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:
Jun. 21, 2016
Filed:
Mar. 18, 2014
The Boeing Company, Seal Beach, CA (US);
Stephen Lee Metschan, Black Diamond, WA (US);
Richard V. Phillips, Enumclaw, WA (US);
Bryan Joseph Withrow, Seattle, WA (US);
Lee Michael Kroeger, Federal Way, WA (US);
Samuel Ray Stewart, Redmond, WA (US);
The Boeing Company, Chicago, IL (US);
Abstract
Systems and methods for stretch-forming multi-thickness composite skins are disclosed herein. The methods include locating a flexible support structure in a transition region that is defined by a charge of composite material and applying a vacuum to an interface between the charge of composite material and the flexible support structure to define a charge-support assembly. The methods also include separating the charge-support assembly from the layup surface and locating the charge-support assembly on a cure surface of a layup mandrel. The methods further include deforming the charge-support assembly on the cure surface to generate a conformed charge of composite material, releasing the vacuum, and separating the flexible support structure from conformed charge of composite material. The systems include systems that are configured to perform the methods.