Patent ID: 8052826
Filing Date: 2011-11-08
Classification: B29C,B29L,B32B,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method of fabricating a beaded composite panel, comprising; cutting slits through each of a plurality of plies; cutting at least one dart through a respective ply at each end of the slit, said at least one dart comprising a second slit shorter in length than said first slit and oriented in a different direction than said first slit; laying up each of the plies on a bead tool having bead features, including aligning the slits in each ply respectively over the bead features; drawing each of the plies down over the bead features in the area of the slits so as to widen the slits into gaps; filling the gaps with fillers; fabricating patches by cutting a piece of prepreg into shapes having an outline that encompasses the slit, and varying the outline of the patches from ply-to-ply; placing the patches respectively on the plies overlying over the fillers; and curing the laid-up plies.