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:
Aug. 02, 2016
Filed:
Feb. 25, 2014
The Boeing Company, Seal Beach, CA (US);
Daniel M. Rotter, Lake Forest Park, WA (US);
Brad Andrew Coxon, Everett, WA (US);
Arvid J. Berg, Seattle, WA (US);
Richard V. Phillips, Enumclaw, WA (US);
Stephen Lee Metschan, Black Diamond, WA (US);
Kurtis Shuldberg Willden, Kent, WA (US);
Paul E. Nelson, University Place, WA (US);
The Boeing Company, Chicago, IL (US);
Abstract
Methods and tools for forming composite structures with predetermined, non-planar patterns of contours, as well as apparatuses including such composite structures, are disclosed herein. Example methods include defining a pattern of contours in a flexible sheet of composite material, conforming the flexible sheet of composite material to a layup mandrel, and curing the flexible sheet of composite material. Example tools include a body with an engagement surface for engaging a flexible sheet of composite material, the body having regions of relative stiffness and regions of relative compliance, and a vacuum distribution manifold configured to selectively apply a vacuum to the regions of relative compliance to deform the engagement surface to define a predetermined, non-planar pattern of contours.