Autoclave, autoclave system, and method for curing a part
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsJames M. Streeter, Scott J. Nicholson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed here is an autoclave system for curing a part. The autoclave includes a gas recirculation system, at least partially external to a vessel pf the autoclave system and fluidly coupleable to the vessel such that gas contained in the vessel is delivered to the gas recirculation system, passed through the gas recirculation system, and recirculated back into the vessel. The autoclave system also comprises at least one mold core, located within the vessel. The mold core comprises a conduit extending through the mold core and the mold core is configured to define a shape of the part. The gas delivered to the gas recirculation system from the vessel is gas received directly from the conduit of the mold core.
Claims20
An autoclave system for curing a part, the autoclave system comprising:
- an autoclave, comprising:
- a vessel, containing a gas;
- at least one circulator, located within the vessel and operable to circulate the gas within the vessel;
- at least one heater, located within the vessel and operable to heat the gas within the vessel;
- and
- a gas recirculation system, at least partially external to the vessel and fluidically coupleable to the vessel such that a portion of the gas contained in the vessel is delivered to the gas recirculation system, passed through the gas recirculation system, and recirculated back into the vessel;
- and
- at least one mold core, located within the vessel, comprising a conduit extending through the mold core, and configured to define a shape of the part, wherein the portion of the gas delivered to the gas recirculation system from the vessel is only gas that has passed through the conduit of the mold core and is received directly from the conduit of the mold core.
An autoclave, comprising:
- a vessel, containing a gas;
- at least one circulator, located within the vessel and operable to circulate the gas within the vessel;
- at least one heater, located within the vessel and operable to heat the gas within the vessel;
- and
- a gas recirculation system, at least partially external to the vessel and fluidically coupleable to the vessel such that a portion of the gas contained in the vessel is delivered to the gas recirculation system, passed through the gas recirculation system, and recirculated back into the vessel, wherein:
- the gas recirculation system is configured to be fluidically coupled to a conduit extending through a mold core;
- the mold core configured to define a shape of a part that is located within the vessel;
- and
- the portion of the gas delivered to the gas recirculation system from the vessel is only gas that has passed through the conduit of the mold core and received directly from the conduit of the mold core.
A method of curing a part, the method comprising:
- locating the part within a vessel of an autoclave, wherein the autoclave comprises:
- at least one circulator, located within the vessel and operable to circulate the gas within the vessel;
- at least one heater, located within the vessel and operable to heat the gas within the vessel;
- and
- a gas recirculation system, at least partially external to the vessel and fluidically coupleable to the vessel;
- locating at least one mold core within the part, wherein the at least one mold core comprises a conduit extending through the at least one mold core, and configured to define a shape of the part;
- heating and pressurizing a gas within the vessel while the part is located within the vessel;
- and
- recirculating a portion of the gas from the vessel to the gas recirculation system, and from the gas recirculation system back into the vessel while heating and pressurizing the gas and while the part is located within the vessel, wherein the portion of the gas delivered to the gas recirculation system from the vessel is only gas that has passed through the conduit of the at least one mold core and is received directly from the conduit of the at least one mold core.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.