The Boeing Company
Clamping system for holding a composite charge during forming over a forming mandrel

Abstract:

A clamping system for securing a composite charge in position relative to a forming mandrel includes an upstream hinge clamp and a downstream hinge clamp for clamping opposing ends of the composite charge in respective position relative to a mandrel upstream end and a mandrel downstream end during forming of the composite charge onto the forming mandrel. Each one of the hinge clamps is configured to fold a corresponding end of the composite charge from a generally approximately flat configuration to an angled configuration during forming of the composite charge onto the forming mandrel. At least one of the hinge axes is oriented approximately parallel to a folding axis located proximate an intersection of a mandrel top portion with at least one of opposing mandrel side surfaces.