Patent ID: 9511548
Filing Date: 2016-12-06
CPC Classification: B29C,B32B

Claim Text:
1. A method of assembling a skin of a composite structure on an outer surface of a layup mandrel, the method comprising: operatively attaching a charge of composite material to a flexible substrate to define an initial conformation for a composite-substrate assembly that includes the charge of composite material and the flexible substrate; locating the composite-substrate assembly and the layup mandrel proximal to one another; supporting a first portion of the composite-substrate assembly with a first support surface and supporting a second portion of the composite-substrate assembly with a second support surface, wherein the first support surface and the second support surface define a longitudinal opening therebetween; pressing the composite-substrate assembly against the outer surface of the layup mandrel to deform the composite-substrate assembly to a final conformation that is different from the initial conformation, wherein the supporting of the first portion and the supporting of the second portion occur prior to the pressing, and further wherein the pressing includes moving the layup mandrel, the first support surface, and the second support surface relative to one another such that the outer surface of the layup mandrel contacts the charge of composite material and urges the charge of composite material into the longitudinal opening; affixing the charge of composite material to the outer surface of the layup mandrel; and releasing the charge of composite material from the flexible substrate while retaining the charge of composite material on the outer surface of the layup mandrel.