Expanding flexible bladder to insert tool

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10160028-B2
Application number	US-201514612824-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 3, 2015
Priority date	Feb 3, 2015
Publication date	Dec 25, 2018
Grant date	Dec 25, 2018

Abstract

A flexible bladder can be expanded to insert a tool by implementing a tool assembly that includes an elongated hollow member including a hollow portion to receive at least one of a flexible bladder or a tool. An inlet member is attached to an end of the elongated hollow member. The inlet member receives at least one of the flexible bladder or the tool. A port is positioned on the elongated hollow member to apply vacuum inside the elongated hollow member.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A tool assembly comprising:
an elongated hollow member including a hollow portion to receive a flexible bladder within the hollow portion of the elongated hollow member;
a tool that is inserted into the flexible bladder when the flexible bladder is expanded;
an inlet member attached to an end of the elongated hollow member, the inlet member to receive the flexible bladder, wherein the inlet member comprises a lip to wrap the flexible bladder around; and
a port on the elongated hollow member to apply vacuum inside the elongated hollow member.

2. The tool assembly of claim 1 , wherein the elongated hollow member comprises an inner surface that is substantially identical to the tool having an outer surface, wherein the tool is capable of being inserted in the flexible bladder.

3. The tool assembly of claim 2 , wherein the tool includes a contoured outer surface, wherein the elongated hollow member comprises a contoured inner surface at a location that substantially corresponds to a location of the contoured outer surface of a tool capable of being inserted in the flexible bladder.

4. The tool assembly of claim 1 , wherein the port is a first port, and wherein the tool assembly further comprises a second port on the elongated hollow member, the second port to connect to a pressure gauge or to relieve vacuum in the elongated hollow member.

5. The tool assembly of claim 1 , wherein the tool assembly further comprises a plurality of ports to apply vacuum inside the elongated hollow member.

6. The tool assembly of claim 5 , wherein the elongated hollow member includes a plurality of outer surfaces, wherein a first port of the plurality of ports is on a first outer surface and a second port of the plurality of ports is on a second outer surface that is different from the first outer surface, wherein the first outer surface is opposite the second outer surface.

7. The tool assembly of claim 1 , further comprising an outer housing comprising a plurality of chambers including a first chamber to receive the elongated hollow member.

8. The tool assembly of claim 7 , wherein each chamber includes a respective inlet member and a respective port.

9. The tool assembly of claim 7 , wherein the first chamber comprises a port to apply vacuum inside the first chamber, and wherein the elongated hollow member comprises a plurality of perforations to transfer the vacuum to the elongated hollow member.

10. A method comprising:
positioning a flexible bladder within a hollow portion of an elongated hollow member comprising a port;
applying vacuum to the port, the vacuum expanding the flexible bladder within the hollow portion; and
inserting a tool into the expanded flexible bladder.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the elongated hollow member comprises an upper portion and a lower portion that together define the hollow portion, and wherein positioning the flexible bladder within the hollow portion comprises:
laying the flexible bladder within the lower portion; and
positioning the upper portion over the lower portion.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the elongated hollow member comprises an inlet member at an end of the elongated hollow member, and wherein positioning the flexible bladder within the hollow portion comprises inserting the flexible bladder into the hollow portion through the inlet member.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the inlet member comprises a lip, and wherein the method further comprises wrapping the flexible bladder around the lip.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the elongated hollow member comprises an inner surface that is substantially identical to an outer surface of the tool.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the tool includes a contoured outer surface, wherein the elongated hollow member comprises a contoured inner surface at a location that substantially corresponds to a location of the contoured outer surface of the tool.

16. The method of claim 12 , wherein the port is a first port, wherein the elongated hollow member further comprises a second port, and wherein the method further comprises measuring pressure in the elongated hollow member through the second port.

17. The method of claim 12 , further comprising applying vacuum inside the elongated hollow member through a plurality of ports on the elongated hollow member.

18. A tool assembly comprising:
an elongated hollow member including a hollow portion to receive a flexible bladder in a hollow portion of the elongated hollow member;
a port on the elongated hollow member, the port to apply vacuum inside the elongated hollow member to expand the flexible bladders;
a tool that is inserted into the flexible bladder when the flexible bladder is expanded; and
an outer housing comprising a plurality of chambers including a first chamber to receive the elongated hollow member, wherein each chamber includes a respective port to apply vacuum inside the first chamber, wherein the elongated hollow member comprises a plurality of perforations to transfer the vacuum to the elongated hollow member.

Assignees

• Bell Helicopter Textron Inc

Inventors

• Mays Mark
• Modrzejewski Brian S
• Brungs Dan
• Wylin Doug

Classifications

• B29C70/44

  using isostatic pressure, e.g. pressure difference-moulding, vacuum bag-moulding, autoclave-moulding or expanding rubber-moulding · CPC title

• B29C70/443

  and impregnating by vacuum or injection · CPC title

• B29C45/14467

  Joining articles or parts of a single article (B29C45/14377, B29C45/14385, B29C45/14581, B29C45/14614 and B29C45/006 take precedence) · CPC title

• B21D39/203 Primary

  expandable by fluid or elastic material · CPC title

• B29C43/3642

  Bags, bleeder sheets or cauls for isostatic pressing · CPC title