Patent ID: 6033511
Filing Date: 2000-03-07
Classification: B29B,B29C,B29L

Abstract:
A method for fabricating composite structures having uniform shapes, said method comprising the steps of:weaving fabric from structural yarns into a net-shaped structure having optimal fiber orientations into a continuous supply of fabric;feeding multiple layers of fabric to form an undebulked preform;feeding the undebulked preform through a bath of liquid matrix material, the liquid matrix material formulated to solidify in an unheated die;feeding the undebulked preform into the unheated die;gradually changing dimension of the unheated die to debulk the undebulked preform to net-shape until the desired cross-sectional dimension is obtained;pulling the debulked preform through the unheated die to uniformly disperse the matrix material into the net-shaped preform;removing heat from the matrix material allowing it to solidify as the net-shaped infiltrated preform traverses the constant cross-sectional portion of the unheated die and exits the die in an uncured state;cutting a desired length of the uncured net-shaped infiltrated preform; andcuring the uncured net-shaped infiltrated preform.