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US 12,059,823 B2Granted
Tooling element and methods for forming and using same
AssigneeRohr, Inc.
InventorsBryan Thai, Joseph R. Lemanski
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tooling element includes a flexible sleeve defining an interior cavity. The flexible sleeve includes a sealable access port extending through the flexible sleeve from the interior cavity to an exterior of the flexible sleeve. The tooling element further includes vacuum-packed tooling particulate disposed within and filling the interior cavity of the flexible sleeve.
Claims14
A tooling element comprising:
- a flexible sleeve defining an interior cavity, the flexible sleeve comprising a sealable access port extending through the flexible sleeve from the interior cavity to an exterior of the flexible sleeve, the flexible sleeve further comprising a tooling face and a rigid support sheet, the tooling face forming an exterior surface of the flexible sleeve, the rigid support sheet disposed within the interior cavity and in contact with the flexible sleeve to support the tooling face of the flexible sleeve;
- and
- vacuum-packed tooling particulate disposed within and filling the interior cavity of the flexible sleeve, the vacuum-packed tooling particulate forming a rigid tooling structure of the tooling element.
A tooling element comprising:
- a flexible sleeve defining an interior cavity, the flexible sleeve comprising a sealable access port extending through the flexible sleeve from the interior cavity to an exterior of the flexible sleeve, the flexible sleeve further comprising a tooling face and a rigid support sheet, the tooling face forming an exterior surface of the flexible sleeve, the rigid support sheet in contact with the flexible sleeve to support the tooling face of the flexible sleeve, the rigid support sheet imbedded within the flexible sleeve along all or a portion of the tool face;
- and
- vacuum-packed tooling particulate disposed within and filling the interior cavity of the flexible sleeve.
A method for forming a tooling element, the method comprising:
- providing a flexible sleeve defining an interior cavity, the flexible sleeve comprising a tooling face forming an exterior surface of the flexible sleeve;
- inserting a rigid support sheet into the interior cavity of the flexible sleeve, in contact with the flexible sleeve, to support the tooling face of the flexible sleeve;
- packing the flexible sleeve with tooling particulate, subsequent to inserting the rigid support sheet, by inserting the tooling particulate into the interior cavity of the flexible sleeve through a sealable access port;
- and
- removing air from the interior cavity of the flexible sleeve through the sealable access port to form the tooling element as a rigid tooling structure.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.