Patent ID: 6676785
Filing Date: 2004-01-13
Classification: B29C,B32B,E01C,E04C,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
A method of clinching the top and bottom ends of Z-axis reinforcing fibers into the respective top and bottom surfaces of a composite laminate comprising:providing at least two rolls of composite fiber material on at least two spools and said rolls of composite fiber material on each of said spools having a front end; assembling said rolls of composite fiber material into a composite laminate preform having a top skin having a top surface, a bottom skin having a bottom surface, an X-axis and a Y-axis; feeding said composite laminate preform into a Z-axis fiber deposition machine whereby Z-axis fiber bundles are deposited into said composite laminate preform at predetermined locations along said X-axis and said Y-axis; said Z-axis fiber bundles each having a top end that extends a predetermined height H1 above said top surface of said top skin and a bottom end that extends a predetermined H2 below said bottom surface of said bottom skin; said composite laminate preform exits said Z-axis fiber deposition machine as a modified composite laminate preform; and feeding said modified composite laminate preform into fastening means where said respective top and bottom ends of said Z-axis fiber bundles are clinched and integrated into said respective top surface of said top skin and said bottom surface of said bottom skin of said modified composite laminate preform; said modified composite laminate preform exits said fastening means as an assembled composite laminate panel.