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, 2013
Filed:
Jun. 16, 2010
Robert Alexander Coleman, Mulvane, KS (US);
Timothy Dean King, Wichita, KS (US);
Steven Fillmore Hanson, Derby, KS (US);
Leonard Lloyd Baca, Mulvane, KS (US);
Robert Alexander Coleman, Mulvane, KS (US);
Timothy Dean King, Wichita, KS (US);
Steven Fillmore Hanson, Derby, KS (US);
Leonard Lloyd Baca, Mulvane, KS (US);
Spirit AeroSystems, Inc., Wichita, KS (US);
Abstract
A system and method for forming a hollow, complex, monolithic composite part. Composite material may be placed around the mandrel, then an internal impermeable membrane may be placed into and/or through tunnels formed in the mandrel. Next, an external impermeable membrane may be placed around the composite material and sealed against itself and the internal impermeable membrane such that the mandrel and the composite material are both contained in an airtight manner between the internal and external impermeable membranes. Air may then be removed from within the sealed impermeable membranes, compressing the impermeable membranes against the mandrel and/or the composite material. The consolidated composite material may be hardened to form the composite part. Finally, the impermeable membrane may be removed from around the hollow composite part and from within the mandrel, followed by removal of the mandrel from within the composite part by breaking it up into smaller pieces.