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:
Nov. 16, 2021
Filed:
Jan. 15, 2019
The Boeing Company, Chicago, IL (US);
Michael Robert Anderson, Renton, WA (US);
John Michael Ligas, Mesa, AZ (US);
The Boeing Company, Chicago, IL (US);
Abstract
Systems and methods for drape forming a charge of composite material are disclosed herein. The systems include a forming mandrel, a charge support structure, a flexible and resilient forming membrane, a base, and a vacuum source. The charge support structure includes a flexible and resilient charge support membrane, a membrane suspension device, and a release structure. The release structure operatively couples the charge support membrane to the membrane suspension device when a tension on a peripheral region of the charge support membrane is less than a threshold tension and releases the charge support membrane from the membrane suspension device when the tension is greater than the threshold tension. Alternatively, and in place of the charge support structure, the systems include a means for supporting the charge of composite material. The methods include methods of drape forming a charge of composite material.