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US 2017/0246815 A1Published application
Large scale smart susceptor heater blankets requiring multi zone control
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsJames M. Kestner, Marc R. Matsen, Scott D. Billings, John A. Mittleider, Robert J. Miller
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A processing apparatus such as a heating and/or debulking apparatus that may be used to debulk a plurality of uncured composite layers to form an article such as an aircraft component may include a plurality of interconnected smart susceptor heater blankets. The plurality of smart susceptor heater blankets may be connected in series or in parallel, and may be controlled to uniformly heat the component during formation.
Claims20
An apparatus for processing an article through the application of heat, comprising:
- a first smart susceptor heater blanket comprising a first wire ribbon, wherein:
- the first wire ribbon comprises a plurality of first wire assemblies;
- each first wire assembly is adjacent to at least one other first wire assembly;
- each first wire assembly comprises a litz wire and a susceptor wire wrapped around the litz wire to form a plurality of susceptor windings;
- the first wire ribbon serpentines across the first smart susceptor heater blanket;
- and
- the first wire ribbon is configured such that a current flow through each first wire assembly is in a direction opposite to a current flow through one or more adjacent first wire assemblies;
- and
- a second smart susceptor heater blanket comprising a second wire ribbon, wherein:
- the second wire ribbon comprises a plurality of second wire assemblies;
- each second wire assembly is adjacent to at least one other second wire assembly;
- each second wire assembly comprises a litz wire and a susceptor wire wrapped around the litz wire to form a plurality of susceptor windings;
- the second wire ribbon serpentines across the second smart susceptor heater blanket;
- and
- the second wire ribbon is configured such that a current flow through each second wire assembly is in a direction opposite to a current flow through one or more adjacent second wire assemblies,
- wherein one of the first wire assemblies of the first wire ribbon is positioned adjacent to one of the second wire assemblies in the second wire ribbon and is configured such that a flow of current therethrough is in direction that is opposite to a flow of current through the second wire assembly positioned adjacent thereto.
13 more elements
A method for processing an article through the application of heat, comprising:
- positioning a first smart susceptor heater blanket comprising a first wire ribbon adjacent to a second smart susceptor heater blanket comprising a second wire ribbon;
- placing a plurality of uncured composite plies in proximity to the first smart susceptor heater blanket and the second smart susceptor heater blanket;
- applying a current to a plurality of first wire assemblies of the first wire ribbon, wherein each first wire assembly is adjacent to at least one other first wire assembly, such that a current flow through each first wire assembly is in a direction that is opposite to a current flow through any adjacent first wire assembly;
- and
- applying a current to a plurality of second wire assemblies of the second wire ribbon such that a current flow through each second wire assembly is in a direction that is opposite to a current flow through any adjacent second wire assembly,
- wherein:
- each second wire assembly is adjacent to at least one other second wire assembly;
- and
- the positioning further comprises placing the first smart susceptor heater blanket adjacent to one of the second wire assemblies such that the current flow through the first wire assembly adjacent to the second wire assembly is in an direction that is opposite to the current flow through the adjacent second wire assembly.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.