Low volume autoclave having configurable shape
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsSergey Barmichev, Kevin Matthew Retz
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An autoclave may be reconfigured to accommodate differently shaped parts by relatively rotating portions of the autoclave.
Claims25
An autoclave, comprising:
- a pressure vessel with a first portion and a second portion, the first portion having a first end which is sealed and a second end, and the second portion having a third end which is sealed and a fourth end;
- and
- a circumferential joint connecting the second end of the first portion and the fourth end of the second portion, the first and second portions defining an interior configured for accepting a part, the circumferential joint being configured to create an angle between the first and second portions and further creating a cavity with a seal, the cavity facilitating an insertion of the part into the interior, and the seal enabling pressurization of the interior, the circumferential joint allows the autoclave to rotationally unlock while a portion of the second end and the fourth end remain connected.
A low volume autoclave, comprising:
- a pressure vessel having a joint between a first portion with a first longitudinal axis and a second portion with a second longitudinal axis, the first portion and the second portion each defining a portion of an internal cavity for accepting a part, the joint creating an angle between the first longitudinal axis of the first portion and the second longitudinal axis of the second portion, the joint having a seal to facilitate increased pressure and heat within the pressure vessel when the pressure vessel is configured in a closed position, the joint is configured to allow the autoclave to rotationally unlock while a portion of the first portion and the second portion remain connected;
- and
- a transport system for movably opening and closing the pressure vessel by separating the first portion from the second portion at the joint, the transport system configured to insert and remove the part from the internal cavity.
An autoclave for processing differently shaped, elongate parts, comprising:
- a first portion;
- a second portion axially rotatable relative to the first portion;
- a locking mechanism for locking the first and second portions together in any of a plurality of axial rotational positions;
- and
- a joint connecting the first portion and the second portion, the joint configured to allow the autoclave to rotationally unlock while a portion of the first portion and the second portion remain connected, and expose an interior of the autoclave for insertion of the part into the interior of the autoclave via the joint.
An autoclave having a configurable internal volume for processing any of a plurality of differently shaped parts, comprising:
- a plurality of portions respectively having differing internal volume shapes;
- and
- corresponding joints between at least certain adjacent portions of the plurality of portions, the corresponding joints each configured to allow the certain adjacent portions to rotate relative to each other, the joint allows the autoclave to rotationally unlock while the adjacent portions remain connected.
A pressure vessel comprising two or more mating sections, the two or more mating sections comprising corresponding section envelopes, the corresponding section envelopes having corresponding surfaces of rotation around corresponding geometric axes of rotation, wherein a given axis of rotation for a given pair of adjacent section envelopes meets at a given angle, the given angle being between about 90 degrees and about 180 degrees, wherein the two or more mating sections each terminate geometrically to corresponding circular contours, the corresponding circular contours comprising corresponding mating borders for adjacent mating sections, wherein the corresponding circular contours lay in corresponding planes that form corresponding substantially equal angles with the corresponding geometric axes of rotation for ones of adjacent mating sections, and wherein the corresponding circular contours comprise corresponding locking mechanisms that are each configured to rotationally lock and unlock with each other.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.