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US 10,293,552 B2Granted
Heat shrinkable film tube and method for manufacturing hollow composite parts
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsRichard Heath, Andrew Elmer Modin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A film tube installed and sealed in a hollow composite part acts as an internal vacuum bag that eliminates the need for an internal mandrel to react compaction forces applied by autoclave pressure during curing of the part.
Claims22
A method of processing a composite part, comprising:
- placing a composite part on a tool having a tool cavity;
- applying a film over an outer surface of a mandrel;
- placing the mandrel inside a cavity in the composite part;
- folding outer extremities of the film onto itself such that a portion of an inner film layer faces walls of the tool;
- and
- attaching the film to walls of the tool within the tool cavity.
3 more elements
A method of applying a vacuum bag over a composite part, comprising:
- placing the composite part on a tool having a tool cavity;
- applying a film over an outer surface of a mandrel;
- placing the mandrel inside a cavity in the composite part;
- folding outer extremities of the film onto itself such that a portion of an inner film layer faces walls of the tool;
- and
- attaching the film to walls of the tool cavity.
3 more elements
A method of bagging a composite part having a cavity therein, comprising:
- applying a cavity vacuum bag over an outer surface of a mandrel
- folding outer extremities of the cavity vacuum bag onto itself such that a portion of a barrier film layer faces walls of a tool;
- applying the cavity vacuum bag over an inner surface of the cavity in the composite part;
- applying an outer vacuum bag over the composite part;
- sealing the cavity vacuum bag to the outer vacuum bag and to walls of the tool;
- and
- sealing the outer vacuum bag to the tool.
4 more elements
A method of fabricating a composite part having a cavity therein, comprising:
- placing a flexible inner bag around a mandrel;
- shrink wrapping the inner bag onto an outer surface of the mandrel;
- placing the composite part on a tool;
- placing the mandrel in the cavity;
- folding outer extremities of the inner bag onto itself such that a portion of a barrier film layer faces walls of the tool;
- sealing the inner bag to the tool;
- removing the mandrel from the cavity;
- sealing an outer bag over the composite part;
- sealing the inner bag to the outer bag;
- and
- curing the composite part in an autoclave.
8 more elements
A method of fabricating a composite stringer having a cavity therein, comprising:
- placing a composite stringer charge on a tool;
- installing a flexible outer film bag over the composite stringer charge covering the cavity;
- placing a flexible inner film bag in the cavity;
- folding outer extremities of the inner film bag onto itself such that a portion of an inner film layer faces walls of the tool;
- and
- compacting the composite stringer charge by applying pressure to the inner film bag and the outer film bag.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.