Patent ID: 9327470
Filing Date: 2016-05-03
CPC Classification: B26D,B29C,B29D,B29L,B32B,Y10T

Claim Text:
1. A variable-radius laminated composite radius filler, comprising: a base portion formed of a plurality of variable width composite plies varying in overall width along an overall lengthwise direction and defining a variable cross-sectional shape of the base portion, the variable cross-sectional shape varying along the lengthwise direction, the length being longer than the width, the base portion includes one or more transition zones, each transition zone including: a plurality of composite plies changing width; a first composite ply changing in ply width within the transition zone along with a change in ply width of a second composite ply within the same transition zone; the change in ply width of the first composite ply has a first taper extending from the lengthwise edge of the start of the transition zone to the lengthwise edge of the end of the transition zone; the change in ply width of the second composite ply has a second taper extending from the lengthwise edge of the start of the transition zone to the lengthwise edge of the end of the transition zone; the angles of the first and second taper being substantially the same; at least one of a keyway portion and a tip portion stacked on top of the base portion; the keyway portion stacked on the base portion and being formed of a plurality of constant width composite plies defining a constant cross-sectional shape of the keyway portion, the constant cross-sectional shape being constant along the lengthwise direction; and the tip portion stacked on the base portion or the keyway portion and being formed of composite plies.