US Patent 11911976 System for in-situ consolidation and curing of composite structures

There is disclosed an apparatus for winding filaments to form a structure. The apparatus includes a carrier which mounts spools of fiber, a mandrel, and a guide element which directs fiber tows, comprising filaments from the spools, onto the mandrel. The system further includes a heating element which applies heat to the fiber tows, and a diaphragm element which defines an orifice about the mandrel. The diaphragm element includes one or more displaceable portions which define a physical dimension of the orifice and which: displace to vary the physical dimension of the orifice; and apply a predetermined pressure to the fiber tows disposed on the mandrel. Also disclosed and described is a related method.