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US 9,308,704 B2Granted
Elastomeric bladder system
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsCharles William Thomas, David Allen Hahs
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for and apparatus for forming a bladder system. A bladder with an open end is formed. The open end of the bladder is placed into an interior of a fitting. The open end of the bladder is connected to the interior of the fitting.
Claims15
A method for forming a bladder system, the method comprising:
- forming a bladder with an open end, such that a portion of the bladder at the open end of the bladder has a cross-section with an outer cross-sectional shape that decreases in size towards the open end of the bladder comprising:
- laying up a number of layers of uncured material into a shape for the bladder;
- and
- curing the number of layers of uncured material with the open end of the bladder located within an interior of a fitting;
- placing the open end of the bladder into the interior of the fitting such that the open end of the bladder extends to an end of the fitting;
- and
- bonding the bladder with the open end located within the interior of the fitting to the interior of the fitting so that an outer surface of the open end of the bladder is bonded to an interior surface of the fitting.
4 more elements
A method for forming a bladder system, the method comprising:
- forming a bladder with an open end;
- placing the open end of the bladder into an interior of a fitting such that the open end of the bladder extends to an end of the fitting;
- wherein the bladder is an elastomeric bladder configured to deform such that a portion of the bladder at the open end of the bladder substantially conforms to the interior of the fitting when placed into the interior of the fitting;
- and
- bonding the bladder with the open end located within the interior of the fitting to the interior of the fitting so that an outer surface of the open end of the bladder is bonded to an interior surface of the fitting.
2 more elements
A method for forming a bladder system, the method comprising:
- forming an elastomeric bladder having an open end such that a portion of the elastomeric bladder at the open end of the elastomeric bladder is a tapered portion having a cross-section with an outer cross-sectional shape that decreases in size towards the open end of the elastomeric bladder;
- placing the tapered portion of the elastomeric bladder into a flared portion of an interior of a fitting through an open end of the fitting such that an outer surface of the tapered portion substantially conforms to a surface of the flared portion in which a portion of the fitting at the open end of the fitting has a cross-section with an inner cross-sectional shape defined by the surface of the flared portion in which the inner cross-sectional shape increases towards the open end of the fitting, and such that the open end of the elastomeric bladder extends to an end of the fitting;
- and
- bonding the open end of the elastomeric bladder to the interior of the fitting by bonding the elastomeric bladder to the interior of the fitting with the tapered portion located within the interior of the fitting so that an outer surface of the open end of the bladder is bonded to an interior surface of the fitting.
1 more element
An apparatus comprising:
- a bladder with an open end, wherein the bladder comprises a tapered portion at the open end of the bladder, wherein the tapered portion has a cross-section with an outer cross-sectional shape that decreases in size towards the open end of the bladder;
- and
- a fitting in which the open end of the bladder is bonded to a surface of an interior of the fitting, wherein the open end of the bladder extends to an end of the fitting, wherein the open end of the bladder is bonded to the surface of the interior of the fitting by a bond formed by curing the open end of the bladder located within the interior of the fitting.
An apparatus comprising:
- a bladder with an open end, wherein the bladder comprises a tapered portion at the open end of the bladder, wherein the tapered portion has a cross-section with an outer cross-sectional shape that decreases in size towards the open end of the bladder, and, wherein the bladder is comprised of at least one of a layer of rubber, a layer of fiberglass coated rubber, a layer of fiberglass-reinforced rubber, a layer of a carbon fiber-reinforced polymer, and a layer of fiber-reinforced silicon;
- and
- a fitting in which the open end of the bladder is bonded to a surface of an interior of the fitting, wherein the open end of the bladder extends to an end of the fitting.
An apparatus comprising:
- a bladder with an open end, wherein the bladder is an elastomeric bladder;
- and
- a fitting in which the open end of the bladder is bonded to a surface of an interior of the fitting, wherein the open end of the bladder extends to an end of the fitting.
A bladder system for forming a composite structure with a channel, the bladder system comprising:
- an elastomeric bladder having an open end in which a tapered portion of the elastomeric bladder at the open end of the elastomeric bladder has a cross-section with an outer cross-sectional shape that decreases in size towards the open end of the elastomeric bladder;
- a fitting having an interior with a flared portion at an open end of the fitting in which a portion of the fitting at the open end of the fitting has a cross-section with an inner cross-sectional shape formed by a surface of the flared portion that increases in size towards the open end of the fitting;
- in which the open end of the elastomeric bladder is connected to the interior of the fitting by being bonded to the surface of the flared portion of the interior of the fitting;
- and in which the fitting is comprised of a material selected from one of metal, polycarbonate, plastic, aluminum, steel, and a composite material;
- and
- wherein the open end of the bladder extends to an end of the fitting.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.