Heated tool assembly for forming a structural member

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9475230-B2
Application number	US-201314047244-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 7, 2013
Priority date	Nov 13, 2008
Publication date	Oct 25, 2016
Grant date	Oct 25, 2016

Abstract

A heated tool assembly for forming a structural member may include a heated tool and a pressure bladder for mounting the structural member. The tool may have an inner surface, a liner in thermal contact with the inner surface of the tool, and a heating system for heating the tool. The heating system may include a heater for heating a heated medium, a blower for blowing the heated medium, and a plurality of nozzles for directing the heated medium over the tool liner.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A heated tool assembly for forming a structural member, comprising:
a tool having a shape and a pressure bladder for mounting the structural member therebetween, the tool having an inner surface and a wall intersection and being formed of a material maintaining the shape of the tool under pressurization loads imposed by the pressure bladder;
a tool liner in thermal contact with the inner surface of the tool;
a heat sink in thermal contact with a portion of the inner surface and located between the tool liner and the wall intersection;
a heating system for heating the tool, including:
a heater for heating a heated medium;
a blower for blowing the heated medium; and
a plurality of nozzles for directing the heated medium over the tool liner.

2. The heated tool assembly of claim 1 wherein:
the tool liner comprises at least one of copper and aluminum sheet.

3. The heated tool assembly of claim 1 wherein:
the tool liner has a thermal conductivity in the range of from approximately 200 W/mK to approximately 600 W/mK measured at 85° C.

4. The heated tool assembly of claim 1 wherein:
the tool liner is mechanically fastened to the tool.

5. The heated tool assembly of claim 1 further comprising:
a thermally conductive film interposed between the tool liner and the inner surface.

6. The heated tool assembly of claim 5 wherein:
the film comprises a thermal paste.

7. The heated tool assembly of claim 1 wherein:
the tool defines a plurality of zones;
the heating system further including a nozzle plenum assembly coupled between the blower and the nozzles for directing heated medium to the zones.

8. The heated tool assembly of claim 1 further comprising:
thermal insulation at least partially surrounding the pressure bladder for retaining heat in the structural member; and
at least one heater element interposed between the thermal insulation and the pressure bladder for heating the pressure bladder.

9. The heated tool assembly of claim 8 further comprising:
a bladder liner having the heater element mounted thereto for distributing heat to the pressure bladder.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Kendall Jeffrey D
• Kennedy Thomas J
• Kline William T

Classifications

• B29C43/10

  Isostatic pressing, i.e. using non-rigid pressure-exerting members against rigid parts or dies · CPC title

• B29C66/1142

  Single butt to butt joints · CPC title

• B29C65/26 Primary

  Hot fluid · CPC title

• B29C66/81811

  of the welding jaws · CPC title

• B29C65/5042

  covering both elements to be joined · CPC title