Double vacuum bag method and adjustable support structure
AssigneeRohr, Inc.
InventorsQuyen Nguyen, Gary L. Jones
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method is provided for working on a composite body. This method includes: disposing material within an aperture in the composite body, the material comprising fiber reinforcement and uncured resin, and the aperture extending into the composite body from a non-planar surface; forming a first chamber between the composite body and a first bag member, the material within the first chamber; disposing a support structure on the first bag member, the support structure overlapping the material; forming a second chamber between the first bag member and a second bag member, the support structure within the second chamber; drawing a vacuum of a first amount in the first chamber; and drawing a vacuum of a second amount in the second chamber.
Claims16
A method for working on a composite body with a non-planar surface, the method comprising:
- disposing material within an aperture in the composite body, the material comprising fiber reinforcement and uncured resin, and the aperture extending into the composite body from the non-planar surface;
- forming a first chamber between the composite body and a first bag member, the material within the first chamber;
- disposing a support structure on the first bag member, the support structure overlapping the material;
- forming a second chamber between the first bag member and a second bag member, the support structure within the second chamber;
- drawing a vacuum of a first amount in the first chamber;
- drawing a vacuum of a second amount in the second chamber, the second amount different from the first amount;
- and
- at least partially curing the uncured resin;
- wherein the support structure comprises a base and a plurality of support legs, each of the support legs extends away from the base and engages the first bag member, a first of the support legs comprises an adjustable support leg, and a length of the first of the support legs is adjustable.
A method for working on a composite body with a non-planar surface, the method comprising:
- disposing material within an aperture in the composite body, the material comprising fiber reinforcement and uncured resin, and the aperture extending into the composite body from the non-planar surface;
- forming a first chamber between the composite body and a first bag member, the material within the first chamber;
- disposing a support structure on the first bag member, the support structure overlapping the material;
- forming a second chamber between the first bag member and a second bag member, the support structure within the second chamber;
- drawing a vacuum of a first amount in the first chamber;
- drawing a vacuum of a second amount in the second chamber, the second amount different from the first amount;
- and
- at least partially curing the uncured resin;
- wherein the support structure comprises a base and a plurality of support legs, each of the support legs extends away from the base and engages the first bag member, and a first of the support legs comprises a swivel foot that engages the first bag member.
A method for working on a composite body, the method comprising:
- disposing material on the composite body, the material comprising fiber reinforcement and uncured resin;
- providing a first chamber between the composite body and a first bag member, the material within the first chamber;
- disposing a support structure adjacent the first bag member, the support structure overlapping the material and adaptable to engage and conform to a surface of the composite body, wherein the support structure comprises one or more adjustable supports;
- providing a second chamber between the first bag member and a second bag member;
- drawing a vacuum of a first amount in the first chamber;
- and
- drawing a vacuum of a second amount in the second chamber, the second amount different from the first amount;
- wherein the support structure is operable to maintain an open cavity between the first bag member and the second bag member during the drawing of the vacuums in the first and the second chambers.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.