Induction welding using a heat sink and/or cooling
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsRobert A. DiChiara, Francis J. Samalot Rivera, Richard W. Burns
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of induction welding a first thermoplastic composite (TPC) to a second thermoplastic composite (TPC) includes inductively heating a weld interface area between the first TPC and the second TPC, and cooling a surface of the first TPC opposite the weld interface area while inductively heating the weld interface area.
Claims20
A method of induction welding a first thermoplastic composite (TPC) to a second thermoplastic composite (TPC), the method comprising:
- flexing a heat sink during placement onto a surface of the first TPC opposite a weld interface area, wherein flexing the heat sink includes flexing a flexible joint between a number of thermally conductive and electrically non-conductive tiles;
- inductively heating the weld interface area between the first TPC and the second TPC;
- cooling the surface of the first TPC opposite the weld interface area while inductively heating the weld interface area;
- and
- wherein the heat sink includes fluid channels disposed within the flexible joints, and further comprising pumping a coolant through the fluid channels.
A method of dissipating heat from a surface of a first thermoplastic composite (TPC) being inductively welded in a weld interface area to a second thermoplastic composite (TPC), the method comprising:
- flexing a heat sink during placement above the weld interface area to conform to the surface of the first TPC, wherein flexing the heat sink includes flexing a flexible joint between a number of thermally conductive and electrically non-conductive tiles;
- flexing a second heat sink during placement to conform to a surface of the second TPC, wherein the second heat sink is thermally conductive and electrically non-conductive;
- applying inductive heat to the weld interface area between the first TPC and the second TPC;
- drawing off heat via the heat sink from the surface of the first TPC;
- and
- wherein the heat sink includes fluid channels disposed within the flexible joints, and further comprising pumping a coolant through the fluid channels.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.