Material support systems, material support structures, and related methods
AssigneeNorthrop Grumman Innovation Systems, Inc.
InventorsDavid R. Machac, Joel L. Robison, Mary A. White
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A core support system includes a support structure. The support structure includes a frame and a support member having a saturatable engagement layer disposed over the frame. A method of machining a core material includes applying a fluid to an engagement layer of a support structure and saturating the engagement layer with the fluid, disposing a core material on the engagement layer, causing the fluid to freeze to secure to the core material to the support structure, machining the core material, melting the frozen fluid to release the core material from the support structure, and removing the core material from the engagement layer.
Claims17
A method of machining a core material, the method comprising:
- applying a fluid to an engagement layer of a support structure and saturating at least a portion of the engagement layer with the fluid;
- disposing the core material on the engagement layer and causing the core material to engage at least a portion of the fluid;
- detecting a temperature of the support structure via a temperature sensor;
- based at least partially on the detected temperature, initiating a refrigeration cycle to at least partially solidify the fluid to secure the core material to the support structure;
- machining the core material;
- returning the solidified fluid to a fluid state to release the core material from the support structure;
- and
- removing the core material from the engagement layer.
A method of machining a core material, the method comprising:
- saturating at least a portion of an engagement layer of a support structure with a fluid;
- cooling the fluid to within 2° C. to 7° C. of a freezing point of the fluid and maintaining a temperature of the fluid within 2° C. to 7° C. of the freezing point of the fluid;
- subsequent to cooling the fluid to within 2° C. to 7° C. of the freezing point of the fluid, causing the core material to engage at least a portion of the fluid;
- further cooling at least a portion of the fluid to the freezing point of the fluid to at least partially solidify the at least a portion of the fluid to secure to the core material to the support structure;
- and
- machining the core material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.