Patent ID: 8043458
Filing Date: 2011-10-25
Classification: B64C,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method of manufacturing a composite panel comprising: (A) arranging a support structure having a multiple of stiffeners with a multiple of longitudinal mandrels such that each of the multiple of stiffeners are spaced from an adjacent one of the multiple of stiffeners by at least one of the multiple of longitudinal mandrels; (B) assembling a winding mandrel transverse to the multiple of longitudinal mandrels to provide a mandrel assembly and define an axis of rotation; (C) rotating the mandrel assembly about the axis of rotation to wind and bond a tape to the multiple of stiffeners to form a tape skin onto the support structure to thereby form a composite panel; and (D) disassembling the mandrel assembly from the composite panel; (E) trimming the composite panel tape skin to form a tape upper skin and a tape lower skin; (F) mounting an end cap member configured to close an open end section of the composite panel transverse to said support structure, the end cap member in contact with the tape upper skin and the tape lower skin.