US 12,459,218 B2
Stiffening structure intended to stiffen a component made of thermosetting composite material, and associated stiffening method
Frederick Cavaliere, Montigny le Bretonneux (FR); Thomas Dericquebourg, Paris (FR); Fabrice Aumont, Mantes la Jolie (FR); Laurent Amrouche, Serifontaine (FR); and Benjamin Demeure, Vernouillet (FR)
Assigned to ArianeGroup SAS, Les Mureaux (FR)
Appl. No. 18/005,113
Filed by ArianeGroup SAS, Les Mureaux (FR)
PCT Filed Jul. 16, 2021, PCT No. PCT/FR2021/051339
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jan. 11, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/013512, PCT Pub. Date Jan. 20, 2022.
Claims priority of application No. 2007520 (FR), filed on Jul. 17, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0264438 A1, Aug. 24, 2023
Int. Cl. B29C 70/74 (2006.01); B29C 70/68 (2006.01); B29C 70/84 (2006.01); B64C 1/06 (2006.01); H01Q 1/28 (2006.01); B29K 101/10 (2006.01); B29K 105/08 (2006.01); B29L 31/34 (2006.01)
CPC B29C 70/682 (2013.01) [B29C 70/84 (2013.01); B64C 1/064 (2013.01); H01Q 1/288 (2013.01); B29K 2101/10 (2013.01); B29K 2105/0872 (2013.01); B29L 2031/3456 (2013.01)] 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A stiffening method for stiffening a component by a stiffening structure, the component being made of a composite material the thermosetting resin of which is not polymerised or partially polymerised, and the stiffening structure being fitted to at least one of the surfaces of the component, wherein the stiffening structure comprises:
at least one body extending in a longitudinal direction, each body having a first and a second longitudinal edge face on opposite sides, and a first and a second lateral face on opposite sides;
at least one base including at least one mounting base, each base being provided with a plate and a first and a second tongue which delimit, with the plate, a housing for at least one body, the first and the second tongue extending from a main face of the plate and being pressed respectively against the first and the second lateral face of the body;
and wherein each base the plate of which is secured to the first longitudinal edge face of a body is a mounting base, the plate of each mounting base being intended to be pressed against the surface of the component to be stiffened; and
each body and each base are made of thermosetting composite material;
the method comprising the successive steps of:
a) supplying the body (ies) made of thermosetting composite material of the stiffening structure;
b) for at least one mounting base of the stiffening structure, performing the following successive operations:
forming a non-polymerised plate by draping layers of fibrous reinforcement pre-impregnated with a thermosetting resin on the surface of the component to be stiffened;
placing an impression tool on the main face of the non-polymerised plate;
forming the first and second tongues, respectively, by draping first layers of fibrous reinforcement pre-impregnated with a thermosetting resin on a first portion of the main face of the plate and rising up on a first lateral face of the impression tool, and by draping second layers of fibrous reinforcement pre-impregnated with a thermosetting resin on a second portion of the main face of the plate, different from the first portion, and rising up on a second lateral face of the impression tool;
partially polymerising the thermosetting resin of the component, of the plate and of the first and second tongues;
removing the impression tool, whereby a housing is formed for at least one body;
depositing an adhesive layer in the housing on the main face of the partially polymerised plate;
placing at least one body in the housing on the adhesive layer, the first longitudinal edge face of each body being pressed against the adhesive layer of the main face of the plate;
and for the possible other mounting base(s) of the stiffening structure, performing the following successive operations:
forming a non-polymerised plate by draping layers of fibrous reinforcement pre-impregnated with a thermosetting resin on the surface of the component to be stiffened;
placing at least one body on the main face of the non-polymerised plate, the first longitudinal edge face of each body being pressed against the adhesive layer of the main face of the plate;
forming the first and second tongues, respectively, by draping first layers of fibrous reinforcement pre-impregnated with a thermosetting resin on a first portion of the main face of the plate and rising up on a first lateral face of the body, and by draping second layers of fibrous reinforcement pre-impregnated with a thermosetting resin on a second portion of the main face of the plate, different from the first portion, and rising up on a second lateral face of the body;
c) securing each mounting base with the surface of the component to be stiffened and of the body (ies) by totally polymerising the thermosetting resin of the plate, of the first and second tongues and of the component.