Bladder System for Curing Composite Parts

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016339682-A1
Application number	US-201514714590-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 18, 2015
Priority date	May 18, 2015
Publication date	Nov 24, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A structure comprising a plurality of walls defining a bladder cavity, the bladder cavity comprises an initial cross section size. A first plurality of wave features provided along at least one of the plurality of walls defining the bladder cavity. In one arrangement, the first plurality of wave features allow the structure to expand from the initial cross section size to a second cross section size after the structure becomes inflated during a composite charge cure, the second cross section size larger than the initial cross sectional size.

First claim

We claim:

1 . A structure comprising:
a plurality of walls defining a bladder cavity,
the bladder cavity comprises an initial cross section size, and
a first plurality of wave features provided along at least one of the plurality of walls defining the bladder cavity.

2 . The structure of claim 1 ,
the first plurality of wave features allow the structure to expand from the initial cross section size to a second cross section size after the structure becomes inflated during a composite charge cure, the second cross section size larger than the initial cross sectional size.

3 . The structure of claim 1 wherein the plurality of walls of the structure comprise:
a bottom wall;
a first side wall extending from the bottom wall;
a second side wall extending from the bottom wall;
a first end wall;
a second end wall; and
a top wall extending from the first end wall to the second end wall enclosing the structure,
the bottom wall, the first side wall, the second side wall, the first end wall, the second end wall, and the top wall defining the bladder cavity, and
wherein
at least one of the bottom wall, the top wall, the first side wall, the first end wall, the second end wall, or the second side wall comprises the first plurality of wave features.

4 . The structure of claim 2 , wherein
the first plurality of wave features extend over a length of the at least one of the bottom wall, the top wall, the first side wall, the first end wall, the second end wall, or the second side wall.

5 . The structure of claim 3 , wherein
the first plurality of wave features extend over a portion of a length of the at least one of the bottom wall, the top wall, the first side wall, the first end wall, the second end wall, or the second side wall.

6 . The structure of claim 1 , wherein
the first plurality of wave features comprise a plurality of uniform wave features.

7 . The bladder of claim 6 , wherein
the plurality of uniform wave features each comprise an equivalent radius of curvature.

8 . The structure of claim 3 , wherein
at least one of the bottom wall, the top wall, the first side wall, the first end wall, the second end wall, or the second side wall comprises a second plurality of wave features.

9 . The structure of claim 8 , wherein
the first plurality of wave features comprise a first radius of curvature and the second plurality of wave features comprise a second radius of curvature, wherein the first radius of curvature is different than the second radius of curvature.

10 . The structure of claim 1 further comprising a pressure fitting that is adapted to be coupled with a vacuum source used to inflate the bladder cavity from the initial cross section size to the second cross section size.

11 . A method of curing a charge, the method comprising the steps of
placing a charge on a tool; positioning a structure having an initial cross section size in a charge cavity of the charge placed on the tool; laying up plies over the structure positioned in the charge cavity; coupling the structure to a vent port; sealing a vacuum bag over the charge, the layed up plies, the tool, and the structure; drawing a vacuum; initiating a debulking process of the charge by inflating the structure; beginning to expand the structure from the initial cross section size to a second cross section size, larger than the initial cross section size; creating a plurality of micro-buckles within the structure; increasing an effective pressure that is applied to an inside radii of the charge; finalizing debulk; and curing the charge.

12 . A multilayered bladder system for use in curing of a composite charge defining an internal cavity, the bladder comprising:
a bladder outer layer,
the bladder outer layer defining a top wall, a bottom wall, a first sidewall,
and a second side wall, wherein the first sidewall and the second sidewall extend between the top wall and the bottom,
a bladder first inner layer,
the bladder first inner layer defining a top wall, a bottom wall, a first sidewall, and a second side wall, wherein the first side wall and the second side wall extend between the top wall and the bottom wall, and
a bladder intermediate layer disposed between the bladder outer layer and the bladder first inner layer.

13 . The multilayered bladder system of claim 12 wherein
the bladder outer layer comprises an overlapping top wall.

14 . The multilayered bladder system of claim 13 wherein
the overlapping top wall comprises a partially overlapping top wall.

15 . The multilayered bladder system of claim 12 wherein
the bladder first inner layer comprises an overlapping top wall.

16 . The multilayered bladder system of claim 15 wherein
the overlapping top wall of the bladder first inner layer comprises a partially overlapping top wall.

17 . The multilayered bladder system of claim 15 further comprising
a layer of fiberglass provided within the overlapping top wall of the bladder first inner layer.

18 . The multilayered bladder system of claim 12 further comprising
a bladder second inner layer, the bladder second inner layer provided below the top wall of the bladder first inner layer.

19 . The multilayered bladder system of claim 18 wherein
the bladder first inner layer comprises an overlapping top wall, and
the bladder second inner layer is provided below the overlapping top wall of the first inner layer.

20 . The multilayered bladder system of claim 18 wherein the bladder second inner layer comprises a flouroelastic rubber layer.

21 . The multilayered bladder system of claim 12 further comprising
a plurality of flouroelastic rubber layers provided between the top wall of the bladder first inner layer and the intermediate layer.

22 . The multilayered bladder system of claim 12 further comprising a bladder second inner layer provided between the bladder first inner layer and the intermediate layer, the bladder second inner layer extending along at least a portion of the first sidewall of the first inner layer.

23 . The multilayered bladder system of claim 22 wherein
the bladder second inner layer provided between the bladder first inner layer and the intermediate layer
extends along a portion of the second side wall of the bladder first inner layer.

24 . The multilayered bladder system of claim 22 wherein
the bladder second inner layer comprises flouroelastic rubber.

25 . The multilayered bladder system of claim 12 wherein the top wall of the bladder outer layer comprises a first thickness and the first side wall and the second side wall of the bladder outer layer comprises a second thickness, wherein the first thickness of the top wall of the bladder outer layer is different than the second thickness of the first and second side walls of the bladder outer layer.

26 . A method of curing a charge, the method comprising the steps of
placing a charge on a tool; positioning a multilayered structure in a charge cavity defined by the charge placed on the tool; laying up plies over the structure positioned in the charge cavity; coupling the multilayered structure to a vent port; covering the charge, the tool, the plies, and the multilayered structure with a vacuum bag over; drawing a vacuum; initiating a debulking process of the charge by inflating the multilayered structure;

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Bahe Amy Elizabeth
• Bliss Megan E
• Hollensteiner William
• Ingram Jr William Henry
• Morris John Dempsey
• Santiago Jonathan
• Stephenson Benjamin Jeffrey
• Stewart Samuel Ray
• Thomas Charles William

Classifications

• B29C49/28

  Blow-moulding apparatus · CPC title

• 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

• B29C70/446 Primary

  Moulding structures having an axis of symmetry or at least one channel, e.g. tubular structures, frames · CPC title

• B29C70/54

  Component parts, details or accessories; Auxiliary operations {, e.g. feeding or storage of prepregs or SMC after impregnation or during ageing} · CPC title

• B29C70/342

  using isostatic pressure · CPC title