Back to results
US 5,710,414 AGranted
Internal tooling for induction heating
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsMarc R. Matsen, Allan R. Hodges
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
If internal support is required to keep thermoplastic parts from sagging during thermoplastic welding, silicone rubber bladder inflated to fill the space between the prefabricated composite parts, such as wingskins and spaced spars, provides positive reaction pressure. To protect the bladder we cover the sharp edges at the interface of the parts with foam or silicone rubber pads.
Claims7
A method for counteracting sagging during thermoplastic welding of prefabricated, thermoplastic resin composite parts having internal hollow spaces accessible before and after welding, comprising the steps of:
- (a) positioning an inflatable bladder in the hollow spaces when assembling a preform of the parts and susceptors, the preform being positioned in a die set;
- (b) applying heat and pressure to the preform;
- (c) inflating the bladder to substantially fill the hollow spaces and to provide a reaction force to counter sagging of the parts;
- (d) welding the parts together to form welds on bondlines containing the susceptors while maintaining pressure on the bondlines from the die set and the reaction force by heating the susceptors to melt thermoplastic resin at the bondlines;
- (e) deflating the bladder after completing the welds;
- and
- (f) extracting the bladder.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.