Patent ID: 8715561
Filing Date: 2014-05-06
Classification: B29C,B29L,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method of assembling and shaping a laminate panel, the method comprising: mounting an intermediate member on a lay-up table; assembling a lay-up by laying a series of plies onto the intermediate member on the lay-up table; removing the intermediate member and the lay-up from the lay-up table and placing them on a shaped surface; forcing the lay-up against the shaped surface, via the intermediate member, in a manner that modifies the shape of the lay-up to form a shaped laminate panel; and removing the shaped laminate panel from the intermediate member, wherein the lay-up is forced against the shaped surface by means of an air pressure difference at least partially provided by suction, wherein the suction is created by laying a vacuum bag onto the lay-up on the intermediate member and generating a partial vacuum between the vacuum bag and the shaped surface, and wherein the method further comprises forcing the intermediate member against the shaped surface after the vacuum bag has been removed by forming an airtight seal between the intermediate member and a vacuum box in order to form a vacuum chamber, the vacuum chamber containing the shaped surface, and generating a partial vacuum in the vacuum chamber.