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US 8,505,361 B2Granted
Leak detection in vacuum bags
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsFinley B. Miller, Michael E. Benne
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Air leaks in a vacuum bag are detected using a leak detection film covering the inside face of the bag. The film includes a gas permeable binder carrying oxygen sensitive material that changes in physical appearance at the location of an air leak. The film may be adhered to the inside face of the bag or may form a separate membrane that is placed over a layup being molded in the bag. The film may be illuminated with light having a wavelength selected to cause the film to luminesce.
Claims23
A device, comprising:
- a vacuum bag;
- a film including oxygen sensitive material inside of and extending substantially entirely across the vacuum bag, the oxygen sensitive material changing in physical appearance at the general location of an air leak in the vacuum bag;
- a pre-form composite part disposed inside the vacuum bag;
- and
- a tool base on which the pre-form composite part is placed.
2 more elements
A device, comprising:
- a plurality of vacuum bags, wherein the plurality of vacuum bags comprises a first vacuum bag and a second vacuum bag, the second vacuum bag inside the first vacuum bag;
- a first film inside of and substantially coextensive with a first area of the first vacuum bag subjected to a vacuum, the first film including a first oxygen permeable binder and a first oxygen sensitive material held in the first oxygen permeable binder, the first oxygen sensitive material having at least one visual characteristic that changes in the presence of oxygen introduced into the first vacuum bag by a first air leak;
- a second film inside of and substantially coextensive with a second area of the second vacuum bag subjected to a vacuum, the second film including a second oxygen permeable binder and a second oxygen sensitive material held in the second oxygen permeable binder, the second oxygen sensitive material having at least one visual characteristic that changes in the presence of oxygen introduced into the second vacuum bag by a second air leak;
- a pre-form composite part disposed inside the second vacuum bag;
- and
- a tool base on which the pre-form rests.
3 more elements
A method comprising:
- placing a pre-form composite part on a tool base;
- placing a device over the pre-form composite part, wherein the device comprises a vacuum bag and a film including an oxygen sensitive material inside of and extending substantially entirely across the vacuum bag, and wherein the oxygen sensitive material is configured to change in physical appearance at a general location of an air leak in the vacuum bag;
- sealing the vacuum bag against air infiltration;
- drawing a vacuum in the vacuum bag;
- and
- detecting the air leak in the vacuum bag by detecting the location of a change in physical appearance of the film resulting from air entering the vacuum bag.
3 more elements
A device, comprising:
- a transparent vacuum bag;
- a seal located beneath the transparent vacuum bag;
- a film inside of the transparent vacuum bag and disposed adjacent the seal, the film including a gas permeable binder and a gas sensitive material held in the binder, the gas sensitive material having at least one visual characteristic that changes in the presence of gas entering the transparent vacuum bag through a leak in the seal;
- a pre-form composite part disposed inside the vacuum bag;
- and
- a tool base on which the pre-form composite part is placed.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.