US 11,865,825 B2
System, method, and apparatus for use in ply compaction in forming a composite structure
Andrew Hopkins, West Jordan, UT (US); Christopher Gary Harris, Copperton, UT (US); Scott Fisher, West Jordan, UT (US); Jessica Conaty, Salt Lake City, UT (US); and Anton Troshchenovskyy, West Jordan, UT (US)
Assigned to The Boeing Company, Arlington, VA (US)
Filed by The Boeing Company, Chicago, IL (US)
Filed on Oct. 14, 2019, as Appl. No. 16/601,073.
Prior Publication US 2021/0107241 A1, Apr. 15, 2021
Int. Cl. B32B 37/10 (2006.01); B29C 70/54 (2006.01); B29C 70/34 (2006.01); B29C 43/36 (2006.01); B29C 31/08 (2006.01); B29C 65/00 (2006.01)
CPC B32B 37/10 (2013.01) [B29C 31/085 (2013.01); B29C 43/3642 (2013.01); B29C 66/81455 (2013.01); B29C 70/342 (2013.01); B29C 70/543 (2013.01); B29C 2043/3649 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus for use in ply compaction in forming a composite structure, the apparatus comprising:
a forming tool comprising a web surface and at least one flange surface extending from the web surface, wherein the forming tool comprises a length dimension;
a chassis extending over the forming tool, wherein at least one of the forming tool or the chassis are movable relative to the other to enable the chassis to traverse the forming tool in the length dimension; and
first and second flange forming devices coupled to the chassis, wherein each of the first and second flange forming devices comprises a respective first or second inflatable contact element pressurized to define a respective first or second deformable contact surface, the first and second contact surfaces being independently actuatable relative to both an x-axis and a y-axis and configured to simultaneously engage with both the web surface and the at least one flange surface, and wherein the first and second flange forming devices are movable with the chassis to be positioned at different locations along the length dimension of the forming tool, the first and second flange forming devices configured to perform a ply compaction operation when positioned at each respective location.