Reinforced composites formed using induction thermoplastic welding

Abstract

We form welded reinforced composites by heating a susceptor along the bond line with a time-varying magnetic field produced with a moving induction coil. To obtain more uniform heating across the susceptor when welding composite parts using induction heating, edge regions of lower absolute impedance or a lower longitudinal impedance than the transverse impedance counterbalance the higher current density and current that occurs near the edges. The susceptor has lower impedance at the edges by altering the aspect ratio (length/width) of openings in the susceptor, by folding the susceptor over onto itself, or both. Uniform heating is important to obtaining a uniform, consistent weld on which aerospace designers can rely.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.