# US 10,464,240 B2 · Induction heating cells including pressure bladders and methods of using thereof

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- Number: US 10,464,240 B2
- Document ID: US10464240B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/945,615
- Filed: 2015-11-19
- Published: 2017-05-25
- Granted: 2019-11-05
- Earliest claimed: 2015-11-19
- Assignees: The Boeing Company
- Applicants: The Boeing Company
- Inventors: Marc R. Matsen; David S. Nansen; Lee C. Firth; Carey E. Wilkinson; Gregory J. Hickman; William C. Dykstra
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10464240B2

## CPC

- B29C 43/52: Heating or cooling
- B29C 33/06: using radiation {, e.g. electro-magnetic waves, induction heating}
- B29C 33/202: {Clamping means operating on closed or nearly closed mould parts, the clamping means being independently movable of the opening or closing means (clamping devices for injection moulding machines B29C45/64)}
- B29C 35/0805: {using electromagnetic radiation}
- B29C 2033/205: {mould clamping by membranes, e.g. inflatable membranes or cushions}
- B29C 2035/0811: {using induction}
- B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00)

## Abstract

Provided are induction heating cells including pressure bladders used for supporting dies and methods of using these induction heating cells. A pressure bladder may be disposed between a die and a bolster of the cell. Even when the bolster is deformed during operation of the cell, the pressure bladder continues to provide uniform support to the die thereby preserving integrity of the die and prevents its cracking or braking. As such, the cell may be operated at a higher processing pressure inside the cavity formed by the die without further strengthening the bolster. The bolster is allowed to deform without compromising the integrity of the die. The deformation of the bolster is compensated by the shape change of the pressure bladder. The number and/or position of the bladders in the cell may depend on the shape of processed parts.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for processing a part using an induction heating cell, the method comprising:
positioning the part into a processing cavity formed by a first die and a second die;
applying a processing pressure to the processing cavity while controlling a first pressure inside a first bladder and controlling a second pressure inside a second bladder,
wherein the first bladder is disposed between the first die and a contact surface of a first bolster, and
wherein the second bladder is disposed between the second die and a contact surface of a second bolster; and
monitoring deformation of the first bolster while applying the processing pressure to the cavity.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein a ratio of the first pressure inside the first bladder to the second pressure inside the second bladder is kept constant.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein a ratio of the first pressure inside the first bladder to the processing pressure inside the processing cavity is kept constant for at least a period of time while changing the processing pressure inside the processing cavity.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein controlling the first pressure inside the first bladder comprises controlling amount of gas inside the first bladder.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, wherein the first bladder and the processing cavity are connected to a gas source.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein controlling the first pressure inside the first bladder and controlling the second pressure inside the second bladder comprises changing position of the first die relative to the second die.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein controlling the first pressure inside the first bladder comprises controlling a distance between the contact surface of the first bolster and the first dies.

### Claim 8

A method for processing a part using an induction heating cell, the method comprising:
positioning the part into a processing cavity formed by a first die and a second die; and
applying a processing pressure to the processing cavity while controlling a first pressure inside a first bladder and controlling a second pressure inside a second bladder,
wherein the first bladder is disposed between the first die and a contact surface of a first bolster,
wherein the second bladder is disposed between the second die and a contact surface of a second bolster, and
wherein the contact surface of the first bolster unevenly deforms away from the first die while applying the processing pressure to the processing cavity.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the first bladder fills all space between the contact surface of the first bolster and the first die above the processing cavity while the contact surface of the first bolster unevenly deforms away from the first die.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the first bolster is supported by at least one post relative to the second bolster, and wherein the first bolster does not apply a bending load into the at least one post while the first bolster unevenly deforms away from the first die.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the post has a cylindrical profile, wherein the post protrudes through an opening in the first bolster, and wherein the opening has a cone profile.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the first pressure is controlled based on the deformation of the first bolster.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the contact surface of the first bolster does not directly contact the first die while applying the processing pressure to the processing cavity, and wherein the contact surface of the second bolster does not directly contact the second die while applying the processing pressure to the processing cavity.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising controlling a third pressure inside a third bladder and controlling a fourth pressure inside a fourth bladder,
wherein the third bladder is disposed between the first die and a contact surface of a third bolster, and
wherein the fourth bladder is disposed between the first die and a contact surface of a fourth bolster.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein the contact surface of the third bolster is parallel to the contact surface of the fourth bolster.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein the contact surface of the first bolster is perpendicular to the contact surface of the third bolster.

### Claim 17 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein the third bladder is also disposed between the second die and the contact surface of the third bolster, and wherein the fourth bladder is also disposed between the second die and the contact surface of the fourth bolster.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the contact surface of the first bolster is substantially parallel to the contact surface of the second bolster prior to applying the processing pressure to the processing cavity.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein each of the contact surface of the first bolster and the contact surface of the second bolster is substantially planar prior to applying the processing pressure to the processing cavity.

### Claim 20 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the part is a composite part, and wherein applying the processing pressure to the processing cavity is a part of consolidating or curing the composite part.