Induction welding using a heat sink and/or cooling
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsRobert A. DiChiara, Richard W. Burns, Francis J. Samalot Rivera
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Abstract
A method of induction welding a first carbon fiber thermoplastic composite (TPC) to a second carbon fiber thermoplastic composite (TPC) using an induction coil includes aligning the first TPC with the second TPC to form a weld interface area, flexing a heat sink onto a surface of the first TPC between the weld interface area and the induction coil, and inductively heating the weld interface area with the induction coil.
Claims26
A method of induction welding a first carbon fiber thermoplastic composite (TPC) to a second carbon fiber thermoplastic composite (TPC) using an induction coil, the method comprising:
- aligning the first TPC with the second TPC to form a weld interface area;
- flexing a heat sink onto a surface of the first TPC between the weld interface area and the induction coil;
- and
- inductively heating the weld interface area with the induction coil.
A method of induction welding a first carbon fiber thermoplastic composite (TPC) to a second carbon fiber thermoplastic composite (TPC) using an induction coil, the method comprising:
- forming a weld interface area between the first TPC with the second TPC;
- flexing a flexible heat sink onto a surface of the first TPC above the weld interface area;
- inductively heating the weld interface area with the induction coil;
- compressing the first TPC and the second TPC together at the weld interface area;
- and
- dissipating heat from the surface of the first TPC using the flexible heat sink.
A method of induction welding a first carbon fiber thermoplastic composite (TPC) to a second carbon fiber thermoplastic composite (TPC) using an induction coil, the method comprising:
- aligning the first TPC with the second TPC to form a weld interface area;
- flexing a heat sink onto a surface of the first TPC between the weld interface area and the induction coil;
- inductively heating the weld interface area with the induction coil;
- placing a second heat sink onto a surface of the second TPC;
- drawing heat from the second TPC with the second heat sink;
- inserting the first TPC, the second TPC, the heat sink, and the second heat sink within a vacuum bag;
- and
- filling the vacuum bag with an inert gas.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.