Heating apparatus for composite structure repair

Apparatus for applying heat at temperatures above 300.degree. F. to a repair site comprising:

• a pliable sealed bladder impermeable to beeswax in contact with said repair site;
• a thermally-conductive fluid comprising beeswax in said bladder;
• an electrical heater inside said bladder and in thermal contact with said thermally-conductive fluid for heating said thermally-conductive fluid to temperatures above 300.degree. F., said electrical heater being substantially uniformly disposed within said bladder to permit circulation of the thermally-conductive fluid around said electrical heater;
• and
• said heated thermally-conductive fluid maintains said repair site at substantially even temperatures by conduction and convection within said thermally-conductive fluid.

Apparatus for applying heat at temperatures above 300.degree. F. to a repair site comprising:

• a pliable sealed bladder comprised of silicone rubber in contact with said repair site;
• a thermally-conductive fluid in said bladder;
• an electrical heater inside said bladder and in thermal contact with said thermally-conductive fluid for heating said thermally-conductive fluid to temperatures above 300.degree. F., said electrical heater being substantially uniformly disposed within said bladder to permit circulation of the thermally-conductive fluid around said electrical heater;
• said heated thermally-conductive fluid maintains said repair site at substantially even temperatures by conduction and convection within said thermally-conductive fluid;
• and
• said thermally-conductive fluid is comprised of beeswax sealed in a container fabricated from a flexible, beeswax impermeable material.

Apparatus for applying heat at temperatures above 300.degree. F. to a repair site comprising:

• a pliable sealed bladder in contact with said repair site;
• a thermally-conductive fluid sealed within a flexible container fabricated from a material which is impermeable to said thermally-conductive fluid, said flexible container being disposed within said bladder;
• and
• an electrical heater inside said bladder and in thermal contact with said thermally-conductive fluid;
• said electrical heater comprising a first heating means and a second heating means disposed within said bladder such that said first heating means is disposed between a first surface of said thermally-conductive fluid container and a first inner surface of said bladder, and said second heating means is in thermal contact with a second surface of said thermally-conductive fluid container, opposite said first surface of said thermally-conductive fluid container.