Patent ID: 9144959
Filing Date: 2015-09-29
Classification: B29C,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method of assembling a skin of a composite structure on an outer surface of a layup mandrel, the method comprising: operatively attaching a charge of composite material to a flexible substrate to define an initial conformation for a composite-substrate assembly that includes the charge of composite material and the flexible substrate; deforming the composite-substrate assembly to an intermediate conformation that is different from the initial conformation, wherein the flexible substrate defines a first edge and a second edge that is substantially opposed to the first edge, and further wherein the deforming includes urging the first edge and the second edge toward one another to define the intermediate conformation; locating the composite-substrate assembly and the layup mandrel proximal to one another; affixing the charge of composite material to the outer surface of the layup mandrel; and releasing the charge of composite material from the flexible substrate while retaining the charge of composite material on the outer surface of the layup mandrel.