Systems and Methods for Applying Vacuum Pressure to Composite Parts
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsMichael K. Louie, Kenneth M. Dull, Gagandeep Saini
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vacuum probe comprises a sharpened body that is displaceable downward and toward a vacuum bag during vacuum hose quick connection. The sharpened body and a valve element inside the vacuum probe move in tandem until the sharpened body projects outside the vacuum probe. A vacuum pressure applied via the vacuum hose pulls the vacuum bag upwards and towards the projecting sharpened body, which then punctures the vacuum bag, thereby enabling air under the vacuum bag to be evacuated via the vacuum probe as vacuum pressure continues to be applied.
Claims23
A method for applying vacuum pressure to a composite part, comprising:
- (a) placing a composite part on a tool;
- (b) placing a sealant tape on the tool along a perimeter that surrounds the composite part;
- (c) laying a vacuum bag over the composite part and in contact with the sealant tape;
- (d) placing a vacuum probe overlying a portion of the vacuum bag with sealing material disposed between the vacuum probe and the vacuum bag, the vacuum probe comprising a sharpened body;
- (e) coupling a vacuum hose to an end of the vacuum probe in a manner that causes a valve element to separate from a valve seat inside a vacuum channel of the vacuum probe;
- and
- (f) applying a vacuum pressure inside the vacuum channel by way of the vacuum hose, as a result of which a portion of the vacuum bag surrounded by the sealing material is pulled toward and punctured by the sharpened body.
A vacuum probe comprising:
- a vacuum channel having an axis and first and second openings at opposite ends thereof;
- and
- a sharpened body that points away from the first opening of the vacuum channel and projects outside of the vacuum channel in a vicinity of the second opening of the vacuum channel.
A system for applying vacuum pressure to a composite part, comprising:
- a tool that supports a composite part;
- a vacuum bag overlying the composite part supported by the tool;
- a flexible sealant tape that seals the vacuum bag to the tool along a perimeter that surrounds the composite part;
- sealing material on an exterior surface of the vacuum bag within the perimeter and separated from the composite part;
- a vacuum probe on top of the sealing material, wherein the vacuum probe comprises a vacuum channel having an axis and first and second openings at opposite ends thereof, a valve seat surrounding the first opening, a valve element that is axially displaceable in the vacuum channel between a first axial position in contact with the valve seat and a second axial position separated from the valve seat, and a sharpened body that points away from the first opening of the vacuum channel and projects outside of the vacuum channel in a vicinity of the second opening of the vacuum channel;
- and
- a vacuum hose coupled to an end of the vacuum probe in a manner that causes the valve element to axially displace from the first axial position to the second axial position during coupling.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.