1. A method of fabricating a curved composite element, comprising:
providing a plurality of composite fiber ply segments;
joining a group of the ply segments together to form a ply, said group of ply segments held at said ply segment edges within a flexible frame;
placing the joined group of ply segments in said frame against a first curved tool surface comprising a tool;
wrapping the joined group of ply segments onto a second generally flat tool surface comprising said tool;
wrapping the joined group of ply segments onto a third curved tool surface comprising said tool; and,
curing the ply.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
arranging the ply segments in side-by-side relationship with a substantially common fiber orientation, and
wherein joining a group of ply segments includes seaming the ply segments together.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein wrapping the group of ply segments includes folding the frame.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein wrapping the ply group includes wrapping the ply group from a larger radius onto a smaller radius.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein wrapping the ply group includes wrapping the ply group from a smaller radius onto a larger radius.
6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:
forming a series of slits along one edge of each of the ply segments.
7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
forming gaps between adjacent ones of the ply segments in the group of ply segments.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein forming the gaps includes spreading at least certain of the fibers in each of the ply segments along an edge of the ply segment.
9. The method of claim 7, wherein forming the gaps includes cutting away portions of each of the ply segments.
10. The method of claim 1 wherein:
the first and second curved tool surfaces are substantially contiguous and have differing radii of curvatures.
11. The method of claim 1 wherein wrapping the group of ply segments includes forming the group of ply segments from a smaller radius of curvature to a larger radius of curvature, and the method further comprises:
using an undulating tool surface to pre-form the group of ply segments to an intermediate shape.
12. A method of laying up a curved composite element, comprising:
arranging a group of composite fiber ply segments substantially side-by-side relationship, said group of ply segments held at said segment edges within a flexible frame;
forming the group of ply segments in said frame onto a first curved tool surface comprising a tool having a first radius of curvature; and,
forming the group of ply segments from the first curved tool surface onto a second generally flat tool surface comprising said tool; and
forming the group of ply segments from the generally flat tool surface onto a third curved tool surface comprising said tool having a second radius of curvature.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein:
the ply segments each have a fiber orientation, and
arranging the group of fiber ply segments includes arranging the ply segments such that the ply segments have a substantially common fiber orientation.
14. The method of claim 12, wherein the first radius of curvature is greater than the second radius of curvature.
15. The method of claim 12, wherein the second radius of curvature is greater than the first radius of curvature.
16. The method of claim 12, wherein the first radius of curvature is different than the second radius of curvature, and the method further comprises:
pre-forming the group of ply segments over an undulating tool surface into an intermediate shape that facilitates forming the group of ply segments onto the third tool surface.
17. The method of claim 12, further comprising:
forming gaps between at least certain of the fibers in the ply segments along one side of the group of ply segments.
18. The method of claim 12, wherein forming gaps includes forming gaps between the fibers in at least certain of the ply segments.
19. The method of claim 12, wherein forming gaps includes forming gaps between adjacent ones of the ply segments.
20. A curved composite element laid up by the method of claim 12.
21. The method of claim 12 wherein said curved composite element comprises a structural member for an aircraft.
22. A method of fabricating a curved structural element for an aircraft, comprising:
cutting a plurality of composite fiber ply segments from a composite sheet;
forming a group of ply segments by arranging the ply segments in side-by-side relationship with a common fiber orientation;
forming gaps between at least certain of the fibers in the group of ply segments;
joining and holding the arranged group of ply segments at said ply segment edges within a flexible frame;
using the frame to form the group of ply segments onto a first curved tool surface comprising a tool;
using the frame to form the group of ply segments onto a second curved tool surface comprising said tool having a radius
of curvature different than the first curved tool surface, including folding the frame to bend the group of ply segments.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
What is claimed is:
1. A keyboard device comprising:
a housing,
a keyboard having forward edge, a back edge and a longitudinal axis, the keyboard being moveably mounted to the housing such that the keyboard is moveable in a first direction whereby the keyboard moves forward and back, and in a second direction whereby the keyboard pivots about the longitudinal axis, and
a moving mechanism for continuously oscillating the keyboard in both the first and second directions simultaneously.
2. A keyboard device as defined in claim 1 wherein the moving mechanism comprises a first member having a forward edge, a back edge and a longitudinal axis, the first member being moveably mounted to the housing such that the first member is moveable in a first direction whereby the first member moves forward and back, and in a second direction whereby the first member pivots about the longitudinal axis, the keyboard being mounted to the first member.
3. A keyboard device as defined in claim 2 wherein the moving mechanism further comprises a second member having a first portion rotatably mounted to the housing and a second portion moveably mounted to the first member, and further comprising an electric motor mechanically coupled to the second member for rotating the second member about its first portion.
4. A keyboard device as defined in claim 3 wherein the second member is pivotally mounted to the first member at a point on the first member between the forward and back edges.
5. A keyboard device as defined in claim 2 wherein the first member has a substantially flat surface configured to receive the keyboard thereon.
6. A keyboard device as defined in claim 2 wherein the housing has a flat bottom surface and wherein the moving mechanism further comprising a cylindrical member positioned on the flat bottom surface of the housing, the cylindrical member having a longitudinal axis, the first member being mounted on top of the cylindrical member such that the long axis of the cylindrical member is parallel to the long axis of the first member, the cylindrical member and flat bottom surface of the housing dimensioned and configured to permit the cylindrical member to roll as the first member moves in the first direction.
7. A device for oscillating a keyboard comprising;
a housing,
a first member having a back edge, a forward edge, a top surface and a longitudinal axis, the member being moveably mounted to the housing such that the first member is moveable in a first direction whereby the first member moves forward and back, and in a second direction whereby the first member pivots about the longitudinal axis, the top surface of the first member adapted and configured to receive a keyboard thereon, and
a moving mechanism for continuously oscillating the first member in both the first and second directions simultaneously.
8. A keyboard device as defined in claim 6 wherein the moving mechanism comprises a second member having a first portion rotatably mounted to the housing and a second portion moveably mounted to the first member, and further comprising an electric motor mechanically coupled to the second member for rotating the second member about its first portion.
9. A keyboard device as defined in claim 7 wherein the second member is pivotally mounted to the first member at a point on the first member between the forward and back edges.
10. A keyboard device as defined in claim 7 wherein the housing has a flat bottom surface and wherein the moving mechanism further comprising a cylindrical member positioned on the flat bottom surface of the housing, the cylindrical member having a longitudinal axis, the first member being mounted on top of the cylindrical member such that the long axis of the cylindrical member is parallel to the long axis of the first member, the cylindrical member and flat bottom surface of the housing dimensioned and configured to permit the cylindrical member to roll as the first member moves in the first direction.