US 11,840,041 B2
Compaction system and methods for compacting composite components
Thomas Samuel Holaday, Park Hills, KY (US); Joel Primmer White, Cincinnati, OH (US); Gregory Scott Phelps, Cincinnati, OH (US); Darrell Glenn Senile, Oxford, OH (US); and Tyler Lucas Walker, Newark, DE (US)
Assigned to General Electric Company, Schenectady, NY (US)
Filed by General Electric Company, Schenectady, NY (US)
Filed on Nov. 9, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/983,483.
Application 17/983,483 is a continuation of application No. 17/166,223, filed on Feb. 3, 2021, granted, now 11,504,930.
Prior Publication US 2023/0076472 A1, Mar. 9, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B29C 65/78 (2006.01); B29C 65/00 (2006.01); B29C 70/02 (2006.01); B29C 70/54 (2006.01); B30B 11/04 (2006.01); B29D 99/00 (2010.01); B32B 3/08 (2006.01); B30B 11/02 (2006.01)
CPC B30B 11/027 (2013.01) [B29C 65/7802 (2013.01); B29C 66/301 (2013.01); B29C 66/304 (2013.01); B29C 70/023 (2013.01); B29C 70/541 (2013.01); B30B 11/04 (2013.01); B29D 99/0003 (2013.01); B32B 3/08 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A compaction system for compacting a noodle within a cavity defined between a first section and a second section of a laminate, the compaction system comprising:
a tool arranged to have the laminate positioned thereon;
a noodle ring;
a band debulk cap arranged to secure the noodle ring in place relative to the noodle, the band debulk cap also being arranged relative to the tool so that the second section of the laminate is positioned at least in part between the tool and the band debulk cap; and
a plunger movable along a first direction to apply a force on the noodle ring so as to cause the noodle ring to compact the noodle into the cavity.