Material support systems, material support structures, and related methods
AssigneeNorthrop Grumman Systems Corporation
InventorsDavid R. Machac, Joel L. Robison, Mary A. White
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A core support system includes a support structure. The support structure includes a frame and a support member having a saturatable engagement layer disposed over the frame. A method of machining a core material incudes applying a fluid to an engagement layer of a support structure and saturating the engagement layer with the fluid, disposing a core material on the engagement layer, causing the fluid to freeze to secure to the core material to the support structure, machining the core material, melting the frozen fluid to release the core material from the support structure, and removing the core material from the engagement layer.
Claims21
A core support system, comprising a support structure, the support structure comprising:
- an insulating frame defining a recess;
- a thermally conductive insert disposed within the recess of the insulating frame and comprising:
- a coil recess formed in an upper surface of the thermally conductive insert;
- and
- an upper surface including a non-planar portion with raised portions that are raised relative to other portions of the upper surface;
- at least one coil disposed in the coil recess of the thermally conductive insert;
- and
- a saturatable engagement layer disposed over the thermally conductive insert, the saturatable engagement layer including a flexible material configured to conform to contours of the upper surface of the thermally conductive insert.
A core support system, comprising:
- a support structure comprising:
- an insulating frame defining a recess and at least partially defining one or more compartments, each of the one or more compartments comprising a spring loaded plate assembly;
- a thermally conductive insert disposed within the recess of the insulating frame and comprising:
- a coil recess formed in an upper surface of the thermally conductive insert;
- and
- an upper surface including a non-planar portion with raised portions that are raised relative to other portions of the upper surface;
- at least one coil disposed in the coil recess of the thermally conductive insert;
- and
- a saturatable engagement layer disposed over the thermally conductive insert, the saturatable engagement layer including a flexible material configured to conform to contours of the upper surface of the thermally conductive insert;
- and
- a support member disposed over the one or more compartments, the support member comprising:
- a support layer;
- and
- a saturatable engagement layer disposed over the support layer.
A core support system, comprising:
- a support structure comprising:
- an insulating frame defining a recess and one or more compartments, each of the one or more compartments comprising an elongated channel;
- a thermally conductive insert disposed within the recess of the insulating frame and comprising:
- a coil recess formed in an upper surface of the thermally conductive insert;
- and
- an upper surface including a non-planar portion with raised portions that are raised relative to other portions of the upper surface;
- at least one coil disposed in the coil recess of the thermally conductive insert;
- and
- a saturatable engagement layer disposed over the thermally conductive insert, the saturatable engagement layer including a flexible material configured to conform to contours of the upper surface of the thermally conductive insert;
- and
- a support member disposed over the one or more compartments, the support member comprising:
- a support layer;
- and
- a saturatable engagement layer disposed over the support layer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.