NL2003620C2 - Device and method for producing a fiber composite product. - Google Patents

Device and method for producing a fiber composite product. Download PDF

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Publication number
NL2003620C2
NL2003620C2 NL2003620A NL2003620A NL2003620C2 NL 2003620 C2 NL2003620 C2 NL 2003620C2 NL 2003620 A NL2003620 A NL 2003620A NL 2003620 A NL2003620 A NL 2003620A NL 2003620 C2 NL2003620 C2 NL 2003620C2
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NL
Netherlands
Prior art keywords
mold
dispensing unit
composite material
fiber
fiber composite
Prior art date
Application number
NL2003620A
Other languages
Dutch (nl)
Inventor
Marc Marinus Johannes Leonardus Giebels
Haro Egbert Georg Roderik Panhuys
Johan Erhard Sluiters
Original Assignee
Wesp Holding B V
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Priority to NL2003620A priority Critical patent/NL2003620C2/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of NL2003620C2 publication Critical patent/NL2003620C2/en

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C70/00—Shaping composites, i.e. plastics material comprising reinforcements, fillers or preformed parts, e.g. inserts
    • B29C70/04—Shaping composites, i.e. plastics material comprising reinforcements, fillers or preformed parts, e.g. inserts comprising reinforcements only, e.g. self-reinforcing plastics
    • B29C70/28—Shaping operations therefor
    • B29C70/30—Shaping by lay-up, i.e. applying fibres, tape or broadsheet on a mould, former or core; Shaping by spray-up, i.e. spraying of fibres on a mould, former or core
    • B29C70/38—Automated lay-up, e.g. using robots, laying filaments according to predetermined patterns
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C53/00—Shaping by bending, folding, twisting, straightening or flattening; Apparatus therefor
    • B29C53/56—Winding and joining, e.g. winding spirally
    • B29C53/58—Winding and joining, e.g. winding spirally helically
    • B29C53/583—Winding and joining, e.g. winding spirally helically for making tubular articles with particular features
    • B29C53/588—Winding and joining, e.g. winding spirally helically for making tubular articles with particular features having a non-linear axis, e.g. elbows, toroids

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Nonlinear Science (AREA)
  • Robotics (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Composite Materials (AREA)
  • Moulding By Coating Moulds (AREA)

Description

Device and method for producing a fiber composite product
The present invention relates to a device and method for producing a fiber composite product, in particular a continuous or endless fiber composite product, such as a truss 5 framework.
The advantages of fiber composite materials, such as glass or carbon fiber epoxy composite materials are widely known in the industry. Aircraft designers in particular have been attracted to fiber composite materials because of their high stiffness, high 10 strength, and relatively low weight, at least compared to metals. As fiber composite materials derive their excellent properties mainly from the strong and stiff fibers (and less from the matrix) it is important to be able to position the fibers in those directions in a composite product that carry the most stress under typical loading conditions.
15 To achieve this goal, a wide variety of optimized fiber composite material forms have become available together with appropriate manufacturing technology. One of these optimized material forms includes a web-shaped fiber composite material in the form of a pre-impregnated fiber tape (also denoted as ‘prepreg tape’ in the art). Fiber composite products can readily be produced by laminating a plurality of such tapes in different 20 directions onto a mandrel and curing the matrix material to consolidate the laid up layers. Automated tape laying technology has been developed to increase the speed of laminating fiber composite products such as wing panels, fuselage and empennage for instance.
25 Automated tape laying machines typically comprise a gantry structure in the form of parallel rails, a cross-feed bar that moves on precision ground ways, a ram bar that raises and lowers the fiber composite material delivery head, and the material delivery head which is attached to the lower end of the ram bar. These known tape laying machines are able to lay up flat or mildly contoured fiber composite products.
30 A device for producing a fiber composite product by tape laying is known from W02005/018917. Herein, a device is described for producing a more or less cylindrical fiber composite product. The disclosed device comprises a fiber composite material dispensing unit in the form of a ring surrounding an elongated cylindrical mandrel in a 2 circumferential direction thereof. The dispensing unit is adapted to place fiber composite material tapes onto the surface of the mandrel or onto a layer of already placed fiber composite material by providing multiple material delivery heads that rotate around the mandrel in a circumferential direction thereof while delivering fiber 5 composite tape material.
The known device and method for producing a fiber composite product has its drawbacks, one of which is that it is not able to produce fiber composite products with intricate shapes. As is clear from the disclosure of W02005/018917, the composite 10 products that can be manufactured are limited to elongated lightly curved products. Indeed, the dispensing unit of W02005/018917 is translated in a more or less linear fashion along the rotating mandrel. In this way, so called 2,5D products can be produced. Such products are linear or curvilinear in shape, but may vary in the lateral dimension along their longitudinal axis.
15
It would be highly desirable to provide a device and method enabling to produce fiber composite products having intricate shapes in substantially one piece only, i.e. without the need for assembling the product. Examples of products with intricate shape comprise continuous structures, i.e. structures that are endless and therefore have no 20 discemable beginning or end. Examples of such structures include frame-like structures, such as truss frameworks, car chassis body parts and window frames. Such frame-like structures may have any 3-dimensional (3D) form, such as for instance encountered in a hoisting crane, and may be doubly curved if desired.
25 The known method of producing endless structures is to tape-lay a plurality of 2D or 2,5D members (for instance using the device according to W02005/018917), and assemble these members to form the desired frame-like structure. However, such a method requires the use of separate nodal connecting parts, and is therefore time consuming and expensive. Particularly in the case of fiber composite products, the 30 connecting areas represent weak spots in the product, and therefore yields less than optimal mechanical properties. The weak spots have to be reinforced with additional fiber composite material, which adds weight to the product. An alternative method would be to laminate prepreg tapes around a frame-like mandrel by hand. This method however is time consuming and uneconomical.
3
It is an objective of the present invention to provide a device and method for producing a fiber composite product that will reduce the need for assembling, and yields better properties than those of the product, produced by the known method. It is a further 5 objective of the present invention to provide a device and method for producing a fiber composite product in a reproducible and controlled way.
This and other objectives are achieved by a device and method according to claim 1. In particular, a device for producing a fiber composite product is provided, the device 10 comprising a fiber composite material dispensing unit, the dispensing unit being adapted to place a fiber composite material onto the surface of a mandrel having any shape or onto a layer of fiber composite material already placed on the mandrel; positioning means to effectuate relative movement of the mandrel and/or the dispensing unit during placement of the fiber composite material; wherein the dispensing unit 15 and/or the positioning means are arranged such that the dispensing unit is able to place the fiber composite material onto substantially any part of the surface of the mandrel or layer of fiber composite material already placed on the mandrel, without having to divide the fiber composite material, for instance by cutting.
20 As will become more apparent below, the device according to the invention is able to place fiber composite material in the form of for instance endless tape, onto virtually any part of a mandrel of virtually any shape, as well as in virtually any direction, without having to cut the tape (apart from the beginning and the end obviously) and apply it in a piecewise manner.
25
The advantages of the device according to the invention are particularly apparent in an embodiment wherein the dispensing unit is adapted to place the fiber composite material onto the surface of a mandrel shaped as a frame structure, the members of which form at least one closed loop. In another preferred embodiment, the device 30 according to the invention comprises a dispensing unit, adapted to place the fiber composite material onto the surface of the mandrel in any direction, at least including a direction that differs from the longitudinal direction of the members.
4
In another preferred embodiment, a device for producing a fiber composite product is provided, the device comprising a fiber composite material dispensing unit at least partially surrounding an elongated mandrel (part) in a circumferential direction thereof, the dispensing unit being adapted to place fiber composite material onto the surface of 5 the mandrel (part) or onto a layer of already placed fiber composite material, and further being adapted to be interchangeable between a first state wherein the dispensing unit completely surrounds the mandrel (part) in a circumferential direction thereof, and a second state wherein the dispensing unit partly surrounds the mandrel (part) in said circumferential direction, the device further comprising positioning means to effectuate 10 relative movement of the mandrel and the dispensing unit during placement of the fiber composite material. A typical elongated mandrel part is the member of a frame structure. In the context of the present application the word mandrel may also mean mandrel part.
15 By providing a device according to the invention, it becomes possible to produce continuous (endless) fiber composite products in one piece, without requiring assembly of separately produced parts. This in particular has advantages when tape laying fiber composite materials with strong fibers, since an product produced by the device and method of the invention does not likely show weak spots, such as typically encountered 20 at locations of assembly. It is of course possible to further reinforce parts of the product, after having produced a product with the invented device. Such additional reinforcement can be achieved by hand lay up of fibers, tapes or other composite material forms.
25 An additional advantage of the invented device is that the dispensing unit thereof is able to place the fiber composite material into substantially any direction onto the surface of the mandrel or layer of fiber composite material already placed on the mandrel. It is thus possible to optimize reinforcement fiber directions according to the needs.
30 In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the device is characterized in that the fiber composite material dispensing unit comprises a guide means at least partially surrounding the mandrel in the circumferential direction thereof; at least one fiber composite material delivery device for placing said material onto the surface of the mandrel or onto a layer of already placed fiber composite material; and at least one 5 carriage upon which the delivery device is disposed, which carriage is movable along the guide means relative to the surface of the mandrel.
The fiber composite material delivery device or head is configured to accept any fiber 5 composite material form, such as dry fibers, polymer tapes and/or fibre composite prepreg tapes. Typically accepted tape widths include 25 mm, 75 mm, 150 mm and 300 mm, although larger or smaller widths are also possible. Tape material generally comes in large diameter spools. The tape material may have a backing paper, which is typically extracted as the prepreg (resin pre-impregnated fiber) is applied to the surface of the 10 mandrel. The spool of material typically is loaded into a delivery head supply reel and threaded through an upper tape guide chute and past a plurality of cutters. The material then passes through lower tape guides onto a backing paper take up reel. The backing paper is extracted and wound on a take up roller of paper take up reel. The delivery head makes contact with the mandrel surface and the tape material is "placed" onto the 15 mandrel surface or onto a layer of already placed tape material, optionally by applying compaction pressure.
The tape laying device typically lays tape on the surface of the mandrel in a computer programmed path, cuts the material at a precise location and angle if desired, lifts the 20 delivery head off the mandrel surface, retracts to the start position of the path, and begins laying the next course. The delivery head may have an optical tape flaw detection system that signals the machine control to stop laying tape material when a flaw has been detected. The delivery head also typically has a heating system that heats the prepreg materials to increase tack levels for tape-to-tape adhesion. Other heating and 25 consolidating methods are also suitable, such as for example the use of laser heating means.
While the delivery heads typically handle a single piece of relatively wide prepreg tape, fiber placement heads may also be used. Such head process multiple strips of 30 narrow tape to form a solid band of material similar to tape. Individual prepreg fibers, called tows, may also be used. Tows usually are pulled off spools and fed through a fiber delivery system into a fiber placement head. Such fiber delivery system optionally includes a tensioning system.
6 A fiber composite material placement head may be provided with several axes of motion, using an arm mechanism, for example, and may be computer numeric controlled. The axes of motion may be necessary to make sure the head is normal to the surface of the mandrel, which is preferred. The machine may also have a number of 5 electronic fiber or tape tensioning systems, if desired. With the device according to the invention composite products having virtually any shape may be produced. Also, the device allows to place fibers onto (parts of) the mandrel in virtually any direction, including the axial direction of an elongated mandrel, the hoop direction or any other circumferential direction in between the axial direction and the hoop direction.
10
In a particularly preferred embodiment the device according to the invention is characterized in that the dispensing unit, and in particular the guide means thereof, comprises at least two parts that are at least partly separated in the second state and reattached to each other in the first state.
15
Although the device may be used to produce fiber composite products of any shape, the device is particularly suitable for producing fiber reinforced continuous (i.e. endless) structures. To produce such a structure, the mandrel of the device is preferably continuous as well. However, the mandrel may also be build up of several 20 interconnectable parts, if desired.
There are many possibilities for at least partly separating the parts of the dispensing unit, and in particular the parts of the guide means thereof, in the second state, and reattaching these in the first state. A preferred embodiment of the device according to 25 the invention is characterized in that at least two parts comprise a common hinge construction and are at least partly separated and reattached to each other by rotation around the hinge construction. Rotation may be around an axis perpendicular to the plane of the dispensing unit (or the guide means thereof), or around an axis lying in the plane of the dispensing unit (or the guide means thereof). Also preferred is a device 30 wherein at least one of the at least two parts forms a separable section, which may be removed in a radial direction.
In still another preferred embodiment, at least one of the at least two parts is slideable in another of the at least two parts, the at least two parts being at least partly separated and 7 reattached to each other by a relative sliding movement. This embodiment is particularly useful in case of a device having a dispensing unit comprising a guide means at least partially surrounding the mandrel in the circumferential direction thereof; at least one fiber composite material delivery device for placing said material onto the 5 surface of the mandrel or onto a layer of already placed fiber composite material; and at least one carriage upon which the delivery device is disposed, which carriage is movable along the guide means relative to the surface of the mandrel. In such an embodiment, the material delivery device is typically rotating along the guide means around the mandrel. When a delivery device encounters an opening in the guide means 10 (which is then in its second state), these guide means can be readily brought into its first (closed) position by telescopically sliding one part out of another part, thereby allowing the delivery device to continue its track. After passage of the delivery device, the guide means may be ‘opened’ again by sliding said part backward into the other part. It should be noted that the guide means in its first state may actually have a small opening. A 15 suitable guide ring is a guide ring having an opening small enough such that a fiber delivery device may pass the opening without falling out of the guide ring.
In still another preferred embodiment, the device according to the invention comprises a plurality of dispensing units and/or guide means, build up of at least two parts that may 20 be separated and reattached to each other, the parts being arranged such as to allow the dispensing units and/or guide means to enclose the mandrel. Using at least two dispensing units and/or guide means allows to speed up the method and place tapes in different directions. In this way, several layers of fiber composites tape may be laid on top of each other in particular sections of the mandrel, if this is desired.
25
The device according to the invention is equipped with positioning means to effectuate relative movement of the mandrel and the dispensing unit during tape laying.
Positioning the mandrel relative to the dispensing unit may be effectuated by any means known in the art. Suitable positioning means comprise driving rolls for instance. Such 30 driving rolls may be placed in the heart of the (usually circular) dispensing unit and act upon the circumferential surface of the mandrel. However there are numerous other possibilities at the disposition of the person skilled in the art. Even positioning by hand would be a possibility.
8
In a particularly preferred embodiment, the device according to the invention comprises positioning means, arranged to move the dispensing unit about the mandrel, and keep the mandrel in a stationary position. A very suitable device according to the invention has positioning means in the form of a robotic guiding apparatus. Although it is 5 customary in the state of the art to move the mandrel relative to a partly stationary dispensing unit, the present embodiment provides many advantages. First of all, this embodiment obviates the use of driving rolls to manipulate the mandrel. Such rolls have to be changed any time a mandrel with a different cross sectional shape is selected. The present embodiment does not have this disadvantage, since the dispensing unit is not 10 changed in shape. Secondly, moving the dispensing unit about the mandrel can be carried out easier. All that is needed is to determine the central axis of the mandrel and to steer the positioning means along this central line. With the central axis of the mandrel is meant the line that interconnects the geometrical centers of all cross-sections of the mandrel. An additional advantage is that the mandrel need not to be manipulated. 15 By keeping the mandrel in a stationary position, it is also easily supported, thereby further reducing the risk for breakage. It should be appreciated that the forces that act on the mandrel during fiber composite tape laying may be substantial. The above mentioned advantages of manipulating the dispensing unit, and keeping the mandrel in a stationary position are particularly notable for more complex mandrel (and product) 20 shapes, such as frame-like products and frame-like products with a 3-dimensional shape (doubly curved for instance).
More preferably, the device according to the invention comprises a dispensing unit that is planar, as well as positioning means, arranged to move the dispensing unit with its 25 plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of the mandrel. This has the advantage that the tension force in the fiber composite tapes is more even, and therefore an product with better properties is obtained.
The device according to the invention is preferably characterized in that the mandrel is 30 inflatable. Continuous fiber composite products are difficult to transport, since by its very nature the mandrel usually remains inside the product. When using an inflatable mandrel, the mandrel can be inflated before actual tape laying starts, can remain in the inflated state during tape laying and can be deflated again after tape laying has been finished. It is also possible to leave such a (light-weight) mandrel inside the product.
9
Although the use of an inflatable mandrel may be preferred in certain circumstances, other methods may also be used, such as the use of sand-filled mandrels, foldable mandrels, foamed mandrels, and so on.
5 In still another preferred embodiment, the fiber composite material dispensing unit of the device according to the invention comprises an assembly of at least two positioning means that, in an active state, effectuate relative movement of the mandrel and at least one fiber composite material delivery device for placing said material onto the surface of the mandrel or onto a layer of already placed fiber composite material. This 10 embodiment is described in more detail below with reference to figures 8A to 8D.
The invention also relates to a method for producing a fiber composite product, the method being suitable in particular for use on the claimed device.
15 The method according to the invention for producing a fiber composite product comprises the steps of: - providing a fiber composite material dispensing unit adapted to be interchangeable between a first state wherein the dispensing unit completely surrounds a mandrel in a circumferential direction thereof, and a second state 20 wherein the dispensing unit partly surrounds said mandrel in said circumferential direction; - bringing the dispensing unit in the second state; positioning the mandrel within the perimeter of the dispensing unit; - bringing the dispensing unit in the first state, thereby surrounding the 25 mandrel in said circumferential direction; - placing fiber composite material onto the surface of the mandrel or onto a layer of already placed fiber composite material by moving the mandrel relative to the dispensing unit; - optionally bringing the dispensing unit in its second state to be able to pass a 30 part of the mandrel and returning it to its first state; removing the thus obtained laid-up fiber composite product by bringing the dispensing unit in its second state and bringing the product out of the perimeter of the dispensing unit; and - optionally curing, and demolding said fiber composite product.
10
The method comprises bringing the dispensing unit from its first state, wherein it surrounds the mandrel (part) in a circumferential direction thereof, to its second state, wherein the dispensing unit only partly surrounds said mandrel (part) in said 5 circumferential direction, thereby allowing to take the partly tape-laid mandrel out of the perimeter of the dispensing unit, and bringing the dispensing unit to another part of the mandrel to continue the tape-laying operation.
In a preferred embodiment of the method of the invention, the dispensing unit 10 comprises - a guide means at least partially surrounding the mandrel in the circumferential direction thereof; at least one fiber composite material delivery device for placing said material onto the surface of the mandrel or onto a layer of already placed fiber 15 composite material; at least one carriage upon which the delivery device is disposed, which carriage is movable along the guide means relative to the surface of the mandrel; and placing fiber composite material onto the surface of the mandrel or onto a layer of 20 already placed fiber composite material is carried out by moving the carriage along the guide means relative to the surface of the mandrel.
The method is particularly suitable for producing fiber composite products, in which method a continuous (endless) mandrel is preferably used. Other preferred embodiments 25 of the invented method are described in the attached claims.
The fiber composite materials used in the method of the invention comprise reinforcement fibers and/or matrix materials. Preferred are reinforcement fibers, embedded in a matrix material, preferably a polymer. Suitable reinforcement fibers 30 include glass fibers, carbon and graphite fibers, metal fibers, drawn polymeric fibers, such as aramid fibers, PBO fibers (Zylon®), M5® fibers, ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene or polypropylene fibers or tapes, as well as natural fibers, such as flax and wood fibers, and/or combinations of said fibers.
11
The product produced is preferably build up of several layers of fiber composite material, the latter preferably comprising substantially continuous fibers that extend in one direction. Most preferred, fiber composite pre-impregnated tapes are used. The fiber volume fraction of the used fiber composite material can be varied from 100 vol.-% 5 (only fibers) to values of less than 65 vol.-%. It is therefore within the scope of the present invention to use a fiber composite material dispensing unit, adapted to place a fiber or fibers onto the surface of a mandrel having any shape or onto a layer of fiber (composite) material already placed on the mandrel. To obtain the fibre composite product, the fiber preform thus obtained can thereafter be impregnated with a suitable 10 resin if desired. It is also possible to use tape of polymer alone (fiber volume fraction of 0 vol.-%). To produce a fiber composite product for instance, it would be possible to intermittently place layers of a web-shaped fiber assembly onto the surface of the mandrel (part) as well as layers of polymer tape, and consolidate these layers. It is possible to combine the method according to the invention with other methods for 15 manufacturing composite products, such as hand lay-up, resin transfer molding, filament winding, pultrusion and the like. In a typical example, a composite product shaped as a frame structure, is first produced by the method of the invention in which the majority of the fibers are placed onto the surface of the mandrel, as described herein. Intricate parts of the structure, such as the nodes, are then further reinforced with fibers 20 by hand lay-up, i.e. by applying fiber composite prepreg tape by hand. It is also possible to reinforce such parts of the structure with fibers by for instance hand lay-up before actually producing a composite product by the method of the invention.
The invention will now be explained in greater detail by means of the enclosed figures, 25 without however being limited thereto. In the figures:
Figure 1A schematically shows a perspective view of a device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure IB schematically shows the embodiment of figure 1A in another stage of the method of the present invention; 30 Figure 1C schematically shows the embodiment of figure 1A in still another stage of the method of the present invention;
Figures 2A to 2D schematically show examples of fiber composite products, obtainable by the method according to the invention; 12
Figure 3A schematically shows a view of the dispensing unit according to the invention in the first state;
Figure 3B schematically shows a view of the dispensing unit of figure 3A in the second state; 5 Figure 4A schematically shows a view of another embodiment of the dispensing unit according to the invention in the second state;
Figure 4B schematically shows a view of the dispensing unit of figure 4A in the first state;
Figure 5A schematically shows a view of still another embodiment of the dispensing 10 unit according to the invention in the second state;
Figure 5B schematically shows a view of still another embodiment of the dispensing unit according to the invention in the second state;
Figure 5C schematically shows a view of still another embodiment of the dispensing unit according to the invention in the second state; 15 Figure 6A schematically shows a view of still another embodiment of the dispensing unit according to the invention in the first state;
Figure 6B schematically shows a view of still another embodiment of the dispensing unit according to the invention in the first state;
Figure 6C schematically shows a view of still another embodiment of the dispensing 20 unit according to the invention in the first state;
Figure 7A schematically shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the device according to the invention for producing a fuselage part;
Figure 7B schematically shows a view from above of the embodiment of figure 7A; Figure 8A schematically shows a perspective view of still another embodiment of the 25 device according to the invention in the second state;
Figure 8B schematically shows a side view of the embodiment of figure 8A;
Figure 8C schematically shows a perspective view of the embodiment of figure 8 A in the first state; and finally
Figure 8D schematically shows a side view of the embodiment of figure 8C.
30
With reference to figures 1A to 1C, a device 1 for producing a fiber composite product by tape laying is shown. Device 1 comprises a dispensing unit 2 for dispensing fiber composite material in the form of prepreg tapes 100 onto a mandrel 4. The mandrel 4 is shaped as a frame structure, the members 40 of which form several closed loops. For 13 instance, members 401, 402, 403 and 404 of frame structure 4 form a closed loop surrounding space 41. Also members 405, 406, 408 and 403 form a closed loop (for clarity reasons, not all members 40 have been given sub numbers 40x). The mandrel 4 is a continuous structure by which is meant that it has no beginning or end. The produced 5 fiber composite product will likewise be continuous. In a preferred embodiment, mandrel 4 is inflatable. The mandrel 4 is held in a stationary position by support poles 421,422,423 and 424, which in the embodiment shown are able to at least temporarily clamp the mandrel frame 40. Support poles 421, 422, 423 and 424 are pivotally connected to a support platform 43, which enables to pivot support poles 421, 422, 423 10 and 424 from a clamping position (as shown in figures 1A and IB for all poles) to a release position (as shown for pole 423 in figure 1C), in which release position the mandrel 4 is temporarily released by the support pole or poles. Support platform 43 is rotatable in its circumferential direction 44 by turning it around shaft 45. It may also be tiltable, if desired.
15
Positioning means 5 effectuate relative movement of the mandrel 4 and the dispensing unit 2 during tape laying. In the embodiment shown, the positioning means 5 comprise a robot, which is essentially build up of a turntable 50 around which a pivoting arm 51 can be rotated. A second manipulating arm 52 is rotatably connected to pivoting arm 51, 20 and provided at the end of it with pivotable gripping means 53, meant to act upon dispensing unit 2. Positioning means 5 are connected to a computer (not shown), which contains the data to steer the pivoting and manipulating arms (50, 51, 52) and gripping means 53 along any desirable path. The dispensing unit 2 is manipulated by the positioning means 5 about the mandrel 4 along the path, as determined by the computer. 25 Although in the embodiment shown, mandrel 4 is held in a stationary position, it is also possible to move mandrel 4, and if desired even in combination with a movement of the dispensing unit 2.
Dispensing unit 2 at least partially surrounds the mandrel 4 in a circumferential 30 direction R of its members 40, as shown in figures IB and 1C for instance. The circumferential direction R obviously differs from one member to another and is therefore defined for each member 40. Dispensing unit 2 is adapted to place fiber composite material 100 onto the surface of the mandrel 4 or onto a layer of already placed fiber composite material 100. The dispensing unit 2 is adapted to be 14 interchangeable between a first state (shown in figures 3A, 4B, 6A, 6B and 6C) wherein the dispensing unit 2 completely surrounds (a part of) the mandrel 4 in a circumferential direction R thereof, and a second state (shown in figures 3B, 4A, 5A, 5B and 5C) wherein the dispensing unit 2 only partly surrounds the mandrel 4 in said 5 circumferential direction R. It is not possible to remove the dispensing unit 2 from the mandrel 4 when in its first state. A dispensing unit 2, brought in its second state however, can easily be removed from the mandrel 4.
Several embodiments of the dispensing unit 2 are shown in more detail in figures 3, 4, 5 10 and 6. Dispensing unit 2 comprises in all embodiments shown a substantially planar guide means, formed by two parts (20a, 20b), adapted to at least partially surround the mandrel 4, and more in particular the members 40 thereof in a circumferential direction R of the members 40. Dispensing unit 2 further comprises at least one fiber composite material delivery device 25 for placing the composite tapes 100 onto the surface of the 15 mandrel 4 or onto a layer of already placed fiber composite material. The delivery devices 25 are disposed on a carriage 26, that is movable along the guide means (20a, 20b) in the circumferential direction of the guide means (20a, 20b) and relative to the surface of the mandrel 4.
20 As shown in figures 3, 4, 5 and 6, the continuous guide means are build up of at least two parts (20a, 20b) that may be separated and reattached to each other. Figures 3 A and 3B show a preferred embodiment wherein parts (20a, 20b) comprise a common hinge construction 24. Parts (20a, 20b) are separated by rotating them around the hinge construction 24 (see figure 3B), in order to allow positioning of the mandrel 4 within 25 the perimeter of the dispensing unit 2 or guide means (20a, 20b) thereof. In another preferred embodiment, shown in figures 4A and 4B, the guide means comprise two parts (20a, 20b), one part (20b) of which is slideable in the other part 20a. The parts (20a, 20b) are at least partly separated to bring the guide means in their second (open) state (figure 4A) and reattached to each other by a relative sliding movement to bring 30 the guide means in its first (closed) state (figure 4B).
In still another preferred embodiment, shown in figure 5 A, the guide means comprise two parts (20a, 20b) that can be separated and reattached by translation. The parts (20a, 15 20b) are shown in separated state (second state) allowing to bring the mandrel 4 or members 40 thereof inside and outside of the guide means (20a, 20b).
In yet another preferred embodiment, shown in figure 5B, the guide means comprise 5 two parts (20a, 20b), one part 20b of which is smaller than the other part 20a. Parts (20a, 20b) can be separated and reattached by taking out part 20b (figure 5B) and joining it with the first part 20a again. In yet another preferred embodiment, shown in figure 5C, the guide means comprise two parts (20a, 20b) that can be separated and reattached by rotating them along a common axis 28, tangential to the two arcuate parts 10 (20a, 20b) in their common hinge construction 29. The embodiment shown in figure 5C
may be combined with the embodiment shown in figure 5B, if desired.
Tape laying of a number of layers onto the mandrel 4 is carried out by moving the dispensing unit 2, or the guide means (20a, 20b) thereof, relative to mandrel 4 in which 15 process the dispensing unit 2 surrounds the mandrel 4 or at least a member 40 thereof in a circumferential direction. This state is for instance shown in figures IB, 1C. To be able to reach such a position, the dispensing unit is brought to the mandrel 4 in its first (opened) state, as shown in figure 1 A. After having positioned the dispensing unit 2 around a member 40 of the mandrel 4, the dispensing unit 2 or at least the guide means 20 (20a, 20b) thereof, is brought in its (closed) second state by any means, examples of which have been shown in figures 3, 4, 5 and 6, as described above.
To lay up tapes or the like, the dispensing unit 2 is then moved along the mandrel 4 and its members 40 to take positions as shown in figures IB and 1C for instance. To be able 25 to completely cover the continuous mandrel 4 (and therefore all its members 40), the support poles (421, 422, 423, 424) are temporarily removed each time the dispensing unit 2 passes such a support pole. This is shown for instance in figure 1C where pole 423 is temporarily removed to be able to let the dispensing unit 2 pass from the position shown in figure IB to the position shown in figure 1C. In figure IB, the dispensing unit 30 2 surrounds member 405. To be able to position the dispensing unit 2 around member 406, the dispensing unit 2 should be able to pass member 407, which actually hinders a free passage from member 405 to member 406. Such passage is accomplished by temporarily opening the dispensing unit 2 to its second state, passing member 407, and 16 closing the dispensing unit 2 again, to bring it in its first state. In this process, fiber placement may continue.
Removal of poles may be accomplished automatically, by two actuators preferably. The 5 first actuator acts to remove the clamping pressure, while the second actuator acts to move the pole away from the mandrel 4, thereby permitting unhindered passage of the dispensing unit 2. In figure 7 for instance the support pole 426 has been temporarily removed to be able to move the dispensing unit 2 from the position shown to a position somewhere between poles 426 and 421. In such way, there is always enough support for 10 mandrel 4. The number of support poles may be increased when additional support of mandrel 4 is needed during tape laying.
During the tape laying operation, the positioning means 5 are preferably arranged to move the planar dispensing unit 2 with its plane substantially perpendicular to the 15 longitudinal central axis of mandrel 4. This means that in case the mandrel 4 has a double curvature or is changing direction (such as when going from one member to another), the dispensing unit 2 is preferably manipulated so as to remain perpendicular to the central axis. This is for instance shown in figures IB and 1C, where the dispensing unit 2 is about perpendicular to the central axis of member 405 in the 20 configuration shown in figure IB, whereas it is rotated by the positioning means 5 when transferring to member 406, to remain substantially perpendicular to the central axis of member 406, as shown in figure 1C. It is however also possible to position the unit 2 with an angle to the axis of mandrel 4. It further is preferred to move the dispensing unit 2 along mandrel 4, such that the geometric center of the unit 2 substantially follows the 25 central axis of mandrel 4. This is easily accomplished by suitably programming the computer that steers the positioning means 5. It is much more difficult to do the reverse, i.e. to move mandrel 4 along the dispensing unit 2, such that the central axis of mandrel 4 follows the geometric center of unit 2.
30 With reference to figures 6A, 6B and 6C, the dispensing unit 2 may be adapted to place the fiber composite material 100 onto the surface of the mandrel 4 in any direction, at least including a direction that differs from the longitudinal (axial) direction of the members 40. The embodiment shown in figure 6A (perspective view on the left side, side view on the right side) is able to place fiber composite tapes 100 onto the surface of 17 a mandrel of member 40, whereby the fiber composite tapes form a non-zero angle 409 with the axial direction 410 of the member 40. Such a lay-up is useful for taking up torsional loads. To change the angle of the tapes (and fibers) relative to the axis of the mandrel, the circumferential speed of rotation of the delivery devices 25 on carriage 26 5 may be changed relative to the speed of relative movement of dispensing unit 2 and mandrel 4. Also, to change the sign of the angle of the tapes (and fibers) relative to the axis of the mandrel, the direction of rotation of the delivery devices 25 on carriage 26 may be changed (clockwise rotation or counterclockwise rotation with respect to the axis of mandrel 4). The embodiment shown in figure 6B (perspective view on the left 10 side, side view on the right side) is able to place fiber composite tapes 100 onto the surface of a mandrel 4 or member 40, whereby the fiber composite tapes form a zero angle with the axial direction 410 of the member 40, i.e. substantially extend in the axial direction of the member 40. Such a lay-up is useful for taking up axial (bending, tensile and compressive) loads. To be able to place the composite fiber tapes 100 substantially 15 in the longitudinal (axial) direction 410 of the members 40, the dispensing unit is equipped with an inner guiding ring (60a, 60b), which is also built up by two separable parts 60a and 60b, in a similar fashion as described above for the guide means (20a, 20b). Inner guiding ring (60a, 60b) surrounds the member 40, and is supported by the guide means (20a, 20b) through spokes 61. The fiber composite tapes 100 are fed from 20 the delivery devices 25 to the inner guiding ring (60a, 60b) and then to the surface of the member 40.
To build up several layers of fiber composite material, several dispensing units 2 as described above are moved about mandrel 4 in the same direction along several 25 perimeter distances, the number of ‘rounds’ corresponding to the desired number of layers. When using at least two delivery units 2 according to figure 6A and figure 6B consecutively, i.e. in one run, any fiber direction lay-up can in principle be achieved. It is also possible to combine the delivery units according to figure 6A and figure 6B into a single delivery unit, as is shown in figure 6C (perspective view on the left side, side 30 view on the right side). In the embodiment shown, a dispensing unit according to figure 6 A is attached to a dispensing unit according to figure 6B by a number of crossbars 62, although any other appropriate way of attachment can also be used. When using three delivery units 2, it becomes possible in one run to lay-up tape 100 in the longitudinal direction of the mandrel members (parallel to the axis thereof), to lay-up tape 100 18 making a positive angle with the mandrel members axis, and to lay-up tape 100 making a negative angle with the mandrel members axis. In this way a composite laminate is obtained in basically one run with reinforcing fibers running in the longitudinal direction to take up bending, tensile and compressive loads, and reinforcing fibers 5 running in an angular direction to the axis, to take up torsion loads.
After the tape laying operation is terminated, the fiber composite product is optionally (at least partly) cured and removed by separating the two parts (20a, 20b) and bringing the product out of the perimeter of the guide means. The manufactured part may also be 10 cured afterwards in a separate step by applying heat, and/or by laser curing for instance. It is also possible to harden placed tape in situ by laser heating or by any other means.
The final composite product has increased strength and stiffness, due to the fact that the produced product is produced in substantially one piece.
15
With reference to figures 2A to 2D, the device according to the invention allows to produce a wide variety of frame structures, such as a complete bike frame 70 (figure 2A), a complete car chassis 71 (figure 2B), a doubly curved window frame 72 of aircraft (figure 2C) and an airplane fuselage structure 73 (figure 2D), the latter comprising a 20 number of fuselage stiffeners 74 and wall panels 75.
Figures 7A and 7B show, by way of example a possible method of manufacturing a fuselage stiffener 74. The method comprises providing a fiber composite material dispensing unit 2, adapted to be interchangeable between a first state wherein the 25 dispensing unit 2 completely surrounds a mandrel 4 in a circumferential direction R thereof, and a second state wherein the dispensing unit 2 partly surrounds said mandrel 4 in said circumferential direction R, as described in detail above. The dispensing unit 2 is brought into the second state and positioned such that the mandrel 4 is within the perimeter of the dispensing unit 2, where after the dispensing unit 2 is brought in the 30 first state, thereby surrounding the mandrel 4 in said circumferential direction R, as shown in figure 7A. This positioning is carried out by positioning means 5, as described above. Fiber composite material is then placed onto the surface of the mandrel 4 or onto a layer of already placed fiber composite material by moving the dispensing unit 2 along the mandrel 4 with the aid of the positioning means 5. The composite fiber tape 19 may be dispensed from the dispensing unit under a non-zero angle with the central axis 440 of the mandrel 4, or may be dispensed substantially parallel to this central axis 440, as described above. Optionally, the dispensing unit 2 may be brought in its second state to be able to pass a part of the mandrel 4 and return to its first state, without stopping 5 the tape laying operation.
After all layers have been layed-up, the thus obtained laid-up fiber composite product is removed by bringing the dispensing unit 2 in its second state and bringing the product out of the perimeter of the dispensing unit 2. The product is then optionally (further) 10 cured and demolded, if necessary. Demolding typically involves removing the mandrel 4 from or out of the produced composite product.
With reference to figures 8A and 8B, another preferred embodiment of the device is shown, the dispensing unit 2 of the device comprising two positioning means (5a, 5b) of 15 the type described in more detail above. Each positioning means (5a, 5b) is able to manipulate a single fiber delivery device 25 through delivery device interface plate 26. Delivery device 25 is able to position composite fiber tapes 100 onto the surface of the mandrel 4. In an active state, a positioning means (5a, 5b) effectuates relative movement of the mandrel 4 and the delivery device 25 during placement of the fiber 20 composite material. In figure 8A, positioning means 5b is in the active state since it manipulates fiber delivery device 25. Positioning means 5a is not in the active state since it does not manipulate fiber delivery device 25. Please note that in figures 8A and 8B, the dispensing unit 2 in the form of the assembly of the two positioning means (5a, 5b) is in its second (open) state. Indeed, as is most clearly shown in figure 8B, 25 positioning means (5a, 5b) and the floor 80 form a loop which is open at the top, i.e. between gripping means 53a and 53b. In contrast herewith, in figures 8C and 8D, the dispensing unit 2 in the form of the assembly of the two positioning means (5a, 5b) is in its first (closed) state. Indeed, as is most clearly shown in figure 8D, positioning means (5a, 5b) and the floor 80 form a loop which is closed, the loop being formed by parts 30 (50a, 51a, 52a, 53a, 26, 53b, 52b, 51b, 50b, and the floor 80). In this position it is not possible to remove the mandrel 4 from the dispensing unit 2 (the assembly of positioning means 5a and 5b).
20
The mandrel 4 is stationary or movably supported by support structure 54, which acts as positioning means, or more particularly as rotating means. The support structure 54 is thereto equipped with a rotating shaft 55, provided with gripping poles (56a, 56b, 56c, 56d) to hold mandrel 4. In such a configuration, mandrel 4 can be rotated around shaft 5 55 during fiber placement. In the passive state a positioning means (5a, 5b) does not effectuate a relative movement of the mandrel 4 and the delivery means 25. An active positioning means (say 5 a) effectuates relative movement of the mandrel 4 and the delivery means 25 and thereby places the fiber composite material tape 100 onto the surface of the mandrel. When a part of the mandrel 4 is approached which hinders a 10 further relative movement of the mandrel 4 and the delivery means 25, the positioning means 5a is deactivated and positioning means 5b activated. Positioning means 5b thereby approaches the mandrel 4 from another side and takes over the delivery means 25 to continue the tape placement operation. The device is thereto provided with means to activate a positioning means (5a, 5b) when another positioning means (5b, 5a) is 15 deactivated. A situation whereby positioning means 5b approaches the mandrel 4 from another side and takes over the delivery means 25 to continue the tape placement operation is shown in figures 8C and 8D. Since both positioning means 5a and 5b in this first (closed) state of the dispensing unit 2 manipulate or grip one and the same fiber delivery device 25, the mandrel 4 cannot be removed from out of the (closed) loop 20 formed by the two positioning means 5a and 5b, delivery device interface plate 26 and the floor 80. When positioning means 5b is deactivated and positioning means 5a takes over the tape laying operation, the dispensing unit 2 is in its second state again, albeit with positioning means 5 a taking the active role and positioning means 5b being in its deactivated state (a situation contrary to the one shown in figures 8A and 8B).
25
The foregoing disclosure has been set forth merely to illustrate the invention and is not intended to be limiting. Since modifications of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit and substance of the invention may occur to persons skilled in the art, the invention should be construed to include everything within the scope of the appended 30 claims and equivalents thereof.

Claims (28)

1. Inrichting voor het produceren van een vezelcomposiet product, omvattende: een afgifte-eenheid voor een vezelcomposiet materiaal, waarbij de afgifte-5 eenheid is ingericht om een vezelcomposiet materiaal op het oppervlak van een willekeurig gevormde mal te plaatsen, of op een reeds op de mal geplaatste laag vezelcomposiet materiaal; positioneermiddelen voor het onderling bewegen van de mal en/of de afgifte-eenheid tijdens plaatsing van het vezelcomposiet materiaal; 10 waarbij de afgifte-eenheid en/of de positioneermiddelen dusdanig zijn gerangschikt dat de afgifte-eenheid in staat is om het vezelcomposiet materiaal op in hoofdzaak elk deel van het oppervlak van de mal of reeds op de mal geplaatste laag vezelcomposiet materiaal te plaatsen, zonder dat het vezelcomposiet materiaal dient te worden opgedeeld, bijvoorbeeld door snijden. 15A device for producing a fiber-composite product, comprising: a dispenser for a fiber-composite material, the dispenser being adapted to place a fiber-composite material on the surface of a randomly molded mold, or on an already formed mold the mold placed layer of fiber composite material; positioning means for mutually moving the mold and / or the dispensing unit during placement of the fiber composite material; 10 wherein the dispensing unit and / or the positioning means are arranged such that the dispensing unit is able to place the fiber-composite material on substantially any part of the surface of the mold or layer of fiber-composite material already placed on the mold, without that the fiber composite material must be divided, for example by cutting. 15 2. Inrichting volgens conclusie 1, waarbij de afgifte-eenheid is ingericht om het vezelcomposiet materiaal op het oppervlak van een als een ffamestructuur gevormde mal te plaatsen, waarbij de framedelen van de ffamestructuur ten minste één gesloten lus vormen. 20Device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the delivery unit is adapted to place the fiber-composite material on the surface of a mold formed as a frame structure, wherein the frame parts of the frame structure form at least one closed loop. 20 3. Inrichting volgens conclusie 2, waarbij de afgifte-eenheid is ingericht om het vezelcomposiet materiaal op het oppervlak van de mal te plaatsen in een willekeurige richting, ten minste omvattende een richting die afwijkt van de longitudinale richting van de framedelen. 25Device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the dispensing unit is adapted to place the fiber-composite material on the surface of the mold in an arbitrary direction, at least comprising a direction that deviates from the longitudinal direction of the frame parts. 25 4. Inrichting volgens één der voorafgaande conclusies, waarbij de afgifte-eenheid is ingericht om uitwisselbaar te zijn tussen een eerste toestand, waarbij de afgifte-eenheid de mal in haar omtreksrichting volledig omgeeft, en een tweede toestand waarbij de afgifte-eenheid de mal in haar omtreksrichting gedeeltelijk omgeeft. 30Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the dispensing unit is adapted to be interchangeable between a first state, wherein the dispensing unit completely surrounds the mold in its circumferential direction, and a second state wherein the dispensing unit enters the mold partially circumscribes its circumferential direction. 30 5. Inrichting volgens conclusie 4, waarbij de afgifte-eenheid voor het vezelcomposiet materiaal omvat: - een de mal in haar omtreksrichting ten minste gedeeltelijk omgevend geleidingsmiddel; - ten minste één aanvoerapparaat voor vezelcomposiet materiaal, voor het plaatsen van het materiaal op het oppervlak van de mal of op een reeds op de mal geplaatste laag vezelcomposiet materiaal; - ten minste één drager waarop het aanvoerapparaat is geplaatst, welke drager 5 langs het geleidingsmiddel beweegbaar is ten opzichte van het oppervlak van de mal.Device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the delivery unit for the fiber composite material comprises: - a guide means which at least partially surrounds the mold in its circumferential direction; - at least one feed device for fiber composite material, for placing the material on the surface of the mold or on a layer of fiber composite material already placed on the mold; - at least one carrier on which the feed device is placed, which carrier 5 is movable along the guide means relative to the surface of the mold. 6. Inrichting volgens één der voorafgaande conclusies, waarbij de afgifte-eenheid, en in het bijzonder het geleidingsmiddel ervan, ten minste twee delen omvat, die ten 10 minste gedeeltelijk zijn gescheiden in de tweede toestand en onderling weer zijn verbonden in de eerste toestand.6. Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the dispensing unit, and in particular its guiding means, comprises at least two parts, which are at least partially separated in the second state and mutually connected in the first state. 7. Inrichting volgens conclusie 6, waarbij de ten minste twee delen een gemeenschappelijke schamierconstructie omvatten en onderling ten minste gedeeltelijk 15 gescheiden en weer verbonden zijn door rotatie om de schamierconstructie.7. Device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the at least two parts comprise a common hinge construction and are mutually at least partially separated and again connected by rotation about the hinge construction. 8. Inrichting volgens conclusie 6, waarbij één van de tenminste twee delen verschuifbaar is in een ander van de ten minste twee delen, waarbij de ten minste twee delen onderling ten minste gedeeltelijk gescheiden en weer verbonden zijn door een 20 onderlinge schuifbeweging.8. Device as claimed in claim 6, wherein one of the at least two parts is slidable in another of the at least two parts, wherein the at least two parts are mutually at least partially separated and again connected by a mutual sliding movement. 9. Inrichting volgens één der voorafgaande conclusies, waarbij de afgifte-eenheid vlak is, en waarbij de positioneermiddelen zijn gerangschikt voor het bewegen van de afgifte-eenheid met zijn vlak in hoofdzaak loodrecht op de as van de mal. 25Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the dispensing unit is flat, and wherein the positioning means are arranged for moving the dispensing unit with its plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of the mold. 25 10. Inrichting volgens conclusie 4, waarbij de afgifte-eenheid voor het vezelcomposiet materiaal een samenstel van ten minste twee positioneermiddelen omvat die, tijdens bedrijf, een onderlinge beweging bewerkstelligen tussen de mal en ten minste één aanvoerapparaat voor vezelcomposiet materiaal voor het plaatsen van het 30 materiaal op het oppervlak van een mal of op een reeds op de mal geplaatste laag vezelcomposiet materiaal.10. Device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the fiber-composite material dispensing unit comprises an assembly of at least two positioning means which, during operation, effect a mutual movement between the mold and at least one feed device for fiber-composite material for placing the fiber-composite material. material on the surface of a mold or on a layer of fiber composite material already placed on the mold. 11. Inrichting volgens één der voorafgaande conclusies, waarbij de positioneermiddelen zijn gerangschikt voor het bewegen van de afgifte-eenheid rond de mal, waarbij de mal zich in een vaste positie bevindt.Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the positioning means are arranged for moving the dispensing unit around the mold, the mold being in a fixed position. 12. Inrichting volgens een der voorafgaande conclusies, waarbij de positioneermiddelen zijn gerangschikt voor het bewegen van de mal rond de afgifte-eenheid, waarbij de afgifte-eenheid zich in een vaste positie bevindt.Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the positioning means are arranged for moving the mold around the dispensing unit, the dispensing unit being in a fixed position. 13. Inrichting volgens één der voorafgaande conclusies, waarbij de 10 positioneermiddelen een robotisch geleidingsapparaat omvatten.13. Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the positioning means comprise a robotic guiding device. 14. Inrichting volgens één der voorafgaande conclusies, waarbij de afgifte-eenheid voor het vezelcomposiet materiaal is ingericht om een vezel of vezels op het oppervlak van een mal met een willekeurige vorm te plaatsen, of op een reeds op de mal geplaatste 15 laag vezelcomposiet materiaal.14. Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the delivery unit for the fiber-composite material is adapted to place a fiber or fibers on the surface of a mold of any shape, or on a layer of fiber-composite material already placed on the mold. . 15. Werkwijze voor het produceren van een vezelcomposiet product, omvattende de stappen van: het verschaffen van een afgifte-eenheid voor een vezelcomposiet materiaal, 20 welke afgifte-eenheid is ingericht om uitwisselbaar te zijn tussen een eerste toestand, waarin de afgifte-eenheid de mal in omtreksrichting volledig omgeeft, en een tweede toestand waarin de afgifte-eenheid de mal in de omtreksrichting gedeeltelijk omgeeft; - het in de tweede toestand brengen van de afgifte-eenheid; 25. het binnen de omtreksgrens van de afgifte-eenheid positioneren van de mal; - het brengen van de afgifte-eenheid in de eerste toestand, waardoor deze de mal in omtreksrichting omgeeft; - het plaatsen van vezelcomposiet materiaal op het oppervlak van de mal of op een reeds geplaatste laag vezelcomposiet materiaal door de mal ten opzichte 30 van de afgifte-eenheid te bewegen; - het eventueel in de tweede toestand brengen van de afgifte-eenheid om het mogelijk te maken een deel van de mal doorgang te verlenen; het verwijderen van het aldus verkregen opgelegde vezelcomposiet product door het in de tweede toestand brengen van de afgifte-eenheid en door het product buiten de omtreksgrens van de afgifte-eenheid te brengen; en het eventueel uitharden, en wegnemen van de mal uit het composiet product. 515. A method for producing a fiber composite product, comprising the steps of: providing a delivery unit for a fiber composite material, which delivery unit is adapted to be interchangeable between a first state, wherein the delivery unit completely surrounds the mold in the circumferential direction, and a second state in which the dispensing unit partially surrounds the mold in the circumferential direction; - bringing the dispensing unit into the second state; 25. positioning the mold within the peripheral limit of the dispensing unit; - bringing the dispensing unit to the first state, so that it surrounds the mold in the circumferential direction; - placing fiber composite material on the surface of the mold or on an already placed layer of fiber composite material by moving the mold relative to the dispensing unit; optionally bringing the dispensing unit into the second state to enable passage of part of the mold; removing the thus-applied superimposed fiber composite product by bringing the delivery unit into the second state and by bringing the product outside the peripheral limit of the delivery unit; and optionally curing, and removing the mold from the composite product. 5 16. Werkwijze volgens conclusie 15, waarbij de afgifte-eenheid omvat: een de mal in haar omtreksrichting ten minste gedeeltelijk omgevend geleidingsmiddel; ten minste één aanvoerapparaat voor vezelcomposiet materiaal voor het 10 plaatsen van het materiaal op het oppervlak van de mal of op een reeds geplaatste laag vezelcomposiet materiaal; - ten minste één drager waarop het aanvoerapparaat is geplaatst, welke drager langs het geleidingsmiddel beweegbaar is ten opzichte van het oppervlak van de mal; 15 en waarbij het plaatsen van het materiaal op het oppervlak van de mal of op een reeds geplaatste laag vezelcomposiet materiaal wordt uitgevoerd door het ten opzichte van het oppervlak van de mal bewegen van de drager langs het geleidingsmiddel.The method of claim 15, wherein the delivery unit comprises: a guide means at least partially surrounding the mold in its circumferential direction; at least one feed device for fiber composite material for placing the material on the surface of the mold or on an already placed layer of fiber composite material; - at least one carrier on which the feed device is placed, which carrier is movable along the guide means relative to the surface of the mold; And wherein the placement of the material on the surface of the mold or on an already placed layer of fiber-composite material is carried out by moving the carrier along the guide means relative to the surface of the mold. 17. Werkwijze volgens conclusie 15 of 16, waarbij de afgifte-eenheid, en in het 20 bijzonder het geleidingsmiddel ervan, ten minste twee delen omvat, en dat deze delen ten minste gedeeltelijk worden gescheiden in de tweede toestand en onderling weer worden verbonden in de eerste toestand.17. Method as claimed in claim 15 or 16, wherein the dispensing unit, and in particular its guiding means, comprises at least two parts, and that these parts are at least partially separated in the second state and reconnected to each other in the first condition. 18. Werkwijze volgens conclusie 17, waarbij de ten minste twee delen een 25 gemeenschappelijke schamierconstructie omvatten, en dat deze delen onderling ten minste gedeeltelijk worden gescheiden en weer worden verbonden door rotatie om de schamierconstructie.18. Method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the at least two parts comprise a common hinge construction, and that these parts are mutually at least partially separated and reconnected by rotation about the hinge construction. 19. Werkwijze volgens conclusie 17, waarbij één van de tenminste twee delen 30 verschuifbaar is in een ander van de ten minste twee delen, en dat de ten minste twee delen onderling ten minste gedeeltelijk worden gescheiden en weer worden verbonden door een onderlinge schuifbeweging.19. Method as claimed in claim 17, wherein one of the at least two parts is slidable in another of the at least two parts, and in that the at least two parts are mutually at least partially separated and connected again by a mutual sliding movement. 20. Werkwijze volgens één der conclusies 15-19, waarbij het plaatsen van vezelcomposiet materiaal op het oppervlak van de mal of op een reeds geplaatste laag vezelcomposiet materiaal door bewegen van de mal ten opzichte van de afgifte-eenheid wordt uitgevoerd met de afgifte-eenheid in de tweede toestand. 5A method according to any one of claims 15-19, wherein the placing of fiber composite material on the surface of the mold or on an already placed layer of fiber composite material is carried out by moving the mold relative to the dispensing unit with the dispensing unit in the second state. 5 21. Werkwijze volgens één der conclusies 15 - 20, waarbij het vezelcomposiet materiaal wordt geplaatst op het oppervlak van de mal of op een reeds geplaatste laag vezelcomposiet materiaal, waarbij de mal als een framestructuur is gevormd, waarvan de framedelen ten minste één gesloten lus vormen. 10A method according to any one of claims 15-20, wherein the fiber composite material is placed on the surface of the mold or on an already placed layer of fiber composite material, the mold being formed as a frame structure, the frame parts of which form at least one closed loop . 10 22. Werkwijze volgens conclusie 21, waarbij het vezelcomposiet materiaal op het oppervlak van de mal of op een reeds geplaatste laag vezelcomposiet materiaal wordt geplaatst en wel in een willekeurige richting, ten minste omvattende een richting die afwijkt van de longitudinale richting van de framedelen. 15Method according to claim 21, wherein the fiber-composite material is placed on the surface of the mold or on an already placed layer of fiber-composite material in an arbitrary direction, at least comprising a direction that deviates from the longitudinal direction of the frame parts. 15 23. Werkwijze volgens één der conclusies 15 - 22, waarbij de afgifte-eenheid rond de mal wordt bewogen, waarbij de mal in een vaste positie wordt gehouden.The method of any one of claims 15 to 22, wherein the delivery unit is moved around the mold, the mold being held in a fixed position. 24. Werkwijze volgens één der conclusies 15 - 22, waarbij de mal rond de afgifte- 20 eenheid wordt bewogen, waarbij de afgifte-eenheid in een vaste positie wordt gehouden.24. Method as claimed in any of the claims 15-22, wherein the mold is moved around the dispensing unit, the dispensing unit being held in a fixed position. 25. Werkwijze volgens één der conclusies 15 - 24, waarbij de afgifte-eenheid meerdere keren rond de mal wordt bewogen teneinde meerdere lagen vezelcomposiet materiaal op te bouwen.The method of any one of claims 15 to 24, wherein the delivery unit is moved multiple times around the mold to build up multiple layers of fiber composite material. 26. Werkwijze volgens één der conclusies 15 - 25, waarbij de afgifte-eenheid rotatiesymmetrisch is en zodanig langs de mal wordt bewogen dat de as van de mal samenvalt met de hartlijn van de afgifte-eenheid.The method of any one of claims 15 to 25, wherein the dispensing unit is rotationally symmetrical and is moved along the mold such that the axis of the mold coincides with the axis of the dispensing unit. 27. Werkwijze volgens één der conclusies 15 - 26, waarbij een vezel of vezels op het oppervlak van een mal met een willekeurige vorm worden geplaatst, of op een reeds op de mal geplaatste laag vezelcomposiet materiaal. 5A method according to any one of claims 15 - 26, wherein a fiber or fibers are placed on the surface of a mold of any shape, or on a layer of fiber-composite material already placed on the mold. 5 28. Een als vakwerk gevormd vezelcomposiet product, verkrijgbaar met de werkwijze volgens één der conclusies 15-27.A lattice fiber composite product obtainable by the method of any one of claims 15-27.
NL2003620A 2009-10-09 2009-10-09 Device and method for producing a fiber composite product. NL2003620C2 (en)

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WO2016169531A1 (en) 2015-04-24 2016-10-27 Magna Exteriors (Bohemia) s.r.o. Device for laying up a composite product with fibrous rovings
EP3470358A1 (en) * 2017-10-10 2019-04-17 KONE Corporation Stator beam of an electric linear motor for an elevator, an elevator and a method for manufacturing the stator beam

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Cited By (5)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2016169531A1 (en) 2015-04-24 2016-10-27 Magna Exteriors (Bohemia) s.r.o. Device for laying up a composite product with fibrous rovings
CN107743439A (en) * 2015-04-24 2018-02-27 麦格纳外部（波西米亚）有限公司 For laying the device of the composite products with fabric
US10232567B2 (en) 2015-04-24 2019-03-19 Magna Exteriors (Bohemia) s.r.o. Device for laying up a composite product with fibrous rovings
EP3470358A1 (en) * 2017-10-10 2019-04-17 KONE Corporation Stator beam of an electric linear motor for an elevator, an elevator and a method for manufacturing the stator beam
WO2019072632A1 (en) * 2017-10-10 2019-04-18 Kone Corporation Stator beam of an electric linear motor for an elevator, an elevator and a method for manufacturing the stator beam

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