Airflow in Autoclaves

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016348976-A1
Application number	US-201514721750-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 26, 2015
Priority date	May 26, 2015
Publication date	Dec 1, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method and system are presented. The system comprises a plurality of baffles positioned to split an airflow from a door of an autoclave into a counter-rotating flow pattern.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A system comprising:
a plurality of baffles positioned to split an airflow from a door of an autoclave into a counter-rotating flow pattern.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the counter-rotating flow pattern comprises a first stream that rotates in a first direction and a second stream that rotates in a second direction, and wherein the first direction is counter to the second direction.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of baffles comprises at least a portion of a wedge.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of baffles comprises a first baffle comprising a V-shaped wedge having a height, a first angle, a second angle, and a third angle.

5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein a point of the V-shaped wedge is directed into the airflow.

6 . The system of claim 4 , wherein a value for at least one of the height, the first angle, the second angle, or the third angle is selected based on at least one of measurements of the autoclave, measurements of a workpiece to be processed in the autoclave, or desirable processing parameters for the workpiece.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of baffles comprises a first baffle and a second baffle, wherein the first baffle and the second baffle are substantially the same.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of baffles comprises a first baffle and a second baffle, wherein the first baffle has at least one of a different height, a different first angle, a different second angle, or a different third angle than the second baffle.

9 . The system of claim 1 further comprising:
at least one of a conduit or an annulus that channels supplied air towards the door of the autoclave, wherein the conduit channels air through a floor of the autoclave.

10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the baffles are positioned within a cross-sectional area of the autoclave relative to a ceiling of the autoclave, wherein the cross-sectional area is a circular segment.

11 . An apparatus comprising:
a V-shaped wedge associated with a ceiling of an autoclave, the V-shaped wedge having a height, a first angle, a second angle, and a third angle.

12 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the V-shaped wedge is one of a plurality of wedges associated with the ceiling.

13 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein a respective third angle of each wedge of the plurality of wedges is different than each other third angle of the plurality of wedges.

14 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein a respective first angle of each wedge of the plurality of wedges is substantially the same as each other first angle of the plurality of wedges.

15 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein a point of the V-shaped wedge is directed into an airflow of the autoclave.

16 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein a value for at least one of the height, the first angle, the second angle, or the third angle is selected based on at least one of measurements of the autoclave, measurements of a workpiece to be processed in the autoclave, or desirable processing parameters for the workpiece.

17 . The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising:
a partial wedge associated with the ceiling of the autoclave having a fourth angle, wherein the fourth angle is substantially the same as the second angle of the V-shaped wedge.

18 . A method for improving heat transfer of an autoclave, the method comprising:
splitting an airflow from a door of the autoclave into a plurality of streams; and redirecting the plurality of streams into a counter-rotating flow pattern.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the plurality of streams comprises a first stream that rotates in a first direction and a second stream that rotates in a second direction, and wherein the first direction is counter to the second direction.

20 . The method of claim 18 further comprising:
associating a plurality of baffles with a ceiling of the autoclave, wherein splitting the airflow from the door of the autoclave into the plurality of streams is performed by the plurality of baffles.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Nelson Karl Marius
• Wu Tateh
• Lin Chao-Hsin

Classifications

• F27D2007/063

  Special atmospheres, e.g. high pressure atmospheres · CPC title

• F27D7/06

  Forming or maintaining special atmospheres or vacuum within heating chambers (supplying steam, vapour, gases or liquids F27D7/02) · CPC title

• F27D7/04 Primary

  Circulating atmospheres by mechanical means · CPC title

• B29C35/0227

  using pressure vessels, e.g. autoclaves, vulcanising pans (B29C35/065 takes precedence) · CPC title