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US 12,594,696 B2Granted
Curing composites out-of-autoclave using induction heating with smart susceptors
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsMarc R. Matsen, John F. Spalding
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods and an induction curing system for curing a composite panel. The induction curing system comprises; a rigid curing tool configured to hold a composite material; a vacuum bagging material sealed to the rigid curing tool; and a dimensional control structure having a lattice and an open casing formed of a rigid material, the lattice positioned within a concavity of the open casing, the dimensional control structure sealed to at least one of the vacuum bagging material or the rigid curing tool.
Claims21
An induction curing system configured to cure a composite panel, wherein the induction curing system comprises:
- a rigid curing tool configured to hold a composite material;
- a vacuum bagging material sealed to the rigid curing tool such that a first vacuum zone is formed between the vacuum bagging material and the rigid curing tool;
- and
- a dimensional control structure, located outside of the vacuum bagging material and the first vacuum zone, that comprises a lattice attached to three linear surfaces within an open casing formed of a rigid material, the lattice positioned within a concavity of the open casing, wherein the open casing comprises extensions connected to seals connected to at least one of the vacuum bagging material or the rigid curing tool such that a second vacuum zone is formed between the vacuum bagging material and the open casing.
1 more element
A method of curing a composite material, the method comprising:
- providing an induction curing system comprising:
- a rigid curing tool configured to hold the composite material;
- a vacuum bagging material sealed to the rigid curing tool such that a first vacuum zone is formed between the vacuum bagging material and the rigid curing tool;
- and
- a dimensional control structure, located outside of the vacuum bagging material and the first vacuum zone, that comprises a lattice attached to three linear surfaces within an open casing formed of a rigid material, the lattice positioned within a concavity of the open casing, wherein the open casing comprises extensions connected to seals connected to at least one of the vacuum bagging material or the rigid curing tool such that a second vacuum zone is formed between the vacuum bagging material and the open casing;
- pulling a vacuum in the first vacuum zone between the vacuum bagging material and the rigid curing tool while the composite material is on the rigid curing tool;
- pulling a vacuum in the a second vacuum zone between the vacuum bagging material and the open casing while the first vacuum zone is under vacuum removing volatiles and gases from the composite material on the rigid curing tool;
- at least partially releasing the vacuum in the second vacuum zone;
- and
- lowering the dimensional control structure towards the composite material until the lattice is positioned maintaining dimensions of the composite material using the lattice.
7 more elements
A method of curing a composite material, the method comprising:
- providing an induction curing system comprising:
- a rigid curing tool configured to hold the composite material;
- a vacuum bagging material sealed to the rigid curing tool such that a first vacuum zone is formed between the vacuum bagging material and the rigid curing tool;
- and
- a dimensional control structure, located outside of the vacuum bagging material and the first vacuum zone, that comprises a lattice attached to three linear surfaces within an open casing formed of a rigid material, the lattice positioned within a concavity of the open casing, wherein the open casing comprises extensions connected to seals connected to at least one of the vacuum bagging material or the rigid curing tool such that a second vacuum zone is formed between the vacuum bagging material and the open casing;
- performing double vacuum debulk on the composite material using the dimensional control structure, the vacuum bagging material, and the rigid curing tool, the composite material positioned between the vacuum bagging material and the rigid curing tool;
- and
- lowering the dimensional control structure towards the composite material until the lattice of the dimensional control structure is positioned maintaining dimensions of the composite material using the lattice;
- and
- curing the composite material while the lattice of the dimensional control structure is positioned maintaining the dimensions of the composite material.
7 more elements
A method of debulking a composite material, the method comprising:
- providing an induction curing system comprising:
- a rigid curing tool configured to hold the composite material;
- a vacuum bagging material sealed to the rigid curing tool such that a first vacuum zone is formed between the vacuum bagging material and the rigid curing tool;
- and
- a dimensional control structure, located outside of the vacuum bagging material and the first vacuum zone, that comprises a lattice attached to three linear surfaces within an open casing formed of a rigid material, the lattice positioned within a concavity of the open casing, wherein the open casing comprises extensions connected to seals connected to at least one of the vacuum bagging material or the rigid curing tool such that a second vacuum zone is formed between the vacuum bagging material and the open casing;
- sealing the vacuum bagging material to the rigid curing tool while the composite material is present on the rigid curing tool;
- and
- sealing the dimensional control structure to at least one of the vacuum bagging material or the rigid curing tool.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.