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US 8,911,584 B2Granted
Integral double bag for vacuum bagging a composite part and method of using the same
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorRichard L. Kulesha
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Composite parts such as plastic laminates are formed using a pre-assembled, integral double bag to vacuum bag the part. The double bag is formed of two sheets of bag material that are cut to pre-determined width dimensions, with the width of one sheet being less than that of the other. The bag sheets are prealigned and then attached to each other by spaced apart bonds between the sheets which hold the bag sheets in registered relationship to each other when the double bag is placed over the part and sealed to a tool base. The attachment bonds may be formed by ultrasonic welding, heat sealing or an adhesive.
Claims22
A method of vacuum bagging a composite part with a double bag, comprising the steps of:
- forming a first flexible material having a width;
- forming a second flexible sheet material having a width less than the width of the first material, the first flexible material and the second flexible sheet material configured to substantially hold a vacuum during vacuum bagging;
- pre-aligning the first and second materials relative to each other, the first flexible material and the second flexible material aligned so as to form outer edges;
- attaching the first and second materials together at a plurality of spaced apart locations, the spaced apart locations positioned substantially at a central region of the first and second materials, the central region spaced inwardly from the outer edges of the first and second materials, the attaching at the plurality of spaced apart locations configured so as to allow air to flow between the first flexible material and the second flexible material to enable vacuum bagging;
- sealing the first flexible material to a tool, the composite part positioned on the tool;
- and
- sealing the second flexible material to the tool, the width of the first flexible material and the width of the second flexible material configured so as to cover the composite part during the sealing.
4 more elements
A method of vacuum bagging a composite part with a double bag, comprising the steps of:
- positioning a first piece of flexible material and a second piece of flexible material relative to each other, the first piece of flexible material and the second piece of flexible material configured to substantially hold a vacuum when the first piece of flexible material and the second piece of flexible material are sealed to a tool;
- and
- attaching the first piece of flexible material to the second piece of flexible material at a plurality of bonds, the plurality of bonds substantially aligned along a common centerline between the first piece of flexible material and the second piece of flexible material, the plurality of bonds positioned so as to allow air to flow between the first piece of flexible material and the second piece of flexible material sufficiently to enable the vacuum bagging operation;
- sealing the first piece of flexible material to the tool, the composite part positioned on the tool;
- and
- sealing the second piece of flexible material to the tool, the width of the first flexible material and the width of the second flexible material configured so as to cover the composite part.
3 more elements
A method of vacuum bagging a composite part on a tool with a double bag, comprising the steps of:
- unrolling a first piece of flexible material from a first roll;
- unrolling a second piece of flexible material from a second roll, a width of the first piece of flexible material less than a width of the second piece of flexible material, the first roll and the second roll aligned such that the first piece of flexible material and the second piece of second material are aligned on a common centerline;
- feeding the first piece of flexible material and the second piece of flexible material through a pair of rollers so as to bring together the first piece of flexible material and the second piece of flexible material;
- feeding the first piece of flexible material and the second piece of flexible material through a bonding machine to form a number of bonds between the first piece of flexible material and the second piece of flexible material;
- cutting the first piece of flexible material and the second piece of flexible material to a length so as to form the double bag;
- and
- attaching the first piece of flexible material to the second piece of flexible material at a plurality of bonds, the plurality of bonds substantially aligned along a common centerline between the first piece of flexible material and the second piece of flexible material, and the number of bonds positioned so as to allow air to flow between the first piece of flexible material and the second piece of flexible material sufficiently to enable the vacuum bagging operation;
- sealing the first piece of flexible material to the tool, the composite part positioned on the tool;
- and
- sealing the second piece flexible material to the tool, the width of the first flexible material and the width of the second flexible material configured so as to cover the composite part, the first piece of flexible material and the second piece of flexible material configured to substantially hold a vacuum when the first piece of flexible material and the second piece of flexible material are sealed to a tool.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.