Patent ID: 9221236
Filing Date: 2015-12-29
Classification: B29C,B29D,B32B,B64C,B64F,Y02T

Abstract:
1. A method of assembling a stiffened composite structure, comprising: providing a supply of filler structures; providing a supply of stiffener charges; positioning a respective filler structure from the supply of filler structures on an upper side of a loading tool; positioning a respective stiffener charge from the supply of stiffener charges on an upper side of the respective filler structure; following the positioning the respective filler structure and the positioning the respective stiffener charge, loading, with the loading tool, the respective stiffener charge and the respective filler structure onto an inner mold line layup mandrel, wherein the inner mold line layup mandrel includes a plurality of stiffener forms, and wherein the loading includes: following the positioning the respective filler structure, the positioning the respective stiffener charge, and the loading, rotating the inner mold line layup mandrel to position the inner mold line layup mandrel for subsequent loading of a subsequent stiffener and a subsequent filler structure; following the rotating, repeating the positioning the respective filler structure, the positioning the respective stiffener charge, and the loading to load a plurality of stiffeners and a plurality of filler structures onto the inner mold line layup mandrel; and following the repeating, affixing a skin segment over the plurality of filler structures and to the plurality of stiffeners loaded on the inner mold line layup mandrel to form at least a portion of the stiffened composite structure.