Patent ID: 8460502
Filing Date: 2013-06-11
Classification: B29C,B29D,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method of forming a hollow, elongated part, the method comprising: placing a composite material onto a forming tool within a material trough formed in the forming tool; placing a hollow, flexible bladder over the composite material such that the bladder extends through the material trough and into an adjacent bladder extension trough formed in the forming tool and laterally aligned with the material trough; placing a rigid plate onto the forming tool, over the bladder at or proximate to an end of the material trough; placing a skin laminate over the composite material, at least a portion of the bladder, and at least a portion of the rigid plate; sealing a flexible, impermeable sheet of material to the forming tool, such that the impermeable sheet extends over the skin laminate and cooperatively forms an air tight pocket with at least one of the forming tool and the bladder; removing atmosphere from between the impermeable sheet and at least one of the forming tool and the bladder, thereby compressing the composite material and skin laminate; co-curing the composite material and the skin laminate together via heat and pressure, thereby forming the hollow, elongated part; and removing the skin laminate from the rigid plate.