Patent Abstract:
The invention relates to an appliance ( 8 ) for compacting, drying and cutting a preform of a hollow component of a turbomachine, said appliance comprising: a base ( 2, 2   a ) acting as a support for a sheet of material ( 1, 7 ) and comprising a long impression ( 22, 22   a ); a mandrel ( 3, 3   a ) which can be positioned in said long impression, clamping the sheet of material against the base, thus defining two flaps ( 12, 13, 72, 73 ) of said sheet ( 1, 7 ) arranged either side of the mandrel ( 3, 3   a ); and two side blocks ( 5, 6, 5   a,    6   a ) which can be positioned such that they are supported on the base, either side of the mandrel, clamping the flaps of the sheet against the mandrel, said side blocks and/or the mandrel co-operating with means for cutting said flaps in such a way that they are adjusted to the dimensions of the mandrel or said side blocks.

Full Description:
GENERAL TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to the field of manufacturing methods for hollow turbomachine component, and more particularly to manufacturing preforms adapted to be assembled and placed in injection tooling for hollow turbomachine components. 
       STATE OF THE ART 
       [0002]    Due to their specific geometry and their tolerances, hollow components used in turbomachines are complex to produce. 
         [0003]    Such hollow components are typically produced by means of an injection process conventionally requiring the use of preforms positioned inside the injection mold, production of these preforms affecting the quality of the final part thus obtained. 
         [0004]    However, production of such preforms is complex, and requires a plurality of distinct steps, each influencing the final quality of the part. 
       PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The present invention aims to propose a method for producing preforms for the production of hollow turbomachine components, providing accurate positioning and dimensioning while still being operable at an industrial scale. 
         [0006]    To this end, the invention proposes a forming method for a preform for a hollow turbomachine component, wherein
       a sheet made of woven fibers is positioned on a base, said base being provided with a longitudinal impression,   a mandrel is positioned in said longitudinal impression, so as to clamp said sheet between the base and the mandrel, the mandrel having a thickness that increases between a proximal end and a distal end, and having to longitudinal flanks substantially perpendicular to the base,   the distal end of the mandrel is locked in position,   a proximal block is placed resting on the base, so as to cover the proximal end of the mandrel, and said proximal block is locked,   two flaps of the sheet are formed around the flanks of the mandrel,   two lateral blocks are positioned resting on the base on either side of the mandrel, so as to clamp each flap between one of said lateral blocks and one flank of the mandrel,   said lateral blocks are locked in place,   drying of the assembly thus formed is carried out, so as to fix the shape of the sheet and thus form a preform thus including a flat base from which two flaps extend perpendicularly,   the flaps are adjusted to the dimensions of the mandrel, by trimming away the excess material.       
 
         [0016]    As a variant, said method has one or more of the following features, taken independently or in combination:
       adjustment of the flaps to the dimensions of the mandrel is accomplished by positioning a tapping block opposite the edges of the mandrel,   locking into position is accomplished by means of collets or clamping screws,   said sheet is made of braided carbon fibers, and said preform is adapted for producing a turbomachine vane preform.       
 
         [0020]    The invention also relates to a method wherein
       two preform forming steps are accomplished by means of the method as defined previously so as to produce a first U-shaped preform and a second TT-shaped preform,   the two preforms thus produced are associated by inserting the first U-shaped preform between the two flaps of the second TT-shaped preform, such that the bases of said two preforms are opposite and separated by their respective flaps,   the assembly thus formed is placed in injection tooling.       
 
         [0024]    The invention also relates to tooling for compacting, drying and trimming a preform of a hollow turbomachine component, characterized in that it includes:
       a base, adapted to serve as a support to a sheet of material, including a longitudinal impression,   a mandrel adapted to be position in said longitudinal impression, so as to clamp a sheet of material against the base, and thus defining two flaps of said sheet located on either side of the mandrel, said mandrel having a thickness that increases between a proximal end and a distal end, and having two longitudinal flanks substantially perpendicular to the base,   two lateral blocks, adapted to be positioned resting on the base on either side of the mandrel so as to clamp the flaps of the sheet against the mandrel,       
 
         [0028]    said lateral blocks and/or the mandrel being adapted to cooperate with means for trimming said flaps so as to adjust them to the dimensions of the mandrel or said lateral blocks, said tooling also including a proximal block, adapted to be positioned resting against one end of the mandrel, and to accomplish its locking against the base. 
         [0029]    As a variant, said tooling has one or more of the following features, taken independently or in combination:
       said lateral blocks and/or the mandrel have recesses adapted to accommodate a tapping block to as to absorb the excess during adjustment of the flaps to the dimensions of the mandrel or of said lateral blocks,   the base, the mandrel, the lateral blocks, and the proximal block, if any, are made of resin, of thermoplastic material, of aluminum or of steel.       
 
     
    
     
       PRESENTATION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0032]    Other features, aims and advantages of the invention will emerge from the description that follows, which is purely illustrative and not limiting, and which must be read with reference to the appended drawings, wherein: 
           [0033]      FIG. 1  shows a view of a sheet of material placed on the base of tooling according to one aspect of the invention; 
           [0034]      FIG. 2  shows a side view of a mandrel of tooling according to one aspect of the invention, 
           [0035]      FIG. 3  shows a section view of the association of the base, of the sheet and of the mandrel shown previously, 
           [0036]      FIG. 4  shows a view of the assembly presented in  FIG. 3 , to which are added additional elements of the tooling according to one aspect of the invention, 
           [0037]      FIG. 5  shows a detail view of locking into position of the mandrel, 
           [0038]      FIG. 6  shows a section view of the assembly thus formed, 
           [0039]      FIG. 7  shows a detail view of one zone of  FIG. 6 , 
           [0040]      FIG. 8  shows an example of a preform obtained by means of the tooling shown previously, 
           [0041]      FIG. 9  shows another variant of tooling according to one aspect of the invention, 
           [0042]      FIG. 10  shows a detail view of one zone of the tooling shown in  FIG. 9 , 
           [0043]      FIG. 11  shows another variant of a preform obtained by means of this tooling, 
           [0044]      FIG. 12  shows an assembly of the two preforms presented previously, 
           [0045]      FIGS. 13 and 14  shows two views of this assembly positioned in an injection mold according to one aspect of the invention. 
       
    
    
       [0046]    In all the figures, the common elements are designated with identical numerical references. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0047]      FIG. 1  shows a sheet  1  of material positioned on a base  2  of forming tooling. 
         [0048]    The sheet  1  is typically a sheet made of 3D-woven fibers, typically carbon fibers. 
         [0049]    The base  2  includes a T-shaped impression  21 , thus having a longitudinal impression  22  and a transverse impression  23 . The sheet  1  of material is positioned so as to cover the longitudinal impression  22 , or more precisely so that the length of the sheet  1  is positioned between the two ends of the longitudinal impression  22 . 
         [0050]      FIG. 2  shows a side view of a mandrel  3  adapted to be associated with the base  2  shown previously. 
         [0051]    The mandrel  3  has the general shape of a wedge; it has a thickness that increased between a proximal end  31  and a distal end  32 , and having two longitudinal flanks substantially perpendicular to the base. Its distal end  32  extends into a typically parallelepiped attachment section  33 , adapted to rest against the base  2  and allow the mandrel  3  to be locked into position on the base  2 . 
         [0052]    The length between the proximal end  31  and the distal end  32  of the mandrel  3  is advantageously equal to the length of the longitudinal impression  22  of the base  2 . 
         [0053]      FIG. 3  shows a section view in a plane A-A shown in  FIG. 2  of the mandrel  3 , as well as of the base  2  and of the sheet  1  of material. 
         [0054]    The mandrel  3  is positioned so as to insert itself into the longitudinal impression  22  of the base  2 , the attachment section  33  of the mandrel resting against the base  2  outside of the longitudinal impression  22 , aligned with its end opposite to the end connected with the transverse impression  23 . 
         [0055]    By thus positioning the mandrel  3  in the longitudinal impression  22  of the base  2 , a portion  11  (indicated in  FIG. 3 ) of the sheet  1  of material is formed so as to conform to the longitudinal impression  22  of the base  2 , due to the action of the mandrel  3 . 
         [0056]    Thus two flaps  12  and  13  are defined, located on either side of this portion  11 , that is on either side of the mandrel  3 . 
         [0057]      FIG. 4  shows a view of the assembly consisting of the base  2 , the sheet  1  and the mandrel  3 , to which is associated a proximal block  4  as well as two lateral blocks  5  and  6  (only one lateral block  5  is shown in this figure). 
         [0058]    The proximal block  4  has generally a T shape, and includes a first section  41  adapted to be inserted into the transverse impression  23  of the base  2 , and a second section  42  adapted to rest against the mandrel  3  positioned on the base  2 . 
         [0059]      FIG. 5  illustrates the relative positioning of the sheet  1 , the base  2 , the mandrel  3  and the proximal block  4 , the second section  42  of the proximal block resting against the upper face of the mandrel  3 , so that the proximal end  31  of the mandrel  3  is held pressed against the base  2 . 
         [0060]      FIG. 4  also shows the lateral block  5 , which is positioned on the base  2  so as to rest against a lateral face of the mandrel  3 . 
         [0061]    The corresponding flap  12  is previously folded so as to extend along the lateral face of the mandrel  3 , substantially perpendicularly to the base  2 . 
         [0062]    Thus, the flap  12  is clamped between the mandrel  3  and the lateral block  5 . 
         [0063]    The second lateral block  6  is positioned similarly, so as to rest against the other lateral face of the mandrel  3  and to clamp the other flap  13  between the mandrel  3  and the second lateral block  6 . 
         [0064]      FIG. 6  shows a cross-section view of the assembly thus formed. The U shape given to the sheet  1  can be seen, the different portions whereof are clamped between the base  2 , the mandrel  3  and the lateral blocks  5  and  6 . 
         [0065]      FIG. 7  shows a detail view of a portion marked with a circle in  FIG. 6 . Shown in this figure is the free end of the flap  12 , located between the mandrel  3  and the lateral block  5 . 
         [0066]    So as to avoid considerable constraints in positioning the sheet  1  on the base  2 , the sheet  1  is advantageously dimensioned so as to be larger than necessary, which involves the flaps  12  and  13  extending beyond the mandrel  3  once the U shaping is accomplished, as can be seen in  FIG. 7 . 
         [0067]    Once the U shaping is accomplished, the two flaps and  13  are then adjusted to the height of the mandrel  3 , by trimming and removing the excess material. 
         [0068]    This operation is typically accomplished while the assembly is in the configuration shown in  FIG. 6 . A blade then cuts the excess material of the flaps  12  and  13 , by running along the upper edge of the mandrel  3 . 
         [0069]    To this end, the lateral edges  5  and  6  advantageously include a recess adapted so as to receive a tapping block, that is a shim made of a soft material, adapted to absorb machining overruns during trimming and thus avoid damaging the lateral edges  5  and  6 .  FIG. 7  thus shows a tapping block  51  positioned in a recess provided in the lateral edge  5 , at the upper edge of the mandrel  3 . 
         [0070]    Conversely, it is possible to provide recesses in the mandrel  3  so as to place tapping blocks there, and to carry out the trimming operation by following the edge of the lateral blocks  5  and  6 . 
         [0071]    These means adapted to carry out the adjustment and trimming of the flaps  12  and  13  directly in the tooling, allowing an accurate trim to be obtained, without deforming the preform and without removing fiber. 
         [0072]      FIG. 8  shows the sheet  1  formed into a U positioned around the mandrel  3 , after removal of the lateral blocks  5  and  6 , of the proximal block  4  and of the base  2 . The sheet  1  thus formed has typically been dried before removal of these different elements, so as to fix it in this U shape. 
         [0073]      FIG. 9  shows an assembly similar to that shown in the foregoing figures, wherein the TT shaping of a sheet  7  or material is accomplished. The various elements are designated with the same numerical references as before, followed by the letter a. 
         [0074]    The sheet  7  is typically a sheet made of 3-D woven fibers, for example made of carbon fibers. 
         [0075]    The different steps, as well as the means used, are similar to those described with reference to the foregoing figures, with the exception of the impression  22   a  in the base  2   a,  which is adapted so as to form a portion  71  larger than the portion  11  formed previously. 
         [0076]    Moreover, the sheet  7 , as positioned initially in the base  2   a,  consists of several panes which are positioned on the base  2   a.  The mandrel  3   a  is then positioned between two flaps  72  and  73 , along the longitudinal axis of the sheet  7 . The proximal block (not shown) and the lateral blocks  5   a  and  6   a  are then positioned so as to form a large portion  71  resting on the base  2   a,  from which extend two flaps  72  and  73 , substantially perpendicularly to the portion  71 , these two flaps  72  and  73  extending to either side of the longitudinal axis of the portion  71  and being clamped between the mandrel  3   a  and respectively the lateral flap  72  and the lateral flap  73 . 
         [0077]      FIG. 10  shows a detail view of  FIG. 9  highlighting the adjustment of the flaps  72  and  73  to the height of the mandrel  3   a.    
         [0078]    As in the foregoing, the flaps  72  and  73 , as positioned on the base  2   a,  are initially over-dimensioned, so as to avoid constraints connected with extremely accurate positioning of a sheet which was already dimensioned prior to forming. 
         [0079]    As before, the two flaps  72  and  73  of the sheet  7  are adjusted by removing excess material, for example by means of a cutting tool running along the upper edges of the mandrel  3   a.    
         [0080]    As described previously with reference to  FIG. 7 , a tapping block can be used for carrying out the trimming operation. 
         [0081]    As before, the trimming procedure can easily be reversed, by accomplishing it by running along the edges of the lateral blocks  5   a  and  6   a,  the mandrel  3   a  then advantageously including one or more recesses for accommodating the tapping blocks. 
         [0082]    In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 10 , the mandrel  3   a  has beveled lateral edges  32   a  and  33   a,  which allows them to serve as a guide for a trimming blade for example. 
         [0083]      FIG. 11  shows a view of the sheet  7  formed into a TT shape, once the lateral blocks  5   a  and  6   a,  the proximal block  4   a,  the mandrel  3   a  and the base  2   a  are removed. The sheet  7  thus shaped has typically been dried prior to removal of these different elements, so as to fix it in this TT shape. 
         [0084]      FIGS. 1 to 11  thus show tooling and the different associated steps for producing two half-preforms typically made of 3D-woven fiber, carbon fiber for example. 
         [0085]    The tooling described previously for producing these two preforms makes it possible to accomplish the operations of shaping, compacting, drying and trimming, for a given preform, in the same tooling, thus ensuring accurate shaping of these preforms. 
         [0086]      FIG. 12  shows the assembly of the preforms thus formed from two previously formed sheets  1  and  7 , and illustrated in  FIGS. 8 and 11  respectively. 
         [0087]    As shown in this figure, the preforms previously produced are assembled, the U-shaped sheet  1  being inserted between the flaps  72  and  73  of the TT-shaped sheet  7 , so that their two portions  11  and  71  are opposite and separated by their lateral flaps  12 ,  13 , and  73 , and the mandrel  3  used for U-shaping the sheet  1  is also positioned between these two portions  11  and  71 . 
         [0088]      FIGS. 13 and 14  show section views illustrating positioning of the assembly thus formed in tooling  80 , typically injection tooling. 
         [0089]    The tooling  80  includes a base  81  adapted to serve as a support for the portion  71  of the sheet that is given a TT shape, a proximal locking block  84 , lateral blocks  85  and  86 , and an upper block  87 . 
         [0090]    These different elements are locked into position, so as to clamp the assembly of shaped sheets  1  and  7  and thus form an injection mold, making it possible to form a hollow turbomachine component, for example a vane platform of a turbomachine. 
         [0091]    The different tooling elements presented, particularly the bases  2 ,  2   a  and  81 , the mandrels  3  and  3   a,  the proximal blocks  4 ,  4   a  and  84 , the lateral blocks  5 ,  5   a,    6 ,  6   a,    85  and  86 , and the upper block  87  are typically made of resin or of thermoplastic material in the case where they are made by rapid prototyping, or of aluminum or of steel. 
         [0092]    These different tooling elements are locked into position typically by means of collets or clamping screws, clamping being accomplished in the direction of the sheet  1  or  7  so as to clamp it between different elements of the tooling. 
         [0093]    The invention thus makes it possible to produce a complex assembly of several preforms for producing a hollow turbomachine component, said preforms being capable of being placed directly into injection tooling. 
         [0094]    The invention finds particular application for producing the vane platform of a turbomachine.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1