Induction Heating Augmentation for Thermal Curing
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsMarc Rollo Matsen, Robert James Miller, Brian W. Smith, Geoffrey Allen Butler, Karl Marius Nelson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The thermal cycle time for curing a thermoset composite part in an autoclave is reduced by placing a heating blanket in proximity to an area of the composite part that is slow-to-heat, and inductively heating the area of the composite part that is slow-to-heat using the heating blanket.
Claims20
A method of curing a thermoset resin part, comprising:
- placing an assembly of a thermoset resin part and a cure tool inside an autoclave;
- placing a heating blanket in proximity to an area of the assembly that is normally slow-to-heat during a thermal cure cycle;
- using the autoclave to heat the assembly;
- and,
- using heating blanket to heat the area of the assembly that is slow-to-heat.
A method of reducing the thermal cycle time required for heating a composite part in heating chamber, comprising:
- placing a heating blanket in proximity to an area of the composite part that is slow-to-heat;
- and
- inductively heating the area of the composite part that is slow-to-heat using the heating blanket.
A method of heating a composite part having areas of differing thermal mass or differing thermal insulation characteristics, comprising:
- placing the composite part on a cure tool;
- placing the cure tool and composite part in an autoclave;
- using the autoclave to apply external heat to the tool and the composite part;
- and,
- augmenting the heat supplied to an area of the composite part having high mass or thermal insulation characteristic by inductively heating the area.
Apparatus for thermally curing a thermoset part on a tool, comprising:
- an autoclave adapted to have the combination of the tool and the thermoset part placed therein, the autoclave including a heating element adapted to provide heat to the combination of the tool and the thermoset part;
- and,
- at least one heating blanket in the autoclave for generating heat in a local area of the combination of the tool and the thermoset part.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.