METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CO-CURING COMPOSITE SKINS AND STIFFENERS IN AN AUTOCLAVE

摘要

A composite skin (30) and composite stiffeners (32) are co-cured in an autoclave (44). Uncured stiffeners are placed in channels of a tool (46), and an uncured skin is placed on the tool contacting the stiffeners. The vacuum bag (48) is sealed over the tool. Bladders (52) placed in the stiffeners are exposed to autoclave pressure through a manifold system (54) employing vent tubes (56) that pass through the vacuum bag along a side of the tool.