CN105522724B - Vacuum debulk device and the method that tow is compacted - Google Patents

Abstract

Vacuum debulk device and the method that tow is compacted.System and method for being compacted the tow of composite material.These system and method can use vacuum debulk device to be compacted to the tow of the composite material on support surface.Vacuum debulk device can be reusable and may be constructed such that the restriction closed volume when being located on support surface and may include barrier structure and form Fluid Sealing when being configured between support surface and barrier structure and being compressed.Vacuum debulk device can also include vacuum distributing manifold, be in fluid communication with closed volume and be configured to vacuum being applied selectively to closed volume.The pressure in closed volume can be reduced and the never deformation structure of vacuum debulk device is made to become deformation structure by applying vacuum to closed volume, to be compacted to the tow of the composite material on support surface.

Description

Vacuum debulk device and the method that tow is compacted

Technical field

Present disclose relates generally to the system and method for the tow (charge) for being compacted composite material, and more specific The system and method that ground relates to the use of reusable vacuum debulk device to be compacted the tow of composite material.

Background technique

The assembling of composite construction may include that the tow of composite material is located on lamination mandrel and next to product The tow of composite material on layer mandrel be compacted include to be formed composite material after compacting tow and lamination mandrel Intermediate structure.The compacting can reduce the thickness of the tow of composite material, and gapping interval is removed out of composite material tow, increase The adherency being added between the multiple layers or piece that may exist in the tow of composite material increases the tow and lamination core of composite material Adherency between axis, the adherency and/or standard for increasing the tow of composite material between the material that is already present on lamination mandrel It is ready for use on the intermediate structure being further processed.

In history, compacting has been handled by " packing " to realize, wherein the tow of composite material and lamination mandrel A part is coated with thin flexible polymer piece.Polymeric sheet is then by the wrapped lamination mandrel that arrives for the fluid with ambient enviroment Connection isolation closed volume (or being at least substantially isolated).Next, vacuum is applied to closed volume to reduce pressure therein Power, and atmospheric pressure acts on the tow of composite material, so that the tow to composite material is compacted.

Although the above process is that effectively, this is time-consuming and labour is close when the tow to composite material is compacted Processing collect and consumption material, this requires that polymeric sheet will be customized and manually wraps polymer sheet to lamination mandrel.In addition, Compacting of the tow of composite material on the surface (for example, its inner surface) of lamination mandrel may require that excessive polymer sheet, Extend to, by and/or around lamination mandrel periphery and/or may correspondingly require the belt of long length, to prevent Only on the surface of lamination mandrel current material that may be present pollution.Therefore, it is necessary to for the tow to composite material into The improved system and method for row compacting.

Summary of the invention

Propose the system and method being compacted for the tow to composite material.These system and method can use Vacuum debulk device is compacted the tow of the composite material on support surface.Vacuum debulk device can be repeatable make And it may be constructed such that and limit closed volume when being located on support surface and may include barrier structure and sealing Structure, the sealing structure are configured to form Fluid Sealing when being compressed between support surface and barrier structure.Vacuum pressure It can also include vacuum distributing manifold that actual load, which is set, be in fluid communication with closed volume and be configured to selectively apply vacuum It is added on closed volume.The application of vacuum to closed volume can reduce the pressure in closed volume and by vacuum debulk device from Undeformed structural change is deformation structure, to be compacted to the tow of the composite material on support surface.

In some embodiments, barrier structure can be at least basic when vacuum debulk device is in undeformed construction Upper plane, and can be in vacuum debulk device and at least partly meet the profile of support surface when deformation structure.? In some embodiments, barrier structure, which can limit, provides the multiple of the fluid communication between vacuum distributing manifold and closed volume Pump-line.In some embodiments, barrier structure can also limit multiple holding pipelines, be configured in composite material Tow be compacted on support surface before the tow of composite material is maintained to the first side of barrier structure.In some implementations In mode, barrier structure may include and/or be double walled faceplate, limit multiple elongated passageways.

In some embodiments, support surface includes lamination mandrel.In some embodiments, support surface includes multiple The tow being compacted before condensation material.

Detailed description of the invention

Fig. 1 be include can be used system and a method according to the invention formation composite construction aircraft it is illustrative Non-exclusive example.

Fig. 2 be include that the illustrative of fuselage barrel of system and a method according to the invention formation can be used non-exclusive to show Example.

Fig. 3 is the illustrative non-exclusive exemplary schematic sectional view according to the vacuum debulk device of the disclosure, wherein Vacuum debulk device is not on support surface.

Fig. 4 is the schematic bottom view of the vacuum debulk device of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is the schematic sectional view of the vacuum debulk device of Fig. 3, wherein vacuum debulk device is located on support surface And it is in undeformed construction.

Fig. 6 is the schematic sectional view of the vacuum debulk device of Fig. 3, wherein vacuum debulk device is located on support surface, In deformation structure, and to the tow of composite material carry out in be compacted.

Fig. 7 is the schematic sectional view of the vacuum debulk device of Fig. 3, wherein vacuum debulk device has been completed to multiple The compacting of the tow of condensation material has been returned to undeformed construction, and separates with support surface.

Fig. 8 is showing for the vacuum debulk device according to the disclosure being compacted to the tow of the composite material on convex surface The non-exclusive exemplary schematic sectional view of property.

Fig. 9 is showing for the vacuum debulk device according to the disclosure being compacted to the tow of the composite material on concave surface The non-exclusive exemplary schematic sectional view of property.

Figure 10 is to being at least partly sealed by the support surface that the tow for the composite material being compacted before limits According to the illustrative non-exclusive exemplary schematic sectional view of the vacuum debulk device of the disclosure.

Figure 11 is can be illustrative non-exclusive with the barrier structure being used together according to the disclosed systems and methods Exemplary schematic, exploded.

Figure 12 is the flow chart for describing the method being compacted to the tow of composite material according to the disclosure.

Figure 13 is the flow chart of aircraft production and method of servicing.

Figure 14 is the block diagram of aircraft.

Specific embodiment

Fig. 1 to Figure 11 is provided according to the composite construction 800 of the disclosure, composite construction manufacturing device 20 and/or its component Illustrative non-exclusive example.In each of Fig. 1 to Figure 11, with identical numeral mark for similar or at least base The element of similar purpose in sheet, and will not be discussed in detail herein referring to figs. 1 to each of Figure 11.It is similar Ground can not be marked all elements in each of Fig. 1 to Figure 11, but appended drawing reference associated with it can be with Still it is used herein for consistency.In general, the element that may be included in given embodiment is shown with solid line Out, it is shown with dashed lines for giving optional element for embodiment.However, the element being shown in solid not is pair All embodiments are all necessary, and without departing from the scope of the present disclosure, can be saved from particular implementation The element being slightly shown in solid.

Fig. 1 be include can be used system and a method according to the invention formation composite construction 800 aircraft 700 Illustrative non-exclusive example, and it includes that can form a part of aircraft 700 and including composite construction 800 that Fig. 2, which is, Fuselage barrel 730 illustrative non-exclusive example.Aircraft 700 and/or its composite construction 800 may include multiple covering portions Points 790, it can be formed, be covered and/or the outer surface of any suitable part for aircraft 700.As most clearly shown in Fig. 2 Out, aircraft 700 can also include multiple stringers 770, can support cover portion 790 together with multiple frames 780 Inner surface 792.Multiple fillers 760 can extend between frame 780 and inner surface 792 and can form composite construction 800 a part.

In the scope of the present disclosure, any suitable part of aircraft 700 can be formed by composite construction 800 It and/or is composite construction 800.As illustrative non-exclusive example, composite construction 800 can form the body of aircraft 700 710, a part of fuselage 720, fuselage barrel 730, wing 740 and/or stabilizer 750.

Fig. 3 to Fig. 7, which is provided, can use in composite construction manufacturing device 20 and/or can be formed composite construction manufacture The illustrative non-exclusive exemplary schematic sectional view of the vacuum debulk device according to the disclosure of a part of device 20.Figure 3 to Fig. 7 vacuum debulk device 100 includes barrier structure 110 comprising the first face 114 and the second opposite face 118.Vacuum Compaction apparatus 100 further comprises vacuum distributing manifold 140.Vacuum distributing manifold 140 is by that can be limited to barrier structure 110 First face 114 of interior multiple pump-lines 122 and barrier structure 110 is in fluid communication, and is configured to vacuum selectivity Ground is applied to multiple pump-lines 122.Vacuum debulk device 100 further includes sealing structure 170, can be located at barrier structure Between 110 and support surface 200, it can be located on the first face 114 of barrier structure 110 and/or can be operably attached to First face 114 of barrier structure 110.Sealing structure 170 be configured to when sealing structure 170 be compressed in barrier structure 110 with Fluid Sealing is formed between barrier structure 110 and support surface 200 when between support surface 200.

As shown in Fig. 5 to Fig. 6, when empty compaction apparatus 100 is located on support surface 200 surely, vacuum debulk device 100 Closed volume 250 can be limited together with support surface 200.Under these conditions, vacuum distributing manifold 140 is via pump-line 122 are in fluid communication with closed volume 250 and are configured to for vacuum to be applied selectively to closed volume 250 to reduce wherein Pressure.

As shown in dotted line of the Fig. 3 into Fig. 7, barrier structure 110 can further limit multiple holding pipelines 126, mention For the fluid communication between the second vacuum distributing manifold 144 and the first face 114 of vacuum debulk device 100, second vacuum point It can also be referred to herein as with manifold and keep manifold 144.In addition, composite construction manufacturing device 20 may further include vacuum Source 150 and/or with vacuum source 150 be in fluid communication, vacuum source 150 be configured to generate can be applied by vacuum distributing manifold 140 To 122 vacuum 152 (as shown in broken lines) of pump-line and/or generates and guarantor can be applied to by the second vacuum distributing manifold 144 Hold the vacuum 152 of pipeline 126.When barrier structure 110 limits pump-line 122 and keeps pipeline 126, vacuum distributing manifold 140 can also be referred to herein as the first vacuum distributing manifold 140 and/or exhaust manifold 140.

As shown in broken lines, vacuum debulk device 100 may further include one or more index structures 180, quilt Be configured to when empty compaction apparatus 100 is located on support surface 200 surely to index relative to the alignment of support surface 200, establishment and/or Positioning vacuum compaction apparatus 100.Similarly, support surface 200 may include one or more corresponding (complimentary) ropes Guiding structure 210 is configured to empty compaction apparatus 100 surely and is properly aligned when on support surface 200 and index structure 180 matchings accommodate index structure 180 or are accommodated by index structure 180.

As shown in Figure 3 and as the method 400 below with reference to Figure 11 is described in detail, the tow 810 of composite material can Between vacuum debulk device 100 and support surface 200.This may include that tow 810 is located in support surface 200 On, it is located on the first face 114 of barrier structure 110 as shown in 814, and/or by tow 810, as shown in 818；And Within the scope of this disclosure, positioning may include by the tow 810 of any suitable number of composite material (for example, 1,2, 3,4,5,10 or the composite material more than 10 tow) be placed between vacuum debulk device 100 and support surface 200.

When tow 810 is placed on support surface 200, alignment folder 214 can be used for for tow 810 being accurately placed It is accurately put on support surface 200 and/or relative to any suitable structure and/or its feature (for example, index structure 210) It sets.In addition, adhesive 820 can be between support surface and the tow 810 of composite material.This may include by tow 810 be placed on support surface 200 before adhesive 820 is placed on support surface 200 and/or is placed by tow 810 Adhesive 820 is placed on tow 810 before on support surface 200.

When tow 810 is placed on the first face 114 of barrier structure 110, holding pipeline can be applied vacuum to 126 tow 810 to be maintained on the first face 114.In Fig. 4 (it is the schematic bottom view of the vacuum debulk device of Fig. 3) It is shown, it keeps pipeline 126 that can be placed so that tow 810 is placed on and 126 top of pipeline and/or covering is kept to keep pipe Road 126.Therefore, when vacuum, which is applied to, keeps pipeline 126, which can locally reduce the first face 114 and tow 810 Between region in pressure, so that the tow 810 of composite material is maintained on the first face 114 of barrier structure 110.

After tow 810 is placed between vacuum debulk device 100 and support surface 200, as shown in Figure 5, very Empty compaction apparatus 100 can be placed on support surface 200 to limit closed volume 250.This may include for example by making Vacuum debulk device 100 is aligned by index of reference structure 180 and 210 with support surface 200.

Within the scope of this disclosure, which can complete in any suitable manner.As illustrative non-row Except property example, which may include manually placing vacuum debulk device 100 and/or automatically placement vacuum debulk device 100.Surely when empty compaction apparatus 100 is automatically placed on support surface 200, such as mounter people's 194 puts automatically Setting structure 190 can be programmed to that vacuum debulk device 100 is placed on support surface 200 and/or is placed on tow 810 In the desired region of support surface 200.Automatic displacement structure 190 can be programmed to using the method being discussed here in detail The tow 810 of any suitable number of the composite material on any pair of support surface 200 in 400 is compacted.

After vacuum debulk device 100 is placed on support surface 200, as shown in Figure 6, it is possible to reduce obturator Pressure in product 250.This may include that for example will come from vacuum source by vacuum distributing manifold 140 and/or pump-line 122 150 vacuum is applied selectively to closed volume 250.The pressure reduced in closed volume 250 can be in vacuum debulk device Pressure difference is generated on 100, to generate the atmospheric pressure F that can act on and/or be applied to vacuum debulk device 100.

Atmospheric pressure, which is applied to vacuum debulk device 100, can make the never deformation structure 104 of vacuum debulk device 100 (for example, as shown in Fig. 3-5 and Fig. 7) becomes deformation structure 108 (as shown in Fig. 6 and Fig. 8-10), so that vacuum Tow 810 is compressed in vacuum debulk device 100 for compaction apparatus 100 and/or its barrier structure 110 and support surface 200 is direct By and produce the compacting tow 812 of compression material.The compression may be used as direction and/or in support surface 200 It is compacted the power of tow 810, for example, reducing the thickness of tow 810, air is removed from tow 810, removes gap from tow 810 Interval, increase may include interlaminar adhesion between multiple composite sheets of tow 810 and/or increase tow 810 and support table Adhesiveness between face 200.

After being compacted to the tow 810 on support surface 200, the pressure in closed volume 250 can be increased.This May include stop from vacuum source 150 to closed volume 250 apply vacuum 152 and/or for example by gas bleeder valve 160 selectively The gas stream 162 (shown in dotted line) that loses heart is provided to closed volume 250.Increase closed volume 250 in pressure can reduce and/ Or atmospheric pressure F is eliminated, and allow vacuum debulk device 100 back to undeformed construction 104, as shown in Figure 7.It connects down Come, as shown in Figure 7, vacuum debulk device 100 can be separated with support surface 200.However, compacting tow 812 can retain On support surface 200.

The processing can repeat any suitable number to support the compacting of any number of tow 810 of composite material On surface 200, so as to form at least part of composite construction 800.In addition, automatic displacement structure 190 can also include control System 198 processed, communicates and/or is formed a part of control system 198 with control system 198, and control system 198 can be further It is programmed to control the operation of vacuum source 150, can control the operation of gas bleeder valve 160, can control from vacuum source 150 to vacuum Distributing manifold 140 and/or 144 applies vacuum, and/or can control the flowing of discouraged gas stream.This may include using here The control that any one of method 400 of discussion carries out.

Within the scope of this disclosure, vacuum debulk device 100 can be reusable vacuum debulk device 100. Therefore, vacuum debulk device 100 may be adapted to, be configured to, be designed as, be selected as and/or be provided as reuse (or repeatedly Using), it is compacted with multiple tow 810 to the composite material on support surface 200.In addition, or as an alternative, vacuum debulk Device 100 (its any suitable component) also may be adapted to, be configured to, be designed as, be selected as and/or be provided as do not damaging Variation is multiple between undeformed construction 104 and deformation structure 108 in the case where bad vacuum debulk device 100 and/or is not having Multiple tow 810 of the composite material on support surface 200 are compacted in the case where damage vacuum debulk device 100.

After the compacting of the tow 810 of the target of composite material or desired number on support surface 200, by compound The tow 810 of material is formed and/or the composite construction 800 of the tow 810 including composite material can carry out before it is completed Further processing.As illustrative non-exclusive example, composite construction 800 can be solidified.As another illustrative Non-exclusive example can form at least part of support construction 200 and/or can support at least the one of multiple tow 810 Partial lamination mandrel 202 can be removed and/or be separated from composite construction 800.

With reference to Fig. 3-Fig. 7, barrier structure 110, which may be constructed such that, to be limited pump-line 122, keeps pipeline 126, the first face 114 and/or second face 118.In addition, barrier structure 110 may be used as and/or be for closed volume 250 and around vacuum pressure Actual load sets at least part of blocking of the flowing of the fluid between 100 ambient enviroment.

Barrier structure 110 may include and/or limit any suitable shape, construction, shape and/or profile.As showing Out the non-exclusive example of property and at least when in it is undeformed construction 104 when, barrier structure 110 can limit for example can be by it Plane that first face 114 and/or the second face 118 limit or at least substantially plane, construction, shape, shape and/or profile.

As another illustrative non-exclusive example, as being discussed in detail herein with reference to Figure 11, barrier structure 110 can be by First planar wall 130, the second planar wall 132 and between the first planar wall 130 and the second planar wall 132 extend it is more to limit Multiple elongated webs 134 of a elongated passageway 136 limit.When barrier structure 110 limits elongated passageway 136, elongated passageway At least part can be in fluid communication with pump-line 122 and/or holding pipeline 126.Addition or alternatively, elongated passageway 136 The part can form a part of vacuum distributing manifold 140 and/or the second vacuum distributing manifold 144.

Addition or alternatively, barrier structure 110 can also be including any suitable material and/or by any suitable material It is formed.As illustrative non-exclusive example, barrier structure 110 may include flexible material and/or springy material and/or It is formed by it.As other illustrative non-exclusive example, barrier structure 110 may include optically transparent material, translucent It material and/or opaque material and/or is formed by it, it is fair when being located on support surface 200 with empty compaction apparatus 100 of for example taking seriously Perhaps the visual inspection of tow 810 and/or support surface 200.As other illustrative non-exclusive example, barrier structure 110 It can also be formed by polymer material and/or makrolon material and/or including such material.

As shown in the dotted line in Fig. 3-Fig. 7, the first face 114 of barrier structure 110 may further include release surface It 116 and/or is limited by it.Release surface 116 may be constructed such that and/or be selected as reduce tow 810 and barrier structure 110 it Between adhesiveness, reduce the chemical reaction between tow 810 and barrier structure 110 and/or the silk due to caused by barrier structure 110 The pollution of beam 810 reduces a possibility that above-mentioned.Within the scope of this disclosure, release surface 116 can be suitble to by any Material manufacture, these materials include the material identical or different with barrier structure 110.It may be constructed the material of release surface 116 The illustrative non-exclusive example of material includes chemical inert material (for example, fluoropolymer).

Here it can also be referred to as the vacuum distributing manifold 140 and/or the second vacuum point of vacuum distributing manifold 140 and 144 It may include with manifold 144 and/or be to be configured for selectively supplying pump-line 122 and/or keep pipeline 126 and vacuum Any suitable structure of fluid communication between source 150.As shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. 5-Fig. 7 and as discussed here, at this In scope of disclosure, at least part of vacuum distributing manifold 140 and/or 144 can be limited by barrier structure 110 and/ Or in barrier structure 110.Vacuum distributing manifold 140 can be limited as illustrative non-exclusive example elongated passageway 136 And/or 144 benefit is divided.However, being similarly in the scope of the present disclosure, vacuum distributing manifold 140 and/or 144 is extremely Few a part can be separated and/or be distinguished with barrier structure 110, void such as that manifold 140 and 144 is isolated with barrier structure 110 Shown in line.

Vacuum distributing manifold 140 and/or 144 can also include any suitable additional structure.As illustrative non-excluded Property example, at least one of vacuum distributing manifold 140 and/or 144 may include pressure detector 146, be configured to examine Survey the pressure in vacuum distributing manifold 140 and/or 144 and/or in closed volume 250.Illustrative non-exclusive show as another Example, at least one of vacuum distributing manifold 140 and/or 144 may include vacuum control structure 148 (for example, valve), can To be configured to that selectively vacuum distributing manifold 140 and/or 144, pump-line will be applied to from the vacuum of vacuum source 150 122, pipeline 126 and/or enclosed construction 250 are kept.Surely empty distributing manifold 140 and/or 144 includes vacuum control structure 148 When, in the scope of the present disclosure, vacuum control structure 148 can activate in any suitable manner.As showing The non-exclusive example of property, vacuum control structure 148 can be activated manually.As another illustrative non-exclusive example, very Empty control structure 148 for example can be activated automatically via control system 198 and/or using method 400 discussed here.

Sealing structure 170 may include that can stop when empty compaction apparatus 100 is placed on support surface 200 surely Any suitable structure of Fluid Sealing is formed between structure 110 and support surface 200.As illustrative non-exclusive example, Sealing structure 170 may include and/or be compression seal, elastic packing and/or the pipe that can be formed by any suitable material Shape elastic packing, illustrative non-exclusive example include elastic material, polymer material, latex and/or urethane.This can wrap It includes and does not adhere to support surface 200, will not carry out chemically reacting and/or pollutant will not being transferred to support surface 200 The material of support surface 200.

In addition, sealing structure 170 can place in any suitable manner and/or with any construction in vacuum debulk device In 100, so as to allow the formation of Fluid Sealing.As illustrative non-exclusive example, sealing structure 170 can be located at resistance It keeps off between structure 110 and support surface 200.As another illustrative non-exclusive example, sealing structure 170 can be located at and/ Or it is operatively attached to the first face 114 of barrier structure 110.

Within the scope of this disclosure, sealing structure 170 may be constructed such that when in barrier structure 110 and support surface It reversibly compresses and/or deforms when forming Fluid Sealing between 200.Therefore, empty compaction apparatus 100 is in undeformed bezoar from monkeys surely When 104 (as shown in Figure 5), sealing structure 170 may include and/or limit undeformed thickness 172, and pneumatics actual load surely When setting 100 in deformation structure 108 (as shown in Figure 6), sealing structure 170 may include and/or restriction deforms thickness 174. As further shown in Fig. 5-Fig. 6, deformation thickness 174 can be less than undeformed thickness 172.Sealing structure 170 is being compressed Deformation when between barrier structure 110 and support surface 200 (for example, when the pressure in closed volume 250 reduces) can be with It improves, is used for and/or allows the formation of the Fluid Sealing between barrier structure 110 and support surface 200.

As shown in Fig. 5-Fig. 6, closed volume 250 can be by the first face 114 of support surface 200 and barrier structure 110 It defines and/or limits.In addition, as shown, sealing structure 170 can define, limit and/or be formed the outer of closed volume 250 Week.This can surround closed volume 250 by the continuous length using sealing structure 170 to realize, as shown in Figure 4.

Support surface 200 may include that can accommodate the tow 810 of composite material and/or can limit closed volume 250 At least part of any suitable surface.As illustrative non-exclusive example, support surface 200 may include lamination core Axis 202 (for example, mold line lamination mandrel and/or outer mold line lamination mandrel), being configured to limit can be formed by tow 810 Composite construction 800 shape, profile and/or shape.Therefore, sealing structure 170 may be constructed such that lamination mandrel 202 with Fluid Sealing is formed between barrier structure 110.

As another illustrative non-exclusive example, the formation of composite construction 800 may include by the multiple of composite material The compacting of tow 810, to generate multiple compacting tow 812, can also be referred to as in composite wood herein on lamination mandrel 202 The tow 812 for the composite material being compacted before the compacting of the given tow 810 of material.It is compound in the scope of the present disclosure The given tow 810 of material can with it is multiple before be compacted at the position that separates of the tow 812 that is compacted.In these conditions Under, the support surface 200 of the given tow 810 for composite material can be lamination mandrel 202, and given tow can be compacted On to lamination mandrel 202 and/or sealing structure 170 fluid can be formed between lamination mandrel 202 and barrier structure 110 close Envelope.

Addition or alternatively, be similarly in the scope of the present disclosure, the given tow 810 of composite material can by With at least one of multiple tow 812 being compacted before at neighbouring and/or position including at least one of the tow 812 It is compacted.This can given tow 810 be configured to it is multiple before at least one of the tow 812 that is compacted phase It is adjacent, against and/or it is overlapping in the case where occur.Under these conditions, support surface 200 may further include and/or be one The tow 812 being compacted before a or multiple, at least part of given tow 810 are pressed before being compacted to one or more On real tow 812 and/or sealing structure 170 may be constructed such that the tow 812 being compacted before composite material and stop Fluid Sealing is formed between structure 110.

As discussed, the tow 810 of composite material can be compacted on support surface 200 to form composite construction 800 at least part.Illustrative non-exclusive example according to the composite construction 800 of the disclosure includes any suitable flight Device 700, a part of aircraft 700, body 710, fuselage 720, fuselage barrel 730, wing 740 or stabilizer 750.Tow 810 Illustrative non-exclusive example include any suitable filler 760, the stringer that can form a part of composite construction 800 770 and/or cover portion 790.

The tow 810 of composite material can also be referred to as group (mass) 810 and/or the composite material of composite material herein Dough sheet (patch) 810, and may include any suitable structure.As illustrative non-exclusive example, tow 810 can To include at least a piece of of composite material.As another illustrative non-exclusive example, tow 810 may include composite material At least two, at least three, at least four, at least five, at least ten, at least 15 or at least 20 heap laminations.Show as another The non-exclusive example of property out, tow 810 may include composite material less than 80, less than 70, less than 60, less than 50, less than 45, Less than 40, less than 35, less than 30, less than 25, the heap lamination less than 20, less than 15 or less than 10.

Tow 810 can be formed by any suitable composite material and/or including any suitable composite material.As showing The non-exclusive example of property out, tow 810 may include prepreg composite materials.As another illustrative non-exclusive example, tow 810 may include multiple fibers and/or resin material.The illustrative non-exclusive example of fiber includes carbon fiber, polymer fibre Dimension, metallic fiber and/or glass fibre.The illustrative non-exclusive example of resin material include epoxy resin, tackifying resin and/ Or fluoropolymer resin.As another illustrative non-exclusive example, tow 810 may include sheet metal, metal film, metal layer And/or any suitable combination of above-mentioned material.

As discussed here, vacuum debulk device 100 at least limits undeformed construction 104 and deformation structure 108.Equally such as It is discussed here, sealing structure 170 can when never deformation structure 104 becomes deformation structure 108 to vacuum debulk device 100 from Undeformed thickness 172 becomes deforming thickness 174.Addition or alternatively, it is similarly in the scope of the present disclosure, barrier structure 110 shape, shape and/or profile can change according to the construction of vacuum debulk device 100.As illustrative non-exclusive Example, when empty compaction apparatus 100 is in undeformed construction 104 surely, barrier structure 110 may include and/or limit plane or At least substantially shape of plane, shape and/or profile.As another illustrative non-exclusive example, empty compaction apparatus surely 100 when being in deformation structure 108, the shape of barrier structure 110, shape and/or profile (for example, its first face 114 and/or its Shape, shape and/or the profile in the second face 116) it can meet or at least partly meet the shape of support surface 200, shape And/or profile.This shows in Fig. 8-Figure 10, and Fig. 8 to Figure 10 provides the silk in non-planar support surface 200 to composite material The schematic sectional view for the vacuum debulk device 100 according to the disclosure that beam 810 is compacted.

As shown in Figure 8, support surface 200 may include and/or be convex support surface and/or can limit convex form, Shape and/or profile.Under these conditions, empty compaction apparatus 100 is on support surface 200 and in deformation structure surely When 108, barrier structure 110 can also limit convex form, shape and/or profile.

Addition or alternatively, as shown in Figure 9, support surface 200 may include and/or be recessed support surface and/or can To limit concave shape, shape and/or profile.Under these conditions, empty compaction apparatus 100 is on support surface 200 simultaneously surely And when being in deformation structure 108, barrier structure 110 can also limit concave shape, shape and/or profile.

As shown in Figure 10, support surface 200 may include and/or limit discontinuous and/or step shape, shape And/or profile.In Figure 10, support surface 200 is limited by lamination mandrel 202 and the tow by being compacted before composite material 812 limit.In addition, closed volume 250 is evacuated and vacuum debulk device 100 is in deformation structure 108.In Figure 10 In, sealing structure 170 forms a part of Fluid Sealing between lamination mandrel 202 and barrier structure 110, as shown in 176, And a part that Fluid Sealing is formed between the tow 812 being compacted before and barrier structure 110, as shown in 178.As institute Show, barrier structure 110 is deformed since vacuum is applied to closed volume 250 from flat shape, shape and/or profile.So And as discussed, barrier structure 110 can pressurize in closed volume 250 and/or return to face profile when removing vacuum from it.

Figure 11 is provided non-exclusive to be shown according to the less schematically but still illustrative of the barrier structure 110 of the disclosure Example.In the scope of the present disclosure, the barrier structure 110 of Figure 11 can in vacuum debulk device 100 disclosed herein Either one or two of be used together and/or can be formed with reference to any of Fig. 3-Figure 12 barrier structure 110 disclosed herein A part and/or be any of with reference to Fig. 3-Figure 12 barrier structure 110 disclosed herein.

The barrier structure 110 of Figure 11 is including the first opposite planar wall 132 of planar wall 130, second and in the first planar wall 130 and the second multiple elongated web 134 that extends between planar wall 132.Such barrier structure 110 can also be claimed herein For panel 112 and/or double walled faceplate 112.Planar wall 130 and 132 is limited to barrier structure with multiple elongated webs 134 together The multiple elongated passageways 136 extended in 110.In the scope of the present disclosure, channel 136 can be flat along being parallel to first Face the wall and meditate 130 and/or second planar wall 132 the longitudinal axis extend, can extend from the edge of barrier structure 110 138, can be from blocking The first edge of structure 110 extends to the second edge of barrier structure 110, and/or can be opposite at two of barrier structure 110 Extend between edge.

First planar wall 130 can limit the first face 114 of barrier structure 110, and the second planar wall 132 can limit Second face 118 of barrier structure 110.In addition, as shown, the first planar wall 130 can also limit pump-line 122 and/or Keep at least part of pipeline 126.Pump-line 122 can connect with one or more selected 136 fluids of elongated passageway Logical, this can also be referred to as bleed-off passage 124 herein and can form a part of vacuum distributing manifold 140.Therefore, such as Shown in the dotted arrow at 125 in Figure 11, (or provided it from the pumping of bleed-off passage 124 to 150 property of can choose of vacuum source Vacuum).As discussed herein, when the barrier structure of Figure 11 110 forms a part of vacuum debulk device 100 and is located at When on support surface 200, which can be used for reducing the pressure in closed volume 250.

Similarly, keep pipeline 126 that can be in fluid communication with one or more selected elongated passageways 136, at this In can also be referred to as and keep channel 128, and a part of the second vacuum distributing manifold 144 can be formed.Therefore, such as Figure 11 In 129 at dotted arrow shown in, empty to 150 property of can choose of vacuum source keep channel 128 (or providing it vacuum). As discussed herein, when the tow of composite material 810 is located on the first surface 114 of barrier structure 110, which can be with For the tow 810 of composite material to be maintained to the first surface 114 of barrier structure 110.

Figure 12 is the method 400 being compacted to the tow of the composite material on support surface described according to the disclosure Flow chart.In Figure 12, some steps are shown with dotted line frame, and it is optional or can be right that this indicates that such step can be Ying Yu is according to the optional version of disclosed method.That is, not according to the disclosure be known as method require including with The step of solid box is shown.In addition, method and steps shown in Figure 12 is unrestricted as understood according to discussion here Property and other method and steps be also in the scope of the present disclosure, this includes having more or less than shown number The step of method.

Therefore, method 400 may include that the tow of composite material is arranged in vacuum debulk device and support surface 410 Between and be included in 420 by vacuum debulk device place on a support surface with limit closed volume and 430 reduce seal Pressure in closure product.Method 400 further comprise the tow of the composite material on 440 pairs of support surfaces carry out compacting and Increase the pressure in closed volumes 450 and may include repeating the methods 460.

It may include 420 that the tow of composite material, which is arranged between vacuum debulk device and support surface, 410 The tow of composite material is placed before placing.In the scope of the present disclosure, the placement at 410 may include that placement is compound The single tow of material or multiple tow of composite material.When placement at 410 includes multiple tow of placement composite material, In the scope of the present disclosure, the placement at 420 may include placing vacuum debulk device closed volume is made to include multiple Multiple tow of condensation material, and the compacting at 440 may include being compacted simultaneously to multiple tow of composite material.

In the scope of the present disclosure, the placement at 410 can also include that the tow of composite material is placed on branch It supports on surface.This may include for example being pressed from both sides by using any suitable laser projection system and/or alignment by composite material Tow is aligned with support surface.Addition or alternatively, the placement at 410 can also include forming composite material on a support surface Tow.As illustrative non-exclusive example, forming step may include the multiple of lamination composite material on a support surface Piece is to form the tow of composite material.Placement and/or forming step on a support surface can also be included in placement and/or shape The tow of composite material is kept on a support surface at later, such as by using adhesive.

It is similarly in the scope of the present disclosure, the placement at 410 can also include placing the tow of composite material On vacuum debulk device.As illustrative non-exclusive example, vacuum debulk device may include barrier structure and place Step may include being directed at composite tow on barrier structure.Addition or alternatively, the placement at 410 can also include The tow of composite material is formed on vacuum debulk device.As illustrative non-exclusive example.Forming step may include Multiple of lamination composite material are on barrier structure to form the tow of composite material.Placement on vacuum debulk device and/ Or forming step can also include that the tow of composite material is maintained on vacuum debulk device after placement and/or formation. As illustrative non-exclusive example, as discussed here, keeping step may include applying vacuum to be limited by barrier structure Fixed multiple holding pipelines.

It may include limiting packet in the step of 420 place vacuum debulk device on a support surface to limit closed volume It includes and/or the closed volume of the tow comprising composite material.In the scope of the present disclosure, the placement step at 420 is also It may include being directed at vacuum debulk device with support surface 422.This may include being aligned to vacuum debulk device, being fixed Position is placed and/or is arranged, so that closed volume is limited by the desired part of support surface and/or made the silk of composite material Beam will be compacted at the desired position in support surface.As illustrative non-exclusive example, vacuum debulk device may include And/or limit index structure, and support surface may include and/or limit manipulative indexing structure.Under these conditions, 422 The alignment step at place may include being directed at index structure with manipulative indexing structure and/or by index structure and manipulative indexing structure In one be contained in index structure in another in manipulative indexing structure with complete be aligned.

Addition or alternatively, vacuum debulk device can also include sealing structure, be configured in vacuum debulk device Or it enough forms Fluid Sealing between support surface.Under these conditions, the placement at 420 can also be included in 424 make it is close Seal structure is contacted with support surface.As illustrative non-exclusive example, as discussed, support surface may include and/or Be lamination mandrel and/or composite material before the tow that is compacted, and lamination mandrel and/or multiple when contact procedure may include The tow being compacted before condensation material is contacted with sealing structure.Addition or alternatively, support surface can limit step profile, It is limited by the tow of lamination mandrel and composite material being compacted before, and the contact procedure at 424 may include tying sealing The first part of structure contacts with lamination mandrel and makes the second part of sealing structure and the tow of composite material being compacted before Contact.

Reduced after the step of pressure in 430 reduction closed volumes may include placement at 420 pressure and/or Reduce pressure so that the never deformation structure of vacuum debulk device is varied from the deformation structure of undeformed construction.As illustrative It may include for example applying vacuum via any suitable vacuum distributing manifold and/or from any that non-exclusive example, which reduces step, Suitable vacuum source applies vacuum to closed volume to reduce the pressure and/or at least partly emptying closing in closed volume Volume.

In the scope of the present disclosure, the reduction step at 430, which can also be included in 432, makes barrier structure at least portion The shape, shape or profile for dividing ground to meet support surface.As illustrative non-exclusive example, empty compaction apparatus is in not surely When deformation structure, barrier structure may include and/or limit plane or at least substantially plane, shape, shape or profile.So And when empty compaction apparatus is in deformation structure surely (for example, can occur during the reduction step at 430), barrier structure It can be deformed into nonplanar, recessed and/or convex profile, it can be similar with the profile of support surface or at least partly Profile depending on support surface.

It is similarly in the scope of the present disclosure, the reduction at 430 may include pressing in 434 pairs of sealing structures Contracting.As illustrative non-exclusive example, as discussed here, sealing structure can be between barrier structure and support construction And/or the first face in face of support surface of barrier structure can be operatively attached to.Under these conditions, the compression at 434 Step may include so that sealing structure never compressed configuration becomes compressed configuration, wherein sealing structure is in uncompressed construction When thickness of the sealing structure on the direction vertical with the first face of barrier structure can be greater than sealing structure and be in compressed configuration When the case where.

It may include in vacuum debulk device in the step of tow of the composite material on 440 pairs of support surfaces is compacted The tow of composite material is compacted between support surface and/or is compressed multiple to generate and/or be formed on a support surface The compacting tow of condensation material.Compacting at 440 can at least partly carry out simultaneously with the reduction at 430.

In the scope of the present disclosure, the compacting at 440 may include carrying out in the tow not to composite material The tow of composite material is compacted in the case where " packing ", has discussed the illustrative non-exclusive of " packing " herein Example.Addition or alternatively, it is similarly in the scope of the present disclosure, the compacting at 440 may include filling in vacuum debulk It sets and the tow of composite material is compacted in the case where not forming adhesive bond between support surface.

The step of pressure in 450 increase closed volumes may include increasing pressure so that vacuum debulk device is from change Shape construction becomes undeformed construction and/or makes vacuum debulk device back to undeformed construction.As illustrative non-exclusive Example, the increase step at 450 may include removing and/or isolated vacuum and/or providing exhaust stream to envelope from closed volume Closure product is to increase its pressure.As other illustrative non-exclusive example, the increase step at 450 may include 452 So that barrier structure makes sealing structure back to uncompressed construction back to undeformed construction and/or 454.Returning at 450 Returning step can carry out after the compacting step at the reduction step and/or 440 at 430.

In 460 repetitions, the method may include any suitable portions based on any suitable standard repetition methods 400 Point.As illustrative non-exclusive example, the tow of composite material may include and/or be composite material the first tow, and And the repetition step at 460 may include at least repeating the placement step at 420, the reduction step at 430, the compacting at 440 Increase step at step and 450 is with multiple tow of next tow or composite material to the composite material on support surface It is compacted.This may include repeating the method to form complete or at least partially integrated composite construction, herein Its illustrative non-exclusive example has been discussed in detail.

In the scope of the present disclosure, the repetition step at 460 may include repeatedly make vacuum debulk device from Undeformed construction becomes deformation structure and next makes vacuum debulk device back to undeformed construction (that is, reusing Vacuum debulk device is compacted with multiple tow to composite material).Addition or alternatively, it is similarly in the scope of the present disclosure Interior, the repetition step at 460 may include in the case where not damaging to vacuum debulk device, not to multiple In the case that each tow of composite material in multiple tow of condensation material carries out " packing " and/or not by vacuum debulk Device is repeated in the case where adhering to support surface.

It, can be with reference in the production of aircraft shown in Figure 13 and method of servicing 900 and Figure 14 referring now to Figure 13-Figure 14 The aircraft 700 that shows describes implementation of the disclosure mode.During pre-manufactured, illustrative methods 900 may include flight The specification and design 905 of device 700 and material purchases 910.During production, the component and accessories manufacturing of aircraft 700 are carried out 915 and the system integration 920.Later, aircraft 700 can carry out an acceptance inspection and deliver 925 in order to come into operation 930.When by For customer in use, aircraft 700 periodically carries out routine maintenance and service 935, this may include modifying, reconfiguring, rebuild etc..

Each of processing of method 900 can be by system integrator, third party and/or operator (for example, customer) To execute.For the purpose of the application, system integrator can include but is not limited to any number of aircraft manufacturers and master Want system subcontractor；Third party can include but is not limited to any number of dealer, subcontractor and supplier；And operator It may include course line, leasing company, military's entity, Servers Organization etc..

As shown in Figure 14, the aircraft 700 produced by illustrative methods 900 may include having multiple 712 Hes of system The body 710 of inside 714.The example of advanced system 712 includes propulsion system 715, electrical system 716, hydraulic system 717 and ring One or more of border system 718.It may include any number of other systems.Though it is shown that aviation example, but this The principle of invention can be applied to other industry, for example, auto industry.

Here the device and method implemented can make during at least one of each stage of manufacture and method of servicing 900 With.For example, can be manufactured in the similar mode of the component or accessory that are produced when aircraft 700 uses corresponding to component and accessory The component or accessory of manufacture processing 915.Implement moreover, can use one or more equipment during the production phase 915 and 920 Mode, method implementation or combinations thereof are substantially to promote the assembling of aircraft 700 and/or reduce cost.Similarly, flying One or more of equipment embodiment, method implementation or combinations thereof can be used when using in row device 700, such as but not It is limited to safeguard and service 935.

The illustrative non-exclusive example of the theme according to the disclosure is described in the paragraph numbered below:

A1, a kind of vacuum debulk device, the vacuum debulk device are used for the tow to the composite material on support surface It is compacted, wherein described device is configured to be placed on the support surface to limit closed volume, described device packet It includes:

Barrier structure, the barrier structure include the first face and the second opposite face；

Sealing structure, the sealing structure is configured to work as to be compressed between the support surface and the barrier structure When form Fluid Sealing therebetween；And

Vacuum distributing manifold, the vacuum distributing manifold and the closed volume are in fluid communication and are configured to vacuum It is applied selectively to the closed volume.

A2, the device according to paragraph A1, wherein the barrier structure is the barrier structure of at least substantially plane, It and is optionally the barrier structure of plane.

A3, the device according to any one of paragraph A1-A2, wherein the barrier structure is formed by flexible material.

A4, the device according to any one of paragraph A1-A3, wherein the barrier structure by following at least One formation: optically transparent material, optical translucent material and optically opaque material.

A5, the device according to any one of paragraph A1-A4, wherein the barrier structure by polymer material and The formation of at least one of polycarbonate.

A6, the device according to any one of paragraph A1-A5, wherein the barrier structure further comprises release Surface, the release surface limit first face of the barrier structure, optionally, wherein under the release surface includes State at least one of material: be selected as adhering to the material of the tow of composite material, be selected as not with composite material The tow material and fluoropolymer that react.

A7, the device according to any one of paragraph A1-A6, wherein first face of the barrier structure into One step limits the multiple holding pipelines being in fluid communication with the closed volume.

A8, the device according to paragraph A7, wherein the vacuum distributing manifold is the first vacuum distributing manifold, wherein The vacuum is the first vacuum, and further wherein, and described device includes the second vacuum distributing manifold, second vacuum point With manifold and the multiple holding fluid communication and it is configured to for the second vacuum being applied selectively to the multiple Keep pipeline.

A9, the device according to paragraph A8, wherein the vacuum debulk device is configured to the tow in composite material It is placed on first face and when second vacuum is applied to the multiple holding pipeline by the silk of composite material Beam is maintained on first face.

A10, the device according to any one of paragraph A1-A9, wherein the barrier structure by the first planar wall, Second planar wall and multiple elongated webs limit, and the multiple elongated web is in first planar wall and second planar wall Between extend, optionally, wherein the barrier structure is panel, and still optionally further, wherein the barrier structure is Double walled faceplate.

A11, the device according to paragraph A10, wherein first planar wall, second planar wall and described more A elongated web limits multiple elongated passageways, and the multiple elongated passageway optionally extends from the edge of the barrier structure, and And still optionally further extend between the first edge of the barrier structure and the second edge of the barrier structure.

A12, the device according to any one of paragraph A1-A10, wherein the barrier structure limits multiple elongated Channel, the multiple elongated passageway optionally extend from the edge of the barrier structure, and still optionally further in the resistance It keeps off between the first edge of structure and the second edge of the barrier structure and extending.

A13, the device according to any one of paragraph A11-A12, wherein the barrier structure limits multiple pumpings Pipeline, the bleed-off passage and the resistance that one or more of the multiple pump-line in the multiple elongated passageway is selected It keeps off between first face of structure and extending to provide the fluid communication between the vacuum distributing manifold and the closed volume.

A14, the device according to any one of paragraph A11-A13, wherein the barrier structure limits multiple holdings Pipeline, the holding channel and the resistance that the multiple one or more for keeping pipeline in the multiple elongated passageway is selected It keeps off between first face of structure and extending to provide the fluid between the second vacuum distributing manifold and the closed volume Connection.

A15, the device according to any one of paragraph A11-A14, wherein described in the multiple elongated passageway limits At least part of vacuum distributing manifold.

A16, the device according to any one of paragraph A1-A15, wherein the vacuum distributing manifold further wraps Air-outlet valve is included, the air-outlet valve is configured to discouraged gas stream being selectively provided to the closed volume.

A17, the device according to any one of paragraph A1-A16, wherein the vacuum distributing manifold further wraps Pressure detector is included, the pressure detector is configured to detect the pressure in the vacuum distributing manifold.

A18, the device according to any one of paragraph A1-A17, wherein the vacuum distributing manifold further wraps Vacuum control structure is included, the vacuum control structure is configured to be selectively activated to for vacuum to be applied to the obturator Product, optionally, wherein the vacuum control structure is configured to be activated manually and/or automatically activate.

A19, the device according to any one of paragraph A1-A18, wherein the sealing structure limits the closing The periphery of volume.

A20, the device according to any one of paragraph A1-A19, wherein when the vacuum distributing manifold is placed When on the support surface, the sealing structure is between the barrier structure and the support surface.

A21, the device according to any one of paragraph A1-A20, wherein the sealing structure is operatively attached to First face of the barrier structure.

A22, the device according to any one of paragraph A1-A21, wherein the sealing structure is selected as realizing It is at least one of following: to be not attached to the support surface, do not have to chemically react with the support surface, and do not have Have and pollutant is transferred to the support surface.

A23, the device according to any one of paragraph A1-A22, wherein the sealing structure include compression seal, At least one of elastic packing and tubular elastomeric sealing.

A24, the device according to any one of paragraph A1-A23, wherein the sealing structure is by elastic material, poly- At least one of object material, latex and urethane is closed to be formed.

A25, the device according to any one of paragraph A1-A24, wherein when described device is placed on the branch When supportting on surface, at least part of the closed volume is defined by the support surface and/or is limited by the support surface.

A26, the device according to any one of paragraph A1-A25, wherein at least part of the closed volume It is defined by first face of the barrier structure and/or is limited by first face of the barrier structure.

A27, the device according to any one of paragraph A1-A26, wherein at least part of the closed volume It is defined by the sealing structure and/or is limited by the sealing structure, optionally, the periphery of the closed volume is by the sealing Structure is defined and/or is limited by the sealing structure.

A28, the device according to any one of paragraph A1-A27, wherein the support surface include lamination mandrel, A part of the tow, composite construction that are compacted before composite material and the composite construction by lamination mandrel support At least one of a part, optionally at least two, optionally at least three kinds and still optionally further all.

A29, the device according to any one of paragraph A1-A27, wherein the support surface includes composite material Before the tow that is compacted, and further wherein, the sealing structure is configured to when being compressed in front of composite material The Fluid Sealing is formed when between the tow of compacting and the barrier structure therebetween.

A30, the device according to any one of paragraph A1-A29, wherein described device further comprises vacuum source, The vacuum source is configured to generate vacuum, and optionally wherein, the vacuum source is high-flow source.

A31, the device according to any one of paragraph A1-A30, wherein described device further comprises index knot Structure, the index structure are configured to for described device being aligned on the support surface, and optionally, wherein the branch Supportting surface includes manipulative indexing structure, and the manipulative indexing structure is configured to be aligned on the support surface when described device When matched with the index structure.

A32, the device according to any one of paragraph A1-A31, wherein the tow of composite material forms following At least one of a part: composite construction, body, the fuselage of aircraft, the fuselage barrel of aircraft, aircraft wing, Stabilizer, filler, covering and the stringer of aircraft.

A33, the device according to any one of paragraph A1-A32, wherein the tow of composite material includes in following At least one:

(i) composite material is at least a piece of；

(ii) at least two, at least three, at least four, at least five, at least ten, at least 15 of composite material Or at least 20 heap laminations；And

(iii) composite material less than 80, less than 70, less than 60, less than 50, be less than 45 It is a, less than 40, less than 35, less than 30, less than 25, less than 20, it is less than 15 or few In ten heap laminations.

A34, the device according to paragraph A33, wherein the composite material includes multiple fibers and resin material, can Selection of land, wherein the multiple fiber includes at least one of following: multiple carbon fibers, multiple polymer fibers and multiple glass Glass fiber, and still optionally further, wherein the resin material includes in epoxy resin, tackifying resin and fluoropolymer resin At least one.

A35, the device according to any one of paragraph A3-A34, wherein the composite material includes that preimpregnation is compound Material.

A36, the device according to any one of paragraph A1-A35, wherein described device be not placed on it is described It on support surface and include undeformed construction when vacuum is not applied to the closed volume, and described when being placed on It include deformation structure on support surface and when vacuum is applied to the closed volume.

A37, the device according to paragraph A36, wherein the barrier structure is in the undeformed structure in described device Be plane when making, and further wherein, the barrier structure when described device is in the deformation structure at least partly Meet the profile of the support surface, optionally, wherein the profile of the support surface include non-planar profile, concave contour and At least one of cam contour.

A38, the device according to any one of paragraph A36-A37, wherein the sealing structure be limited to perpendicular to The thickness measured on the direction in first face of the barrier structure, wherein the thickness is in undeformed in described device Include undeformed thickness when construction, and includes deformation thickness when described device is in the deformation structure, and further Wherein, the deformation thickness is less than the undeformed thickness.

A39, the device according to any one of paragraph A1-A38, wherein the vacuum debulk device is repeatable Using vacuum debulk device, optionally wherein, optionally in the case where not damaged to the vacuum debulk device, institute Reusable vacuum debulk device is stated to be configured to be compacted multiple tow of composite material on the support surface.

A40, a kind of composite construction manufacturing equipment, the composite construction manufacturing equipment include:

Multiple tow of composite material；

Support surface；And

The vacuum debulk device according to any one of paragraph A1-A39.

A41, the equipment according to paragraph A40, wherein lamination mandrel forms at least part of the support surface, And optionally, wherein the equipment includes automatic displacement structure, and the automatic displacement structure is programmed to composite material Each of multiple tow are placed on the lamination mandrel.

A42, the equipment according to paragraph A40, wherein the automatic displacement structure includes mounter people.

A43, the equipment according to any one of paragraph A41-A42, wherein the automatic displacement structure is programmed to Each of multiple tow of composite material are placed on institute using the method according to any one of paragraph B1-B23 It states on lamination mandrel.

A44, the equipment according to any one of paragraph A40-A43, wherein the vacuum debulk device is placed on On the support surface and limiting the closed volume, wherein the tow of composite material is placed in the closed volume, Wherein, vacuum is applied to the closed volume, and further wherein, the profile pair in first face of the barrier structure The profile of support surface described in Ying Yu, and optionally wherein, the profile of the support surface be non-planar profile, concave contour and At least one of cam contour.

A45, the equipment according to paragraph A44, wherein the support surface before composite material further by being compacted Tow limit.

A46, the equipment according to paragraph A45, wherein the support surface limits step profile.

A47, the equipment according to any one of paragraph A44-A46, wherein the equipment further comprises being located at again Adhesive between the tow of condensation material and the support surface.

The method that is compacted of tow of B1, composite material on a kind of pair of support surface, which comprises

Vacuum debulk device is placed on to the closed volume that the tow comprising composite material is limited on the support surface；

The pressure in the closed volume is reduced so that the vacuum debulk device never deformation structure is varied from The deformation structure of the undeformed construction；

The tow of composite material is compacted between the vacuum debulk device and the support surface；And

Increase the pressure in the closed volume so that the vacuum debulk device returns to the undeformed construction.

B2, the method according to paragraph B1, wherein the vacuum debulk device includes barrier structure, the blocking junction Structure includes the first face and the second opposite face, wherein after placing step, in first face of the barrier structure and institute It states and limits the closed volume between support surface.

B3, the method according to paragraph B2, wherein the barrier structure the vacuum debulk device be in it is described not It is at least substantially plane when deformation structure, and further wherein, reducing step includes so that the barrier structure at least portion The profile for dividing ground to meet the support surface, optionally wherein, the profile of the support surface includes non-planar profile, concave contour At least one of with cam contour, and still optionally further, wherein meet step and reduce in step and compacting step extremely Few one at least partly carries out simultaneously.

B4, the method according to any one of paragraph B1-B2, wherein the vacuum debulk device further comprises Sealing structure, the sealing structure are operatively attached to first face of the barrier structure.

B5, the method according to paragraph B4, wherein reduce step and be included in the barrier structure and the support surface Between compress the sealing structure so that the sealing structure never compressed configuration is varied from the uncompressed construction Compressed configuration, and further wherein, increasing step includes so that the sealing structure returns to the uncompressed construction.

B6, the method according to any one of paragraph B4-B5, wherein placing step includes so that the sealing is tied Structure is contacted with the support surface.

B7, the method according to paragraph B6, wherein a part of the support surface is limited by lamination mandrel, and Further wherein, placing step includes so that the sealing structure is contacted with the lamination mandrel.

B8, the method according to any one of paragraph B6-B7, wherein a part of the support surface is by compound The tow being compacted before material limits, and further, wherein placing step includes so that the sealing surfaces and composite wood The tow contact being compacted before material.

B9, the method according to any one of paragraph B6-B8, wherein the support surface limits step profile, institute It states step profile to be limited by the tow of lamination mandrel and composite material being compacted before, and further wherein, places step packet It includes so that the sealing surfaces are contacted with the tow of the lamination mandrel and composite material being compacted before.

B10, the method according to paragraph B9, wherein reduce step and be included in the barrier structure and the lamination core The tow for compressing the first part of the sealing structure between axis and being compacted before the barrier structure and composite material Between compress the second part of the sealing structure.

B11, the method according to any one of paragraph B1-B10, wherein the method further includes placing Before step, the tow of composite material is located between the vacuum debulk device and the support surface.

B12, the method according to paragraph B11, wherein the tow of composite material is the first tow of composite material, In, placing step includes placing multiple tow of composite material, wherein positioning step includes being positioned so as to the closed volume Multiple tow comprising composite material, and further wherein, compacting step includes the multiple tow for being compacted composite material simultaneously.

B13, the method according to any one of paragraph B11-B12, wherein placing step includes by composite material Tow is placed on the support surface, optionally, wherein placing step includes by the tow of composite material in the support table It is aligned on face, optionally, wherein alignment procedures are aligned including the use of alignment folder, and still optionally further, wherein fixed The tow of composite material is maintained on the support surface by position step including the use of adhesive.

B14, the method according to any one of paragraph B11-B12, wherein place step and be included in the support table The tow of composite material is formed on face, optionally, wherein forming step includes the lamination composite material on the support surface Multiple, to form the tow of composite material, and still optionally further, wherein forming step will be answered including the use of adhesive The tow of condensation material is maintained on the support surface.

B15, the method according to any one of paragraph B11-B12, wherein place step and be included in the vacuum pressure Actual load sets the tow of positioning composite material, optionally, wherein positioning step includes by the tow of composite material in the vacuum It is aligned on the barrier structure of compaction apparatus, and still optionally further, wherein positioning step includes by applying vacuum The tow of composite material is maintained on the barrier structure to the multiple holding pipelines limited by the barrier structure.

B16, the method according to any one of paragraph B11-B12, wherein place step and be included in the vacuum pressure Actual load sets the tow for forming composite material, optionally, wherein forming step includes the multiple laminations by composite material in institute The tow that composite material is formed on the barrier structure of vacuum debulk device is stated, and still optionally further, wherein formed Step includes being protected the tow of composite material by applying vacuum to the multiple holding pipelines limited by the barrier structure It holds on the barrier structure.

B17, the method according to any one of paragraph B1-B16, wherein the vacuum debulk device includes index Structure, wherein the support surface includes manipulative indexing structure, and further wherein, and positioning step includes by the index Structure is aligned with the manipulative indexing structure.

B18, the method according to any one of paragraph B1-B17, wherein the method includes not to compound The tow of material is compacted the tow of composite material in the case where being packaged.

B19, the method according to any one of paragraph B1-B18, wherein the method is not included in the vacuum Viscous binding is formed between compaction apparatus and the support surface.

B20, the method according to any one of paragraph B1-B19, wherein reduce step and be in after positioning step.

B21, the method according to any one of paragraph B1-B20, wherein compacting step and reduce step simultaneously into Row.

B22, the method according to any one of paragraph B1-B21, wherein increase step and be in reduction step and pressure After solid step is rapid.

B23, the method according to any one of paragraph B1-B22, wherein the tow of composite material is composite material The first tow, and further wherein, the method includes repeat the method on the support surface to composite wood Multiple tow of material are compacted.

B24, the method according to paragraph B23, wherein repeat step include in multiple times by the vacuum debulk device from The undeformed construction becomes the deformation structure, and it is described undeformed to return to the vacuum debulk device Construction.

B25, the method according to any one of paragraph B23-B24, wherein repeat step and be included in not to described Vacuum debulk device carries out repeating step in the case where damaging.

B26, the method according to any one of paragraph B1-B25, wherein the vacuum debulk device includes basis Vacuum debulk device described in any one of paragraph A1-A38.

C1, it is a kind of using according to any one of paragraph B1-B26 method according to any in paragraph A1-A39 The use of device described in or the equipment according to any one of paragraph A40-A47.

C2, a kind of the device according to any one of paragraph A1-A39 or according in paragraph A40-A47 is utilized The use of the method according to any one of paragraph B1-B26 of described in any item equipment.

C3, a kind of device according to any one of paragraph A1-A39, according to any one of paragraph A40-A47 institute The use that the equipment or the method according to any one of paragraph B1-B26 stated are compacted the tow of composite material.

C4, a kind of device according to any one of paragraph A1-A39, according to any one of paragraph A40-A47 institute The equipment stated or the method according to any one of paragraph B1-B26 form the use of a part of composite construction.

C5, a kind of device according to any one of paragraph A1-A39, according to any one of paragraph A40-A47 institute The equipment or the method according to any one of paragraph B1-B26 stated form at least one of following a part It uses: body, the fuselage of aircraft, the fuselage barrel of aircraft, the wing of aircraft, the stabilizer of aircraft, filler, covering And stringer.

C6, a kind of use that reusable vacuum debulk device is compacted the tow of composite material.

D1, a kind of vacuum debulk device, the vacuum debulk device are used for the tow to the composite material on support surface It is compacted, wherein described device is configured to be placed on the support surface to limit closed volume, described device packet It includes:

Barrier structure, the barrier structure include the first face and the second opposite face；

Sealing structure, the sealing structure is configured to work as to be compressed between the support surface and the barrier structure When form Fluid Sealing therebetween；And

Vacuum distributing manifold, the vacuum distributing manifold and the closed volume are in fluid communication and are configured to vacuum It is applied selectively to the closed volume.

D2, the device according to paragraph D1, wherein the barrier structure further comprises release surface, the release Surface limits first face of the barrier structure, wherein the release surface includes at least one of materials described below: quilt Be selected as adhere to the material of the tow of composite material, be selected as the material not reacted with the tow of composite material with And fluoropolymer.

D3, the device according to paragraph D1, wherein first face of the barrier structure further limit with it is described Multiple holding pipelines that closed volume is in fluid communication.

D4, the device according to paragraph D3, wherein the vacuum distributing manifold is the first vacuum distributing manifold, wherein The vacuum is the first vacuum, and further wherein, and described device includes the second vacuum distributing manifold, second vacuum point With manifold and the multiple holding fluid communication and it is configured to for the second vacuum being applied selectively to the multiple Keep pipeline.

D5, the device according to paragraph D1, wherein the barrier structure is by the first planar wall, the second planar wall and more A elongated web limits, and the multiple elongated web extends between first planar wall and second planar wall, wherein First planar wall, second planar wall and the multiple elongated web limit multiple elongated passageways, and further its In, the multiple elongated passageway limits at least part of the vacuum distributing manifold.

D6, the device according to paragraph D1, wherein when the vacuum debulk device is located on the support surface, The sealing structure is placed between the barrier structure and the support surface.

D7, the device according to paragraph D1, wherein the sealing structure is selected as realizing at least one in following Kind: it is not attached to the support surface, does not have to chemically react with the support surface, and do not shift pollutant To the tow of composite material.

D8, the device according to paragraph D1, wherein the sealing structure includes compression seal, elastic packing and tubulose At least one of elastic packing.

D9, the device according to paragraph D1, wherein described device is on not being placed on the support surface and true Sky includes undeformed construction when being not applied to the closed volume, and when being placed on the support surface and true Sky includes deformation structure when being applied to the closed volume.

D10, the device according to paragraph D9, wherein the barrier structure is in the undeformed structure in described device Be plane when making, and further wherein, the barrier structure when described device is in the deformation structure at least partly Meet the profile of the support surface, wherein the profile of the support surface includes at least non-planar profile.

D11, the device according to paragraph D9, wherein the sealing structure is limited to perpendicular to the barrier structure The thickness measured on the direction in first face, wherein the thickness includes unchanged when described device is in undeformed construction Shape thickness, and include deformation thickness when described device is in the deformation structure, and further wherein, the deformation is thick Degree is less than the undeformed thickness.

D12, the device according to paragraph D9, wherein the vacuum debulk device is reusable vacuum debulk dress It sets, the reusable vacuum debulk device is configured to, the case where not damaging to the vacuum debulk device Under, multiple tow of composite material are compacted on the support surface.

D13, a kind of composite construction manufacturing equipment, the composite construction manufacturing equipment include:

Multiple tow of composite material；

Support surface；And

According to vacuum debulk device described in paragraph D1.

D14, the equipment according to paragraph D14, wherein the vacuum debulk device is placed on the support surface And limit the closed volume, wherein the tow of composite material is placed in the closed volume, wherein vacuum is applied It is added to the closed volume, and further wherein, the profile in first face of the barrier structure corresponds to the support The profile on surface.

D15, the equipment according to paragraph D14, wherein at least part of the closed volume is by the sealing structure It defines and/or is limited by the sealing structure.

D16, the equipment according to paragraph D14, wherein the support surface include lamination mandrel, composite material it The tow of preceding compacting, a part of composite construction and by the lamination mandrel support the composite construction a part in extremely Few one kind.

D17, the equipment according to paragraph D14, wherein the support surface includes the silk of composite material being compacted before Beam, and further wherein, the sealing structure is compressed in the tow and the barrier structure of composite material being compacted before Between to form the Fluid Sealing.

D18, the equipment according to paragraph D13, wherein multiple tow of composite material form at least one in following A a part: composite construction, body, the fuselage of aircraft, the fuselage barrel of aircraft, the wing of aircraft, aircraft it is steady Determine device, filler, covering and stringer.

The method that is compacted of tow of D19, composite material on a kind of pair of support surface, which comprises

Vacuum debulk device is placed on to the closed volume that the tow comprising composite material is limited on the support surface；

The pressure in the closed volume is reduced so that the vacuum debulk device never deformation structure is varied from The deformation structure of the undeformed construction；

The tow of composite material is compacted between the vacuum debulk device and the support surface；And

Increase the pressure in the closed volume so that the vacuum debulk device returns to the undeformed construction.

D20, the method according to paragraph 19, wherein the vacuum debulk device further comprises sealing structure, described Sealing structure is operatively attached to first face of the barrier structure, wherein reduces step and is included in the barrier structure The sealing structure is compressed between the support surface, so that the sealing structure never compressed configuration is varied from institute The compressed configuration of uncompressed construction is stated, and further wherein, increasing step includes so that the sealing structure is described in Uncompressed construction.

D21, the method according to paragraph D19, wherein place step include so that the vacuum debulk device it is described Sealing structure is contacted with the support surface, wherein a part of the support surface is by the silk that is compacted before composite material Beam limits, and further wherein, and placing step includes the tow being compacted before so that the sealing surfaces and composite material Contact.

D22, the method according to paragraph D19, wherein the tow of composite material is the first tow of composite material, and And further wherein, the method includes repeat the method on the support surface to multiple tow of composite material into Row compacting, wherein repeat step be included in the vacuum debulk device is not damaged in the case where in multiple times will be described Vacuum debulk device becomes the deformation structure from the undeformed construction, and returns the vacuum debulk device Return to the undeformed construction.

When modifying the movement of one or more components or feature of equipment, movement, construction or other activities, term " selective " and " selectively " refer to specific movement, movement, construction or other activities be equipment aspect or one Or the direct or indirect result of user's manipulation of multiple components.

When used herein, term " adaptation " and " construction " means component, assembly unit or other themes are designed and/or purport Executing given function.Therefore, the use of term " adaptation " and " construction " should not be construed as to imply that given element, Component or other themes only " can " execute given function, but the component, assembly unit and/or other themes are specifically selected It selects, formed, being implemented, utilization, programming, and/or be designed for executing the function.Also within the scope of this disclosure, it is stated as The theme of the component, assembly unit and/or other narrations that adapt to execute specific function can addition or alternatively be described as being configured to The function is executed, vice versa.Similarly, the theme for being stated as being configured to execute specific function can be retouched addition or alternatively It states to be operative to perform the function.

The step of various disclosed elements and method of equipment disclosed herein, not sets according to all of the disclosure Necessary to standby and method, and the disclosure include various elements disclosed herein and step all novel and non-show and Obvious combination and sub-portfolio.Moreover, one or more of various elements disclosed herein and step can limit independence Subject matter, the theme is whole and separated independently of disclosed equipment or method.Therefore, such subject matter It is necessarily associated with particular device and method explicitly disclosed herein, and such subject matter can be found that this paper is unknown Equipment disclosed in really and/or the effectiveness in method.

Claims (13)

1. a kind of vacuum debulk device (100), the vacuum debulk device is used for the composite material on support surface (200) Tow (810) is compacted, wherein described device is configured to be placed on the support surface (200) to limit closing Volume, described device include:

Barrier structure (110), the barrier structure include the first face and the second opposite face；

Sealing structure (170), the sealing structure are configured to when by the support surface (200) and the barrier structure (110) Fluid Sealing is formed therebetween when compressing between；And

Vacuum distributing manifold (140), the vacuum distributing manifold is in fluid communication with the closed volume and be configured to will be true Sky is applied selectively to the closed volume,

Wherein, the barrier structure (110) is by the first planar wall (130), the second planar wall (132) and multiple elongated webs (134) it limits, the multiple elongated web extends between first planar wall and second planar wall, wherein described First planar wall, second planar wall and the multiple elongated web limit multiple elongated passageways (136), and further its In, the multiple elongated passageway limits at least part of the vacuum distributing manifold (140).

2. vacuum debulk device according to claim 1, wherein the barrier structure (110) further comprises free list Face (116), the release surface limit first face of the barrier structure (110), wherein the release surface (116) Including at least one of materials described below: being selected as adhering to the material of the tow (810) of composite material, be selected as not The material and fluoropolymer to react with the tow (810) of composite material.

3. vacuum debulk device according to claim 1, wherein first face of the barrier structure (110) is into one Step limits the multiple holding pipelines (126) being in fluid communication with the closed volume.

4. vacuum debulk device according to claim 1, wherein when the vacuum debulk device (100) is located at the branch When supportting on surface (200), the sealing structure (170) be located at the barrier structure (110) and the support surface (200) it Between.

5. vacuum debulk device according to claim 1, wherein the sealing structure (170) includes compression seal, elasticity At least one of sealing and tubular elastomeric sealing.

6. vacuum debulk device according to claim 1, wherein described device be not placed on the support surface (200) on and include undeformed construction when vacuum is not applied to the closed volume, and be placed on the branch It include deformation structure in support surface (200) and when vacuum is applied to the closed volume.

7. vacuum debulk device according to claim 6, wherein the barrier structure (110) is in institute in described device It is plane when stating undeformed construction, and further wherein, the barrier structure (110) is in the deformation in described device At least partly meet the profile of the support surface (200) when construction, wherein the profile of the support surface (200) is at least Including non-planar profile.

8. vacuum debulk device according to claim 6, wherein the sealing structure (170) is limited to perpendicular to described The thickness measured on the direction in first face of barrier structure (110), wherein the thickness described device be in it is described not Include undeformed thickness when deformation structure, and includes deformation thickness when described device is in the deformation structure, and into Wherein, the deformation thickness is less than the undeformed thickness to one step.

9. vacuum debulk device according to claim 1, wherein the vacuum debulk device (100) is reusable Vacuum debulk device, the reusable vacuum debulk device is configured to, not to the vacuum debulk device (100) in the case where damaging, multiple tow (810) of the composite material on the support surface (200) are compacted.

10. the method that the tow (810) of the composite material on a kind of pair of support surface (200) is compacted, which comprises

Vacuum debulk device (100) are placed into (420) on the support surface (200) to limit the tow for including composite material (810) closed volume；

The pressure in (430) described closed volume is reduced so that the vacuum debulk device (100) never deformation structure becomes Different from the deformation structure of the undeformed construction；

The tow (810) of composite material between the vacuum debulk device (100) and the support surface (200) is pressed Real (440)；And

Increase the pressure in (450) described closed volume so that the vacuum debulk device (100) is back to described undeformed Construction,

Wherein, the vacuum debulk device (100) further comprises barrier structure (110), and the barrier structure (110) is by first Planar wall (130), the second planar wall (132) and multiple elongated webs (134) limit, and the multiple elongated web is described first Extend between planar wall and second planar wall, wherein first planar wall, second planar wall and the multiple thin Long web limits multiple elongated passageways (136), and further wherein, and the multiple elongated passageway limits vacuum distributing manifold (140) at least part.

11. according to the method described in claim 10, wherein, the vacuum debulk device (100) further comprises sealing structure (170), the sealing structure is operatively attached to the first face of barrier structure (110), wherein reduces (430) step and is included in The sealing structure (170) are compressed between the barrier structure (110) and the support surface (200), so that the sealing Structure (170) never compressed configuration is varied from the compressed configuration of the uncompressed construction, and further wherein, increases (450) step includes so that the sealing structure (170) returns to the uncompressed construction.

12. according to the method described in claim 10, wherein, placing (420) step includes so that the vacuum debulk device (100) sealing structure (170) is contacted with the support surface (200), wherein a part of the support surface (200) by The tow (812) being compacted before composite material limits, and further wherein, and placing (420) step includes so that described close The tow (812) being compacted before seal structure (170) and composite material contacts.

13. according to the method described in claim 10, wherein, the tow (810) of composite material is the first tow of composite material, And further wherein, the method includes repeating (460) the method to the composite material on the support surface (200) Multiple tow (810) be compacted, wherein repeat (460) step and be included in the vacuum debulk device (100) is not made The vacuum debulk device (100) is become into the deformation structure simultaneously from the undeformed construction in multiple times in the case where at damage And next make the vacuum debulk device (100) back to the undeformed construction.