Mold with thermally conductive flanges
AssigneeTPI Composites, Inc.
InventorsJim Hannan, Andrew McDonald
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A mold for forming a flange of a wind turbine blade comprising a first flange portion including a plurality of lamina and having a generally planar shape and a second perpendicular flange including a plurality of lamina. A plurality of copper wires are disposed within the lamina for conducting heat delivered from a base portion through the first and second flange portions. The mold is free of fluid conduits with the flange portions moveable relative to the base portion.
Claims18
A method of forming a portion of a wind turbine blade within a blade mold comprising:
- providing a removable mold having a first laterally extending flange portion, the first laterally extending portion including a plurality of laminae and having a generally planar shape;
- providing a second vertically extending flange portion including a plurality of laminae, the second vertically extending flange portion having a generally planar shape and connected to the first laterally extending flange portion;
- wherein a thermal conductor is disposed within at least a portion of the second vertically extending flange portion;
- positioning the removable mold above a base portion of the blade mold, the base portion of the blade mold having a heating element disposed therein;
- activating the heating element in the base portion of the blade mold;
- transferring heat from the heating element through the first laterally extending flange portion and the second vertically extending flange portion, wherein the second vertically extending flange portion is disposed at a leading edge of the base portion of the blade mold;
- and
- placing a composite material in contact with at least one of the base portion of the blade mold and the second vertically extending flange portion;
- and
- removing the removable mold from the blade mold.
A method of forming a portion of a wind turbine blade within a blade mold, the method comprising:
- providing a removable mold having a first laterally extending flange portion, the first laterally extending portion including a plurality of laminae and having a generally planar shape;
- providing a second vertically extending flange portion including a plurality of laminae, the second vertically extending flange portion having a generally planar shape and connected to the first laterally extending flange portion;
- wherein a thermal conductor is disposed within at least a portion of the second vertically extending flange portion;
- positioning the removable mold above a base portion of the blade mold;
- applying a current to the thermal conductor;
- transferring heat through the first laterally extending flange portion and the second vertically extending flange portion, wherein the second vertically extending flange portion is disposed at a leading edge of the base portion of the blade mold;
- and
- placing a composite material in contact with at least one of the first horizontally extending flange portion and the second vertically extending flange portion;
- and
- removing the removable mold from the blade mold.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.