초록 ▼

A ply placement device uses a ply guide to place plies on a curved substrate surface. The ply guide includes a guide surface and a guide edge that are each curved to match the contour of the substrate so that the ply transitions smoothly from its planar form to a curved form as the ply is placed ont

A ply placement device uses a ply guide to place plies on a curved substrate surface. The ply guide includes a guide surface and a guide edge that are each curved to match the contour of the substrate so that the ply transitions smoothly from its planar form to a curved form as the ply is placed onto the substrate. The ply guide may be flexible or segmented to allow reconfiguration of the guide surfaces to match various substrate contours.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A method of placing a ply on a curved substrate, comprising the steps of:feeding the ply over a curved guide edge of a guide surface onto the substrate, said curved guide edge forming a substantially gas impermeable seal with an underside of said ply;adjusting the inclination

What is claimed is: 1. A method of placing a ply on a curved substrate, comprising the steps of:feeding the ply over a curved guide edge of a guide surface onto the substrate, said curved guide edge forming a substantially gas impermeable seal with an underside of said ply;adjusting the inclination of the guide surface until the curvature of the curved guide edge generally matches the curvature of the curved substrate, said curvature of the curved guide edge extending laterally with respect to said ply; and,drawing the ply down onto the curved substrate by reducing the air pressure between the ply and the curved substrate.