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:
Dec. 24, 2024
Filed:
Apr. 03, 2023
The Boeing Company, Arlington, VA (US);
Paul G. Werntges, Charleston, SC (US);
Gregory J. Hickman, Charleston, SC (US);
The Boeing Company, Arlington, VA (US);
Abstract
A system for manufacturing a part includes a mold having a contoured forming surface. The system also includes at least one tension strap, configured to attach to a consolidated laminate sheet, and a heating assembly, positioned relative to the mold and configured to supply heat to the consolidated laminate sheet, when attached to the at least one tension strap, to form a heated consolidated laminate sheet. The system additionally includes a strap retraction mechanism, configured to retract the at least one tension strap, when attached to the consolidated laminate sheet, to force the heated consolidated laminate sheet against the contoured forming surface of the mold. The heating assembly includes a flexible heating element configured to flex to conform to a shape of the heated consolidated laminate sheet as the heated consolidated laminate sheet is forced against the contoured forming surface of the mold.