Back to results
US 7,109,451 B2Granted
Consolidation device and method
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsRonald W. Brown, Wesley B. Crow, Marc R. Matsen, Stephen G. Moore, David S. Nansen, Charles W. Newquist, Juris Verzemnieks
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus and method for consolidating a composite workpiece are provided. The apparatus includes an electromagnetic field generator for inducing a current and thereby heating a susceptor in thermal communication with the workpiece. The workpiece is supported by one or more support tools, each of which transmits the electromagnetic field so that the support tools are not substantially heated by the electromagnetic field. Thus, the time and energy required for heating the workpiece are reduced relative to conventional consolidation techniques.
Claims22
An apparatus for consolidating a composite workpiece, the apparatus comprising:
- at least two consolidation rollers configured to form a nip therebetween for receiving the workpiece;
- at least two support tools configured to support the workpiece in the nip between the consolidation rollers;
- at least two susceptors disposed between the support tools such that each susceptor is in thermal communication with the workpiece;
- and
- an electromagnetic field generator configured to generate an electromagnetic field, thereby inducing an electrical current in the susceptor and heating the susceptor and the workpiece to a processing temperature at which the workpiece is adapted to be consolidated in the nip,
- wherein the support tools are substantially transparent to the electromagnetic field by being configured to substantially transmit the electromagnetic field therethrough, and wherein the support tools are configured to be received in a face-to-face opposing relationship between the consolidation rollers with the susceptors disposed between the support tools and the workpiece disposed between the susceptors such that each of the susceptors is disposed between one of the support tools and the workpiece.
3 more elements
An apparatus for consolidating a composite workpiece, the apparatus comprising:
- at least two consolidation rollers configured to form a nip therebetween for receiving the workpiece;
- at least one support tool configured to support the workpiece in the nip between the consolidation rollers;
- at least one susceptor disposed between the workpiece and at least one of the support tools such that the susceptor is in thermal communication with the workpiece;
- and
- an electromagnetic field generator configured to generate an electromagnetic field, thereby inducing an electrical current in the susceptor and heating the susceptor and the workpiece to a processing temperature at which the workpiece is adapted to be consolidated in the nip,
- wherein the support tool is substantially transparent to the electromagnetic field by being configured to substantially transmit the electromagnetic field therethrough and wherein the support tool has a plurality of members extending in a direction parallel to a direction of motion of the workpiece through the nip, each member being electrically conductive and coated with an insulative material to prevent electrical conduction between the members.
3 more elements
An apparatus for consolidating a composite workpiece, the apparatus comprising:
- at least two consolidation rollers configured to form a nip therebetween for receiving the workpiece;
- a plurality of support tools configured to support the workpiece in the nip between the consolidation rollers;
- at least one susceptor disposed between the workpiece and at least one of the support tools such that the susceptor is in thermal communication with the workpiece;
- and
- an electromagnetic field generator configured to generate an electromagnetic field, thereby inducing an electrical current in the susceptor and heating the susceptor and the workpiece to a processing temperature at which the workpiece is adapted to be consolidated in the nip,
- wherein each support tool is substantially transparent to the electromagnetic field by being configured to substantially transmit the electromagnetic field therethrough, and wherein at least two of the support tools are rotatably connected to form at least one support track.
3 more elements
An apparatus for consolidating a composite workpiece, the apparatus comprising:
- at least two consolidation rollers configured to form a nip therebetween for receiving the workpiece;
- at least one support tool configured to support the workpiece in the nip between the consolidation rollers;
- at least one susceptor disposed between the workpiece and at least one of the support tools such that the susceptor is in thermal communication with the workpiece, each susceptor being an endless sheet configured to extend through the nip;
- and
- an electromagnetic field generator configured to generate an electromagnetic field, thereby inducing an electrical current in the susceptor and heating the susceptor and the workpiece to a processing temperature at which the workpiece is adapted to be consolidated in the nip,
- wherein the support tool is substantially transparent to the electromagnetic field by being configured to substantially transmit the electromagnetic field therethrough.
3 more elements
An apparatus for consolidating a composite workpiece, the apparatus comprising:
- at least two consolidation rollers configured to form a nip therebetween for receiving the workpiece;
- at least one support tool configured to support the workpiece in the nip between the consolidation rollers;
- at least one susceptor disposed between the workpiece and at least one of the support tools such that the susceptor is in thermal communication with the workpiece;
- an electromagnetic field generator configured to generate an electromagnetic field, thereby inducing an electrical current in the susceptor and heating the susceptor and the workpiece to a processing temperature at which the workpiece is adapted to be consolidated in the nip;
- and
- at least one susceptor engagement track configured to urge at least two transverse edges of the susceptor into electrical contact at a location proximate to the electromagnetic field generator,
- wherein the support tool is substantially transparent to the electromagnetic field by being configured to substantially transmit the electromagnetic field therethrough.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.