Heating apparatus for a composite laminator and method
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsSpencer G. Nelson, Robert A. Kisch, Peter Vogeli, Richard Calawa
Life of this patent
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Abstract
To fabricate a composite item, an infrared heat source is energized and a composite material is dispensed. The composite material includes a reinforcement and a resin. In addition, the composite material is applied to a substrate of previously applied composite material. The infrared heat source is configured to emit a wavelength of electromagnetic radiation that is absorbed by the resin to a relatively greater extent than the wavelength of electromagnetic radiation is absorbed by the reinforcement.
Claims37
A method of fabricating a composite item, the method comprising:
- energizing an infrared heat source;
- dispensing a composite material, the composite material comprising:
- a reinforcement;
- and
- a resin;
- and
- applying the composite material to a substrate of previously applied composite material, wherein the infrared heat source is configured to emit a wavelength of electromagnetic radiation that is absorbed by the resin to a relatively greater extent than the wavelength of electromagnetic radiation is absorbed by the reinforcement.
A method of fabricating a composite item, the method comprising:
- energizing an infrared heat source, the infrared heat source comprising a broadband black-body emitter;
- dispensing a composite material, the composite material comprising:
- a reinforcement;
- and
- a resin;
- and
- applying the composite material to a substrate of previously applied composite material, wherein the infrared heat source is configured to emit a set of wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation that is absorbed by the resin.
An apparatus for fabricating an aircraft component, the apparatus comprising:
- a composite material laminator to apply a composite material on a substrate of previously applied composite material, the composite material comprising a reinforcement and a resin;
- and
- an infrared heat source to selectively emit a wavelength of electromagnetic radiation that is absorbed by the resin to a relatively greater extent than the wavelength of electromagnetic radiation is absorbed by the reinforcement.
An apparatus for fabricating a composite item, the apparatus comprising:
- means for energizing an infrared heat source;
- means for dispensing a composite material, the composite material comprising:
- a reinforcement;
- and
- a resin;
- and
- means for applying the composite material to a substrate of previously applied composite material, wherein the infrared heat source is configured to emit a wavelength of electromagnetic radiation that is absorbed by the resin to a relatively greater extent than the wavelength of electromagnetic radiation is absorbed by the reinforcement.
An apparatus of fabricating a composite item, the apparatus comprising:
- means for energizing an infrared heat source comprising a broadband black-body emitter;
- means for dispensing a composite material, the composite material comprising:
- a reinforcement;
- and
- a resin;
- and
- means for applying the composite material to a substrate of previously applied composite material, wherein the infrared heat source is configured to emit a set of wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation that is absorbed by the resin.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.