Apparatus and method for processing a composite structure

An apparatus for processing a composite structure, the apparatus comprising:

• a mandrel comprising a tooling surface, configured to support a composite layup, and a pair of seal grooves, formed in the tooling surface;
• a vacuum-bag assembly configured to be placed over the mandrel and comprising:
• a caul, comprising a perimeter edge;
• vacuum bagging, extending from the perimeter edge of the caul and comprising a bagging surface;
• and
• a pair of seals coupled to an edge portion of the vacuum-bag assembly, formed by the vacuum bagging extending from at least a portion of the perimeter edge of the caul;
• and
• a vacuum channel formed in at least one of the tooling surface of the mandrel and the bagging surface of the vacuum bagging,
• wherein:
• a vacuum seal is formed between the vacuum bagging and the mandrel along the vacuum channel when the vacuum bagging is placed over the mandrel and a vacuum is applied to the vacuum channel;
• the mandrel, the vacuum-bag assembly, and the vacuum seal form a sealed vacuum chamber that encloses a composite layup;
• the pair of seal grooves is located alongside the vacuum channel such that the vacuum channel is located between the pair of seal grooves;
• the pair of seals is configured to be received within the pair of seal grooves when the edge portion of the vacuum-bag assembly is draped over the tooling surface of the mandrel;
• and
• the pair of seals is sealed with the pair of seal grooves in response to the vacuum applied to the vacuum channel.

A mandrel for processing a composite structure, the mandrel comprising:

• a tooling surface on which a composite layup is configured to be supported;
• a mandrel vacuum channel formed in the tooling surface;
• a pair of seal grooves formed in the tooling surface and located alongside the mandrel vacuum channel such that the mandrel vacuum channel is located between the pair of seal grooves,
• wherein:
• a vacuum seal is formed between the tooling surface and an edge portion of a vacuum-bag assembly, placed over the composite layup and the mandrel, in response to a vacuum applied to the mandrel vacuum channel;
• the pair of seal grooves received a pair of seals, coupled to the edge portion of the vacuum-bag assembly, when the edge portion of the vacuum-bag assembly is draped over the tooling surface of the mandrel;
• the pair of seal grooves is sealed with the pair of seals in response to the vacuum applied to the vacuum channel;
• and
• a sealed vacuum chamber that encloses the composite layup is formed by the mandrel, the vacuum-bag assembly, and the vacuum seal.

An apparatus for processing a composite structure, the apparatus comprising:

• a mandrel comprising a tooling surface, configured to support a composite layup;
• a vacuum-bag assembly configured to be placed over the mandrel and comprising:
• a caul, comprising a perimeter edge;
• and
• vacuum bagging, extending from the perimeter edge of the caul and comprising a bagging surface;
• a vacuum channel formed in at least one of the tooling surface of the mandrel and the bagging surface of the vacuum bagging;
• a second caul coupled to the vacuum bagging and comprising a coupling surface;
• an extension portion that is formed from the vacuum bagging extending from a portion of the perimeter edge of the caul;
• and
• a second vacuum channel formed in at least one of the coupling surface of the second caul and the bagging surface of the extension portion of the vacuum-bag assembly;
• wherein:
• a vacuum seal is formed between the vacuum bagging and the mandrel along the vacuum channel when the vacuum bagging is placed over the mandrel and a vacuum is applied to the vacuum channel;
• the mandrel, the vacuum-bag assembly, and the vacuum seal form a sealed vacuum chamber that encloses a composite layup;
• and
• the extension portion of the of the vacuum-bag assembly is configured to be draped over a portion of the second caul and to be sealed to the second caul along the second vacuum channel in response to a vacuum applied to the second vacuum channel.