Curing composites out-of-autoclave using induction heating with smart susceptors

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016157302-A1
Application number	US-201615012843-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 1, 2016
Priority date	Dec 15, 2009
Publication date	Jun 2, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A composite part is cured out-of-autoclave using an inductively heated, stand-alone tooling. The part in placed on a tool and is covered by a heating blanket. One side of the part is heated by inductive coil circuits in the tool, and the other side of the part is heated by inductive coil circuits in the blanket.

First claim

1 - 20 . (canceled)

21 . A method of out-of-autoclave curing a composite part, comprising:
placing the composite part to be cured on a substantially rigid tool; heating a first side of the composite part by inductively heating the tool; placing a heating blanket on a second side of the composite part; and using the heating blanket to heat the composite part from the second side thereof.

22 . The method of claim 21 , wherein inductively heating the tool includes:
flowing electrical current through at least one conductor passing through the tool; using the electrical current flow to heat a susceptor within the tool; and conducting heat from the susceptor through a matrix in the blanket to a surface of the tool in contact with the first side of the composite part.

23 . The method of claim 21 , wherein inductively heating the tool includes:
coupling a plurality of inductive coil circuits in parallel with each other, wherein each of the circuits includes an inductive coil and a susceptor having a Curie temperature; driving each of the circuits with an alternating electrical current; shunting power away from one of the circuits when the susceptor in the circuit reaches its Curie temperature.

24 . (canceled)

25 . An out-of-autoclave method of curing of a part of a composite aircraft, comprising:
fabricating a cure tool by encasing a plurality of first induction heating coil circuits in a layer of polymer resin, including coupling the first induction heating coil circuits in parallel with each other, each of the first induction heating coil circuits including an induction coil and a susceptor having a first Curie temperature; supporting the tool on a tool base; hollowing out one side of the tool base to dissipate heat used to cure the part; placing the part to be cured on the tool with a first side of the part in contact with the layer of polymer resin; heating the first side of the part using the tool, including using the plurality of first induction heating coil circuits to heat the polymer layer and shunting power away from at least one of the first induction heating coil circuits to the other of the first induction heating coil circuits when the susceptor in the circuit reaches the first Curie temperature; fabricating a heating blanket by embedding a plurality of second induction heating coil circuits in an elastomeric matrix, each of the second induction heating coil circuits including an induction coil and a susceptor having a second Curie temperature; placing the heating blanket on the tool and in contact with a second side of the part, including conforming the heating blanket to the second side of the part; coupling an AC power supply in series with the plurality of first induction heating coil circuits and in series with the plurality of second induction heating coil circuits; and using the heating blanket to heat the second side of the part including using the plurality of second induction heating coil circuits to heat the matrix, and shunting power away from at least one of the second induction heating coil circuits to the other of the second induction coil heating circuits when the susceptor in the circuit reaches the second Curie temperature.

26 . The method of claim 21 further comprising:
prior to placing, fabricating the substantially rigid tool by encasing a plurality of first induction heating coil circuits in a layer of polymer resin.

27 . The method of claim 26 , wherein fabricating further comprises:
coupling the first induction heating coil circuits in parallel with each other.

28 . The method of claim 27 , wherein each of the first induction heating coil circuits includes an induction coil and a susceptor having a Curie temperature.

29 . The method of claim 28 further comprising:
hollowing out one side of the substantially rigid tool base to form a hollow; and
using the hollow to dissipate heat while using the heating blanket to heat the composite part.

30 . The method of claim 29 , wherein placing the composite part further comprises:
placing the composite part with a first side of the composite part in contact with the layer of polymer resin.

31 . The method of claim 30 further comprising:
driving each of the first induction heating coil circuits with an alternating electrical current; and
shunting power away from one of the first induction heating coil circuits when the susceptor reaches its Curie temperature.

32 . The method of claim 31 further comprising;
prior to placing the heating blanket, fabricating the heating blanket by embedding a plurality of second induction heating coil circuits in a thermally conductive elastomeric matrix.

33 . The method of claim 32 , wherein each of the second induction heating coil circuits includes an induction coil and a second susceptor having the Curie temperature.

34 . The method of claim 33 , wherein placing the heating blanket further comprises:
conforming the heating blanket to the second side of the composite part.

35 . The method of claim 34 further comprising:
coupling an AC power supply in series with the plurality of first induction heating coil circuits and in series with the plurality of second induction heating coil circuits.

36 . The method of claim 35 , wherein using the heating blanket to heat the composite part comprises:
using the plurality of second induction heating coil circuits to heat the matrix.

37 . The method of claim 36 further comprising:
shunting power away from at least one of the second induction heating coil circuits to another of the second induction coil heating circuits when the second susceptor reaches its Curie temperature.

38 . The method of claim 25 , wherein the layer of polymer resin comprises a rigid layer of polymer resin.

39 . The method of claim 38 , wherein the heating blanket comprises a flexible heating blanket.

40 . The method of claim 39 , wherein the elastomeric matrix comprises a thermally conductive elastomeric matrix.

41 . The method of claim 39 , wherein fabricating the heating blanket comprises forming a susceptor sleeve extending over a conductor for inductive heating of the susceptor sleeve.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Matsen Marc Rollo
• Miller Robert James
• Negley Mark Alan
• Noel Jennifer Sue

Classifications

• B29C73/10 Primary

  using patches sealing on the surface of the article (B29C73/14 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B29C2035/0816

  using eddy currents · CPC title

• B29K2063/00

  Use of {EP, i.e.} epoxy resins {or derivatives thereof}, as moulding material · CPC title

• B29C35/00

  Heating, cooling or curing, e.g. crosslinking or vulcanising; Apparatus therefor (moulds with incorporated heating or cooling means B29C33/02 {; thermal after-treatment of shaped articles B29C71/02}; curing devices for plastics dental prostheses A61C13/14; before moulding B29B13/00) · CPC title

• B29C73/30

  for local pressing or local heating · CPC title