Bladder that changes stiffness based on temperature effects for manufacture of composite components

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10173349-B2
Application number	US-201615002687-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 21, 2016
Priority date	Jan 21, 2016
Publication date	Jan 8, 2019
Grant date	Jan 8, 2019

Abstract

Within examples, elastomeric apparatuses for use in manufacture of a composite component, and methods for altering a surface rigidity of an elastomeric apparatus for use in manufacture of a composite component are described. In one example, an elastomeric apparatus comprises an elastomer housing, and a plurality of magnets within the elastomer housing at predetermined positions to provide surface rigidity to the elastomer housing based on one or more alignments of certain magnets of the plurality of magnets due to magnetic forces. An increase in temperature causes a loss in one or more of the magnetic forces of one or more of the plurality of magnets resulting in a reduction of stiffness of the elastomer housing at corresponding predetermined positions.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An elastomeric apparatus for use in manufacture of a composite component, comprising:
an elastomer housing having an inner surface and an interior wall; and
a plurality of magnets within the elastomer housing at predetermined positions to provide surface rigidity to the elastomer housing based on one or more alignments of certain magnets of the plurality of magnets due to magnetic forces, wherein the plurality of magnets are arranged between the inner surface and the interior wall along a perimeter of the elastomer housing, wherein an increase in temperature causes a loss in one or more of the magnetic forces of one or more of the plurality of magnets resulting in a reduction of stiffness of the elastomer housing at corresponding predetermined positions, wherein a subsequent decrease in temperature causes an increase of stiffness of the elastomer housing based on the one or more of the magnetic forces of the one or more of the plurality of magnets returning.

2. The elastomeric apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the increase in temperature causes the loss in one or more of the magnetic forces of one or more of the plurality of magnets related to a magnetic Curie point of a material of the plurality of magnets.

3. The elastomeric apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of magnets provide the surface rigidity to the elastomer housing at room temperature.

4. The elastomeric apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of magnets provide a stiff cross section of the elastomer housing at room temperature and a flexible cross section at elevated temperatures.

5. The elastomeric apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of magnets comprise magnetic pieces of material embedded in the elastomer housing.

6. The elastomeric apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of magnets are oriented within the elastomer housing at the predetermined positions such that the one or more alignments provide a rigid cross section of the elastomeric apparatus.

7. The elastomeric apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of magnets are oriented within the elastomer housing at the predetermined positions such that the one or more alignments are linearly parallel to a centerline of the elastomeric apparatus.

8. The elastomeric apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of magnets are oriented within the elastomer housing at the predetermined positions such that the one or more alignments are linearly perpendicular to a centerline of the elastomeric apparatus.

9. The elastomeric apparatus of claim 8 , further comprising additional magnets oriented within the elastomer housing at additional predetermined positions forming additional alignments that are linearly parallel to a centerline of the elastomeric apparatus, wherein the additional magnets forming the linearly parallel alignments are provided between the plurality of magnets forming the linearly perpendicular alignments.

10. The elastomeric apparatus of claim 8 , further comprising additional magnets oriented within the elastomer housing at additional predetermined positions forming additional alignments that are diagonal to a centerline of the elastomeric apparatus, wherein the additional magnets forming the diagonal alignments are provided between the plurality of magnets forming the linearly perpendicular alignments.

11. The elastomeric apparatus of claim 1 , wherein elastomer housing includes an outer surface, and wherein the plurality of magnets are included within the elastomer housing along the outer surface of the elastomer housing.

12. The elastomeric apparatus of claim 1 , wherein elastomer housing includes an outer surface, and wherein the plurality of magnets are included within the elastomer housing along the inner surface and along the outer surface of the elastomer housing.

13. The elastomeric apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of magnets are arranged with poles all pointing in the same direction.

14. The elastomeric apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the elastomer housing includes one or more vents to provide airflow within the elastomer housing.

15. The elastomeric apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of magnets provide the surface rigidity to the elastomer housing at temperatures in a range of about 65° F. to about 75° F.

16. The elastomeric apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the increase in temperature to about 150° C. causes the loss in one or more of the magnetic forces of one or more of the plurality of magnets.

17. The elastomeric apparatus of claim 1 , wherein elastomer housing includes an outer surface, and wherein the plurality of magnets are included within the elastomer housing along only one of the inner surface and the outer surface of the elastomer housing.

18. The elastomeric apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of magnets are arranged in horizontal rows in the elastomer housing.

19. The elastomeric apparatus of claim 1 , wherein between the horizontal rows of the plurality of magnets are elastomer only regions.

20. The elastomeric apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of magnets comprise neodymium-iron-boron.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Heath Edward
• Knutson Samuel

Classifications

• B29C33/505 Primary

  cores or mandrels, e.g. inflatable (B29C33/0016 takes precedence; for winding and joining B29C53/824; for supporting articles during joining B29C66/634; flexible cores for vulcanizing tyres B29D30/0654) · CPC title

• B29K2995/0008

  Magnetic or paramagnetic · CPC title

• B29C33/40

  Plastics, e.g. foam or rubber · CPC title