Material support systems, material support structures, and related methods
AssigneeNorthrop Grumman Innovation Systems, Inc.
InventorsDavid R. Machac, Joel L. Robison, Mary A. White
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A core support system includes a support structure. The support structure includes a frame and a support member having a saturatable engagement layer disposed over the frame. A method of machining a core material includes applying a fluid to an engagement layer of a support structure and saturating the engagement layer with the fluid, disposing a core material on the engagement layer, causing the fluid to freeze to secure to the core material to the support structure, machining the core material, melting the frozen fluid to release the core material from the support structure, and removing the core material from the engagement layer.
Claims34
A material support system, comprising a thermally conductive member defining a support portion for receiving at least one material on the support portion, the support portion comprising an at least partially fluid-saturatable engagement layer disposed over the thermally conductive member, the thermally conductive member configured to remove heat energy from a fluid disposed on or within the at least partially fluid-saturatable engagement layer to reduce the temperature of the fluid to solidify the fluid and secure the at least one material to the support portion of the thermally conductive member.
A core support system, comprising a support structure, the support structure comprising:
- an insulating frame defining a recess;
- a thermally conductive insert disposed within the recess of the insulating frame and comprising a coil recess formed in an upper surface of the thermally conductive insert;
- at least one coil disposed in the coil recess of the thermally conductive insert;
- and
- a saturatable engagement layer disposed over the thermally conductive insert.
A method of machining a core material, the method comprising:
- applying a fluid to an engagement layer of a support structure and saturating at least a portion of the engagement layer with the fluid;
- disposing a core material on the engagement layer and causing the core material to engage at least a portion of the fluid;
- at least partially solidifying the fluid to secure to the core material to the support structure;
- machining the core material;
- returning the solidified fluid to a fluid state to release the core material from the support structure;
- and
- removing the core material from the engagement layer.
A core support system, comprising:
- a support structure comprising an insulating frame at least partially defining one or more compartments, each of the one or more compartments comprising a spring loaded plate assembly;
- and
- a support member disposed over the one or more compartments, the support member comprising:
- a support layer;
- and
- a saturatable engagement layer disposed over the support layer.
A core support system, comprising:
- a support structure comprising an insulating frame defining one or more compartments, each of the one or more compartments comprising an elongated channel;
- and
- a support member disposed over the one or more compartments, the support member comprising:
- a support layer;
- and
- a saturatable engagement layer disposed over the support layer.
A material support system, comprising:
- a thermally conductive member defining a support portion for receiving at least one material on the support portion, the support portion comprising an at least partially fluid-saturatable engagement surface disposed over the thermally conductive member;
- and
- at least one channel defined in the thermally conductive member, the at least one channel configured to hold a freezing substance, the thermally conductive member configured to remove heat energy from the fluid with the freezing substance to reduce the temperature of the fluid received by the at least partially saturatable engagement surface to solidify the fluid and secure the at least one material to the support portion of the thermally conductive member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.