Patent ID: 8057618

Claim:
A method for manufacturing a hollow component out of a composite material, the hollow component including a skin and optional strengthening elements, the method comprising: providing a female mold of elongated shape having a substantially continuous generally concave inner wall, the continuous wall presenting opposed edges defining a longitudinal slit extending along the length of the mold, wherein the continuous wall extends over an angular sector of about 270 degrees or more such that the longitudinal slit extends over an angular sector of about 90 degrees or less; inserting a multi-articulated arm fitted with a fiber placement head inside the female mold, the multi-articulated arm carried by a support received through said longitudinal slit; and applying fibers to an inner molding surface of the female mold using the fiber placement head to form said composite material skin, said application step being performed by displacement of the application head using the multi-articulated arm and relative displacement in translation between said support and said female mold along said longitudinal slit of the female mold.