equipment, reducing downtime and ensuring continuous operation by maintaining the material's tackiness only when applied to the tool, thus enhancing the efficiency and reliability of the lay-up process.
Implementation Method 1
a pneumatic apparatus arranged to provide a cool gas to the or each first nozzle, so that in use, fibre reinforcement material is cooled as it travels through the or each channel
Implementation Method 2
the pneumatic apparatus is arranged to provide hot gas to the or each second nozzle so that in use, fibre reinforcement material is heated prior to application on the tool
Implementation Method 3
the or each channel comprises a first portion adjacent to the tow inlet and provided with at least one first nozzle arranged to deliver a jet of gas into the first portion of the channel, and a second portion adjacent to the tow outlet and provided with at least one second nozzle arranged to deliver a jet of gas into the second portion of the channel, so as to inhibit contact between fibre reinforcement material in the channel and the channel
Data Source
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AI summary
There is disclosed a composite material lay-up head (20) for applying elongate fibre reinforcement material (14) to a tool (12), the head (20) comprising: at least one elongate tow guide channel (32) for guiding fibre reinforcement material (14) from a tow inlet (33) to a tow outlet (35) of the channel (32); and feed apparatus (36, 38) for feeding fibre reinforcement material through the at least one channel (32); wherein the or each channel (32) is provided with at least one nozzle (60) arranged so that in use a jet of gas can be delivered into the channel (32) so as to inhibit contact between fibre reinforcement material (14) in the channel (32) and the channel (32).