Hercules Corporation

Steven J Kotula

Michael R McCloy

Sandra M Charlson

A tool for using in aligning, fastening, supporting, and sealing adjacent sections of a mandrel having a curved outer surface is provided. This tool has a T-shaped cross section and includes a leg section that has a composite sheet extending through the middle of it and a top section that is integral with said leg section. The top section has a pair of grooves therein spaced apart from each other along the length of the tool where O-ring means fits in the grooves and seals the adjacent section of the mandrel gas tight.

Tool for joining a segmented mandrel for forming composite articles

A segmented mandrel is adapted for use in fabricating large diameter, light weight articles (such as aircraft component structures) made of thermosetting composite materials by placing fiber on the external surface of the mandrel followed by autoclave curing of the composite materials. The segmented mandrel is composed of a center shaft extending lengthwise through the mandrel, four mandrel segments mating together along a seam between their respective adjacent edges, T-stiffeners for fastening the mandrel segments together, and bulkheads rigidly mounted around the shaft and connected to the stiffeners. This segmented mandrel is reusable, is easily assembled and disassembled, and has a system that creates a vacuum seal between mandrel sections while at the same time retains the functions of support and alignment of the mandrel segments carrying the parts being cured.

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Salt Lake City, UT, United States of America

Steven J Kotula