Patent ID: 9403302
Filing Date: 2016-08-02
CPC Classification: B29C

Claim Text:
1. A method of fabricating a composite material hollow part, the method comprising: holding a tool on a frame using a holding section that maintains a gap between the tool and the frame, wherein the tool is arranged so that an uppermost portion of the tool forms a convex surface; placing a prepreg formed from a fiber-reinforced resin on the tool; covering the tool and the prepreg from above the prepreg using a highly stretchable sheet; securing the highly stretchable sheet and the frame with a securing jig so that tension is applied to the highly stretchable sheet from a top portion of the prepreg, where the highly stretchable sheet contacts the outer periphery of the prepreg, to the edges of the highly stretchable sheet, thereby forming an enclosed space inside of which the tool and the prepreg are housed; and subsequently evacuating the inside of the enclosed space using an evacuation device connected to the inside of the enclosed space, thereby wrapping the prepreg completely around the tool, wherein the tool is positioned so that an uppermost portion of the prepreg forms a convex surface in a direction following an outer periphery of the prepreg.