Claims
- 1. A method for constructing a finished composite structural component wherein there is included at least one hollowed stiffener element, the method comprising the steps:
- depositing a mandrel on a flat sheet of wet resin-impregnated material;
- depositing a second sheet of resin-impregnated material over the mandrel and the flat sheet to form a stiffener;
- curing the mandrel-enclosing sheets to form the structural component;
- positioning a source of pressurized flow containing beads adjacent an end of the structural component;
- impinging a flow of beads against the mandrel material;
- pulverizing the material with the impinging beads;
- progressively advancing the source into a void created within the structure resulting from material pulverization;
- continuously evacuating the internal volume of the stiffener thereby clearing it of pulverized mandrel material and spent beads resulting in a thoroughly cleaned interior surface of the stiffener.
- 2. The method set forth in claim 1 wherein the beads are glass and the mandrel is closed cell foam.
- 3. The method set forth in claim 1 wherein the pressurized flow of beads is generally directed simultaneously in radial and longitudinal directions.
- 4. The method set forth in claim 1 wherein evacuation of spent beads occurs simultaneous with the pressurized flow, through an evacuation hose mounted concentrically with the pressurized flow source.
Parent Case Info
This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 07/306,185, filed Feb. 6, 1989, now abandoned.
US Referenced Citations (11)
Foreign Referenced Citations (2)
Number |
Date |
Country |
2753030 |
May 1979 |
DEX |
810812 |
Mar 1959 |
GBX |
Non-Patent Literature Citations (1)
Entry |
Wet Blasting Process for Cleaning and Finishing of Rubber Molds; by E. Anderson; Rubber Age; Apr. 1953, pp. 71-72. |
Continuations (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
306185 |
Feb 1989 |
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