The Boeing Company

Blaise F Bergmann

Kevin Lyle Obrachta

A method and system () having a flowable pressure pad () for consolidating an uncured laminate sheet () during a cure cycle is provided. The system () includes an autoclave machine () for utilizing a pinmat () for to perforate and consolidate the sheet (). This pinmat () has a mat portion () and a plurality of pins () extending from the mat portion (). These pins () are intended to penetrate the uncured laminate sheet () during a perforation cycle that occurs prior to the cure cycle. During the cure cycle, the autoclave machine () applies a predetermined amount of and pressure heat to the pressure pad () for a predetermined amount of time so as to cause the pressure pad () to flow around the protruding pins (). This feature allows the pressure pad () to transfer a substantial portion of the applied pressure to the uncured laminate sheet () so as to improve consolidation of the sheet (). In this regard, less pressure is unintentionally transferred to the protruding pins (). The pressure pad () is fabricated from a flowable or malleable material that allows the pressure pad () to flow around the protruding pins ().

Method and system having a flowable pressure pad for consolidating an uncured laminate sheet in a cure process

An aircraft composite assembly is provided, including a first composite member , at least one first flange joint comprising a first plurality of plies cured to the first composite member , a second composite member , and at least one second flange joint comprising a second plurality of plies cured to the second composite member . The at least one second flange joint is bonded to the at least one first flange joint such that the first composite member is affixed to the second composite member

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Wichita, KS, United States of America

Blaise F Bergmann