The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 19, 2019
Filed:
Feb. 01, 2016
Applicant:
The Boeing Company, Chicago, IL (US);
Inventors:
Randall Dow Wilkerson, O'Fallon, MO (US);
James Rodney Fox, University City, MO (US);
Assignee:
The Boeing Company, Chicago, IL (US);
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
B29B 11/16 (2006.01); B29B 13/00 (2006.01); B29C 31/00 (2006.01); B29C 31/08 (2006.01); B29C 43/14 (2006.01); B29C 43/26 (2006.01); B29C 43/28 (2006.01); B29C 43/30 (2006.01); B29C 43/52 (2006.01); B29C 53/04 (2006.01); B29C 53/38 (2006.01); B29C 70/50 (2006.01); B29C 70/52 (2006.01); B29L 31/30 (2006.01); B29K 101/12 (2006.01); B29K 105/00 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
B29C 70/50 (2013.01); B29C 43/265 (2013.01); B29C 43/28 (2013.01); B29C 43/305 (2013.01); B29C 43/52 (2013.01); B29C 70/52 (2013.01); B29B 11/16 (2013.01); B29B 2013/005 (2013.01); B29C 31/008 (2013.01); B29C 31/08 (2013.01); B29C 31/085 (2013.01); B29C 43/146 (2013.01); B29C 53/04 (2013.01); B29C 53/38 (2013.01); B29C 70/527 (2013.01); B29C 2043/147 (2013.01); B29K 2101/12 (2013.01); B29K 2105/253 (2013.01); B29L 2031/3076 (2013.01);
Abstract
A method and apparatus are used to pre-consolidate and de-bulk a thermoplastic composite ply stack prior to full consolidation and forming to the final part shape. Pre-consolidation and de-bulking is achieved by heating the ply stack to a temperature below the melting point of the thermoplastic in order to soften the plies, and then compress the ply stack.