IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0888717
(2010-09-23)
|
등록번호 |
US-8511359
(2013-08-20)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
|
출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
4 인용 특허 :
23 |
초록
A layup mandrel includes a shell having a tool surface on which plies may be laid up. The shape of the shell is changed by an actuator.
대표청구항
▼
1. A layup mandrel, comprising: a shell having a tool surface on which plies may be laid up and a gap;an insert for filling the gap, the gap allowing contraction of the shell when the insert is removed to permit release of a layup formed on the shell; andan actuator mechanism coupled with the shell
1. A layup mandrel, comprising: a shell having a tool surface on which plies may be laid up and a gap;an insert for filling the gap, the gap allowing contraction of the shell when the insert is removed to permit release of a layup formed on the shell; andan actuator mechanism coupled with the shell for changing a shape of the shell. 2. The layup mandrel of claim 1, wherein the actuator mechanism includes: a power operated actuator mounted within the shell for producing a force, andlinkage coupled between the actuator and the shell for expanding the shell using the force produced by the actuator. 3. The layup mandrel of claim 2, wherein: the linkage includes links mounted within the shell, the links being laterally displaceable into engagement with the shell for expanding the shell, andthe actuator includes an output drivingly coupled with the links and linearly displaceable in a direction generally traverse to a direction of displacement of the links. 4. The layup mandrel of claim 2, wherein the actuator is one of: a pneumatically powered cylinder,a hydraulically powered cylinder, andan electrically powered motor. 5. The layup mandrel of claim 2, wherein the linkage includes: a first pair of links each having first and second ends, wherein the first ends are coupled with the actuator, anda second pair of links each having first and second ends, the first ends of the second links being respectively pivotally coupled with the second ends of the first links, the second ends of the second pair of links being engagable with the shell for applying the actuator generated force to the shell. 6. The layup mandrel of claim 1, wherein: the shell includes a gap and an insert for filling the gap,at least a portion of the shell is flexible in the area of the gap and has a spring force compressing shell against the insert, andthe actuator mechanism includes linkage for expanding the shell to relieve the compression force against the insert and allow removal of the insert. 7. The layup mandrel of claim 1, further including: a pair of jaws on the shell for gripping the insert. 8. The layup mandrel of claim 1, wherein the insert has a generally wedge shaped cross section and a surface forming an extension of the tool surface of the shell. 9. A mandrel having a changeable shape, comprising: a shell on which plies of composite material may be laid up, the shell including a gap therein into which at least a portion of the shell may contract to change the shape of the shell and release a layup;a removable insert held in the shell for filling the gap; anda mechanism including an actuator inside the shell for increasing a size of the gap and allowing the insert to be removed from the shell. 10. The mandrel of claim 9, wherein: the shell includes an outer tool surface on which the plies may be laid up, andthe insert includes a tool surface for engaging a part of the plies. 11. The mandrel of claim 9, wherein the shell includes a pair of opposing jaws for holding and compressing the insert therebetween. 12. The mandrel of claim 9, wherein: the shell includes an inside surface, andthe mechanism for increasing the size of the gap includes a linkage coupling the actuator with the inside surface of the shell. 13. The mandrel of claim 12, wherein the linkage includes: a first pair of links coupled with the actuator, and a second pair of links coupled with and driven by the first pair of links, each of the links in the second pair thereof including an end displaceable outwardly into contact with and applying force to an inside wall of the shell. 14. The mandrel of claim 9, wherein the actuator is a fluid powered cylinder. 15. The mandrel of claim 9, wherein the actuator is an electrically powered motor. 16. A layup mandrel having a changeable shape, comprising: a generally hollow, flexible shell having interior walls, the shell including a contoured outer tool surface over which composite plies may be laid up and a gap therein into which the walls may partially collapse;a base within the shell;a fluid operated cylinder mounted on the base and having a force transmitting, linearly displaceable output shaft;a first set of links each having a first end thereof pivotally coupled with the output shaft and having a second end thereof engageable with the inside walls of the shell for transmitting force from output shaft to the walls for expanding the walls;a second set of links each having a third end thereof pivotally coupled with the base and having a fourth end thereof pivotally coupled with the second end of one of the links in the first set thereof; andan insert removable installed in shell filling the gap for maintaining the shape of the shell. 17. A method of laying up a composite part, comprising: providing a mandrel having a shell with an outer tool surface on which composite plies may be laid up, a gap, and an insert for filling the gap, the gap allowing contraction of the mandrel when the insert is removed;forming a layup on the mandrel by laying up composite plies on the tool surface;releasing the layup from the mandrel, including using an actuator to change a shape of the mandrel. 18. The method of claim 17, wherein releasing the layup includes: using the actuator to expand the mandrel,removing the insert from the gap in the tool surface when the mandrel is expanded, andcontracting the mandrel after the insert has been removed. 19. The method of claim 17, wherein releasing the layup includes expanding links against an inside wall of the mandrel. 20. The method of claim 17, wherein releasing the layup includes using an actuator to expand links against the inside surface of the mandrel until the shape of the mandrel changes. 21. The method of claim 17, further comprising: placing a layer of compressible material between the layup and the outer tool surface, andcompressing the layer as the shape of the mandrel is changed. 22. A method of changing a shape of a mandrel in order to release a composite layup from the mandrel, comprising: providing a mandrel shell having a gap therein;installing an insert in the gap for maintaining the shape of the mandrel;energizing an actuator within the shell to produce a linear force;transferring the linear force to a first set of links;using the transferred force to displace the first set of links into engagement with inner walls of the shell;using a second set of links to guide the displacement of the first set of links;using the force applied to the inner walls of the shell by the first set of links to expand the shell and increase a width of the gap an amount sufficient to allow removal of the insert;removing the insert from the gap;de-energizing the actuator; andallowing a spring force in the shell to collapse a portion of the shell into the gap and change a shape of the shell an amount sufficient to unlock the layup.
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