US 12,269,576 B2
Method for manufacturing at least one portion of a box structure of an aircraft comprising a forming step, and a central wingbox thus obtained
Bertrand Duthille, Toulouse (FR); Jonathan Price, Filton Bristol (GB); Jago Pridie, Toulouse (FR); and Jose Manuel Menendez Martin, Getafe (ES)
Assigned to Airbus Operations SAS, Toulouse (FR); Airbus Operations LTD, Filton Bristol (GB); and Airbus Operations S.L., Getafe (ES)
Filed by Airbus Operations SAS, Toulouse (FR); Airbus Operations LTD, Filton Bristol (GB); and Airbus Operations S.L., Getafe (ES)
Filed on Feb. 3, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/164,119.
Claims priority of application No. 2201536 (FR), filed on Feb. 22, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0264804 A1, Aug. 24, 2023
Int. Cl. B64C 1/26 (2006.01); B29C 70/30 (2006.01); B29D 99/00 (2010.01)
CPC B64C 1/26 (2013.01) [B29C 70/30 (2013.01); B29D 99/0014 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for manufacturing at least one portion of a box structure comprising at least one stiffened main wall extended by at least one of at least one flange or at least one stiffened secondary wall, said portion of the box structure being obtained from an outer skin made of a composite material and from a plurality of sections made of a composite material, each of the plurality of sections having a joining face in contact with the outer skin, said method comprising:
a step of obtaining the sections,
a step of positioning said sections on a mold comprising at least a first face on which the sections are positioned,
a step of obtaining a flat fiber preform having a thickness substantially equal to the outer skin,
a step of placing a central portion of the fiber preform on the sections positioned on the first face of the mold, the fiber preform having at least one lateral extension extending the central portion,
a step of forming the lateral extension,
a step of placing at least one polymerization covering, at least one polymerization step, and
at least one demolding step;
wherein during the forming step, the main portion is kept pressed against the joining faces of the sections positioned on the first face of the mold by at least one main jaw, and
wherein the lateral extension of the fiber preform is folded against a forming surface, substantially perpendicular to the first face of the mold, by means of at least one secondary jaw configured to move in translation parallel to the forming surface.