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US 10,882,218 B2Granted
Tool configured to have a changeable shape
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorJustin H. Register
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tool is configured to have a changeable shape. The tool comprises a thermoplastic polymeric material, resistive heating elements within the thermoplastic polymeric material, and a flexible casing encapsulating the thermoplastic polymeric material and resistive heating elements.
Claims20
A tool configured to have a changeable shape, the tool comprising:
- a thermoplastic polymeric material comprising a first layer and a second layer;
- resistive heating elements sandwiched between the first layer of the thermoplastic polymeric material and the second layer of the thermoplastic polymeric material, wherein the resistive heating elements extend from a first lateral extent of the tool to an opposing second lateral extent of the tool between the first and second layers of the thermoplastic polymeric material;
- and
- a flexible casing encapsulating the first layer of the thermoplastic polymeric material, the second layer of the thermoplastic polymeric material, and the resistive heating elements such that the thermoplastic polymeric material does not leak or run when the thermoplastic polymeric material is heated to its melting temperature.
1 more element
A method comprising:
- heating a tool configured to have a changeable shape, wherein the tool comprises a thermoplastic polymeric material comprising a first layer and a second layer, resistive heating elements sandwiched between the first layer of the thermoplastic polymeric material and the second layer of the thermoplastic polymeric material, and a flexible casing encapsulating the first layer of the thermoplastic polymeric material and the second layer of the thermoplastic polymeric material and the resistive heating elements such that the thermoplastic polymeric material does not leak or run when the thermoplastic polymeric material is heated to its melting temperature, wherein heating the tool comprises heating the tool using the resistive heating elements until the thermoplastic polymeric material is flexible and the first and second layers of the thermoplastic polymeric material are substantially planar prior to heating the tool;
- applying the tool to a component while heating the tool;
- and
- cooling the tool while the tool is applied to the component to form the tool into a first shape.
1 more element
A tool configured to have a changeable shape, the tool comprising:
- a thermoplastic material having a first layer and a second layer;
- resistive heating elements sandwiched between the first layer of the thermoplastic material and the second layer of the thermoplastic material, wherein the resistive heating elements extend from a first lateral extent of the tool to an opposing second lateral extent of the tool and an exposed surface of at least one of the first layer of the thermoplastic material or the second layer of the thermoplastic material is substantially planar from the first lateral extent to the opposing second lateral extent;
- and
- a flexible casing encapsulating the thermoplastic material such that the thermoplastic polymeric material does not leak or run when the thermoplastic polymeric material is heated to its melting temperature.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.