Template for arranging spacers on a preform and method of densifying a preform including the use of spacers positioned by a template
AssigneeHoneywell International Inc.
InventorsAlan Arico, David Parker, Akshay Waghray
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A template (10) configured for use with an annular preform (26) having a periphery (32) and an inner opening (34), the template (10) having an annular body with an outer periphery (16) and an inner opening (18) and a plurality of spacer openings (12) through its body each for receiving a spacer (25), one of the template inner opening (18) and the template outer periphery (16) having a width equal to the width of the preform inner opening (34) or the preform outer periphery (32). Also a method for densifying preforms that includes a step of positioning spacers using a template.
Claims17
A method of densifying a preform comprising the steps of:
- providing a plurality of preforms and a plurality of spacers;
- placing a first one of the plurality of preforms on a support;
- placing a template having a plurality of spacer openings on the first one of the plurality of preforms;
- placing spacers in at least some of the plurality of spacer openings in the template on the first one of the plurality of preforms;
- removing the template from the first one of the plurality of preforms while leaving spacers supported by the first one of the plurality of preforms;
- placing a second one of the plurality of preforms on the spacers supported by the first one of the plurality of preforms;
- placing the preforms and spacers in a furnace;
- and
- supplying heat and process gases to the furnace.
A template configured for use with an annular preform having a periphery and an inner opening, said template comprising an annular body having an outer periphery and an inner opening and a plurality of spacer openings through said body each for receiving a spacer, one of said template inner opening and said template outer periphery having a width equal to the width of the preform inner opening or the preform outer periphery.
A template configured for use with a first set of annular preforms having a first width and an inner opening having a second width and with a second set of annular preforms having a third width greater than said first width and an inner opening having a fourth width greater than said second width,
- said template comprising an annular body having an outer periphery having a fifth width and an inner opening having a sixth width and a plurality of spacer openings through said body each for receiving a spacer, and
- the template fifth width being approximately equal to the third width and the template sixth width being approximately equal to the second width;
- whereby the template is alignable with a portion of either the first or second preform.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.