Transparent pressure bladder
AssigneeBranson Ultrasonics Corporation
InventorsDavid Grewell, Donald C. Lovett
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An inflatable bladder system for applying generally uniform pressure to parts being welded to insure proper contact at the welding interface includes a first sheet that is generally transparent to electromagnetic radiation to allow such radiation to pass therethrough. This electromagnetic radiation serves to heat the parts to a temperature sufficient to create a weld. The inflatable bladder also includes a second sheet that is also generally transparent to electromagnetic radiation. The second sheet is coupled to the first sheet to create a sealed volume therebetween. Fluid is selectively introduced into the sealed volume in order to expand the bladder into engagement with the parts being welded to exert a generally uniform pressure thereon.
Claims28
An inflatable bladder system for applying generally uniform pressure to parts being welded, said inflatable bladder system comprising:
- a first sheet being generally transparent to electromagnetic radiation;
- a second sheet being generally transparent to electromagnetic radiation, said second sheet being coupled to said first sheet to create a sealed volume therebetween;
- and
- a fluid source having a fluid, said fluid source selectively introducing said fluid into said sealed volume, said fluid expanding said sealed volume such that said second sheet is engageable with the parts being welded to exert a generally uniform pressure thereon.
An apparatus for welding a zone between a first part and a second part, said apparatus comprising:
- a radiation source emitting electromagnetic radiation;
- and
- a bladder coupled to a fixture, said bladder being generally transparent to said electromagnetic radiation so as to generally unobstruct said electromagnetic radiation, said bladder being selectively inflatable so as to be engageable with at least one of the parts, applying a generally uniform pressure thereon during welding.
An apparatus for welding a first part and a second part, said apparatus comprising:
- a radiation source emitting electromagnetic radiation;
- a fixture capable of receiving the first part and the second part;
- a bladder being generally transparent to said electromagnetic radiation so as to generally unobstruct said electromagnetic radiation, said bladder including a first sheet and a second sheet coupled to said first sheet to create a sealed volume therebetween;
- a fluid source having a fluid;
- a pumping device positioned in fluid communication between said fluid source and said sealed volume for selectively pumping said fluid from said fluid source into said sealed volume, said fluid inflating said sealed volume such that said second sheet is engageable with at least one of the parts;
- and
- a controller operably coupled to said pumping device.
A method for applying a generally uniform pressure to a first part and a second part during a welding process, said method comprising:
- positioning an inflatable bladder adjacent to the first part;
- inflating said inflatable bladder so as to apply a generally uniform pressure upon the first part;
- and
- emitting a radiation from a radiation source, at least a part of said radiation transmitting through said inflatable bladder to at least one of the first part and the second part.
A method for applying a generally uniform pressure to a first part and a second part during a welding process, said method comprising:
- positioning an inflatable bladder adjacent to the first part;
- introducing a fluid into a sealed volume of said inflatable bladder so as to apply a generally uniform pressure upon the first part;
- emitting a radiation from a radiation source;
- and
- absorbing predetermined wavelengths of said radiation by said inflatable bladder, at least a part of said radiation transmitting through said inflatable bladder to at least one of the first part and second part.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.