Tubular components for aeronautical fuselages and processes and jigs for its manufacturing
View Patent ↗The present invention relates to a tubular-shaped component ( 19 ) for an aeronautical fuselage made of composite materials comprising an outer skin ( 1 ) without joints having a cylindrical or cylindrical-conical shape, a plurality of stiffeners or stringers ( 2 ) longitudinally arranged in said outer skin ( 1 ) and a plurality of anchoring elements ( 3 ) for anchoring other elements to subsequently be incorporated transversally arranged between said stiffeners or stringers ( 2 ). The invention also comprises a jig ( 18 ) comprising a support body ( 12 ) and a plurality of panels ( 9 ) that can shift between an extended position ( 10 ) and a retracted position ( 10 ′) in both directions and a process for manufacturing said component ( 19 ) in the last step of which once the tubular component ( 19 ) is formed and cured, it is separated from the jig ( 18 ) by means of a longitudinal movement after the shifting of those elements of the jig ( 18 ) preventing it, and particularly the panels ( 9 ) that can be shifted.
1. A process for manufacturing a tubular-shaped component ( 19 ) for aeronautical fuselages made of composite materials comprising an outer skin ( 1 ) without joints having a cylindrical or cylindrical-conical shape, a plurality of stiffeners or stringers ( 2 ) longitudinally arranged in said outer skin ( 1 ) and a plurality of anchoring elements ( 3 ) for anchoring other elements to subsequently be incorporated to the tubular component ( 19 ), transversally arranged between said stiffeners or stringers ( 2 ), comprising the following steps:
a) Providing a jig ( 18 ) with an outer surface having a shape similar to the inner surface of the tubular component ( 19 ) including slots ( 7 , 8 ) for housing the stiffeners or stringers ( 2 ) and the anchoring elements ( 3 ), respectively;
b) Providing the stiffeners or stringers ( 2 ) and anchoring elements ( 3 ) and arranging them in said slots ( 7 , 8 );
c) Laminating the outer skin ( 1 ) on the jig ( 18 );
d) Applying an autoclave curing cycle to the assembly of the jig ( 18 ) and the tubular component ( 19 ) provided with a curing membrane ( 20 );
e) Extracting the tubular component ( 19 ) by means of a longitudinal movement after the shifting of those elements of the jig ( 18 ) which prevent it.
2. A process for manufacturing a tubular-shaped component ( 19 ) for aeronautical fuselages made of composite materials according to claim 1 , wherein step c) is carried out with a fiber placement machine by rotating the jig ( 18 ) and using means to hold the stiffeners or stringers ( 2 ) and the anchoring elements ( 3 ) in their position.
3. A process for manufacturing a tubular-shaped component ( 19 ) for aeronautical fuselages made of composite materials according to claim 1 , wherein the shifting of said elements of the jig ( 18 ) in step e) is carried out by retracting them in the radial direction ( 11 ) without removing them from the jig ( 18 ).
4. A process for manufacturing a tubular-shaped component ( 19 ) for aeronautical fuselages made of composite materials according to claim 1 , wherein the shifting of part of said elements of the jig ( 18 ) in step e) is carried out by retracting them in the radial direction ( 11 ) without removing them from the jig ( 18 ), and the shifting of another part of said elements of the jig ( 18 ) is carried out in the longitudinal direction ( 17 ) after their removal from the jig ( 18 ).