Patent ID: 9623610
Date: 2017-04-18
CPC Classifications: B29C,B29D,B29K

Claim:
1. A method for manufacturing a reinforced panel made of a composite material which comprises the steps of: creating a base layer made of the composite material, the base layer having a surface; embedding an elongated unidirectional ply in the base layer, wherein the ply is made of the composite material and has a plurality of substantially parallel tows, and wherein the ply is located along a predetermined pathway on the surface of the base layer with the tows substantially aligned on the pathway; locating a stiffening member along the pathway, wherein the stiffening member has a substantially U-shaped cross section with a base portion and a pair of substantially parallel and opposite legs extending from the base portion to a respective edge to define a channel therebetween, wherein each edge of the stiffening member is integrally affixed to the surface of the base layer to position the base portion of the stiffening member at a distance “h” from the ply in the base layer; placing an elongated unidirectional ply in the base portion of the stiffening member wherein the ply in the base portion is made of the composite material and has a plurality of substantially parallel tows, and wherein the tows of the ply in the base portion are aligned along the pathway parallel to tows in the base layer to alternatively resist tension forces in the base portion with tension forces in the base layer during bending of the reinforced panel; and co-curing the base layer, the ply, and the stiffening member to manufacture the panel.