Patent ID: 8419875
Filing Date: 2013-04-16
Classification: B29C,B29D,B29K,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method of manufacturing a curved structural element made of composite material and having a complex, open cross-section, in which the structural element is formed by the assembly of a plurality of components made of composite material, comprising the following steps: preparing three distinct flat components, each component having at least one flat layer of curved fibres previously infused with resin, combined with at least one pre-impregnated layer with straight fibres, hot-forming the flat components to confer respective open-sectioned shapes thereon, wherein one of the components formed has a C-shaped cross-section, and an open, Z-shaped cross-section is conferred on the other two components; assembling the hot-formed components in a predetermined sequence on a polymerization tool, the tool comprising at least one shaped, inflatable device astride which the component with a C-shaped cross-section is deposited, and one of the Z-shaped cross section components is deposited directly on a rigid tool element having a corresponding shape and the other of the Z-shaped cross section components is superimposed thereon, the components being assembled such that a flange of the Z-shaped cross section component on the rigid tool fits closely against a flange of the C-shaped cross section component on the inflatable device wherein a web of the superimposed Z-shaped cross section component fits closely partially against a web of the Z-shaped cross section component on the rigid tool element and partially against a web of the C-shaped cross section component, a first flange of the superimposed Z-shaped cross section component fits closely against the free flange of the Z-shaped cross section component on the rigid tool element, and a second flange of the superimposed Z-shaped cross section component fits closely against the free flange of the C-shaped cross section component and subjecting the components assembled on the tool to a polymerization cycle in an autoclave in which the inflatable device is inflated by the pressure produced in the autoclave to apply a predetermined pressure from the inside of the C-sectioned components fitted thereon.