Abstract:
A method and apparatus for welding a thermoplastic structure. The apparatus comprises a base, a cover, and a channel. The base is formed of a material that is magnetically opaque to a frequency in a range of 30 KHz to 350 KHz. The cover is formed of the material. The channel extends between the base and the cover.
Abstract:
A method of fabricating a thermoplastic composite tubular structure for use as a wind turbine blade is presented using a combination of induction heating with smart susceptors to consolidate a wrapped mandrel. The method can include overbraiding the mandrel with a continuous fiber thermoplastic composite material to form an overbraided mandrel that is then installed in a ceramic induction oven where the mandrel is pressurized internally to consolidate the thermoplastic overbraid during heating
Abstract:
An apparatus and method are presented. An apparatus comprises a composite structure, a plurality of cavities extending into the composite structure, and a plurality of mandrels located within the plurality of cavities. The composite structure comprises a thermoplastic material that is consolidated. The plurality of mandrels comprises a first material that is configured to generate heat in response to a magnetic field.
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.
Abstract:
A susceptor welding tape for use in thermoplastic welding. The susceptor welding tape comprising a thermoplastic film and a plurality of non-continuous susceptor conductors imbedded within the thermoplastic film. The plurality of non-continuous susceptor conductors allow a resulting thermoplastic weld formed by the susceptor weld tape to be tuned to a desired engineering characteristic. For example, the plurality of conductors allow the resulting thermoplastic weld formed by the susceptor weld tape to be tuned to a desired conductivity, a desired residual stress and/or a desired moisture barrier of the resulting thermoplastic weld.
Abstract:
The thermal cycle time for curing a thermoset composite part in an autoclave is reduced by placing a heating blanket in proximity to an area of the composite part that is slow-to-heat, and inductively heating the area of the composite part that is slow-to-heat using the heating blanket.
Abstract:
A method for forming a shim. A liquid shim material with a magnetically permeable material is applied in a location for the shim between a plurality of composite parts. A magnetic field is applied to the magnetically permeable material in the location. The magnetic field is configured to heat the liquid shim material to a temperature to cause the liquid shim material to become solid and form the shim.
Abstract:
A coaxially arranged smart susceptor conductor, comprising a smart susceptor core comprising an alloy having a first Curie temperature point and a first smart susceptor shell coaxially arranged around the smart susceptor core. The first smart susceptor shell comprising a second Curie temperature point that is different than the first Curie temperature point of the smart susceptor core. In one arrangement, the second Curie temperature point of the first smart susceptor shell is lower than the first Curie temperature point of the smart susceptor core. In another arrangement, the smart susceptor conductor further comprises a second smart susceptor shell disposed about the first smart susceptor shell. The second smart susceptor shell comprising a third Curie temperature point.
Abstract:
A susceptor wire array. The array includes a first susceptor wire comprising an alloy having a first Curie temperature point and a second susceptor wire comprising an alloy having a second Curie temperature point, the second Curie temperature point is different than the first Curie temperature point of the first susceptor wire. In one susceptor wire arrangement, the second Curie temperature point of the second susceptor wire is lower than the first Curie temperature point of the first susceptor wire. In another susceptor wire arrangement, the array further comprises a third susceptor wire, the third susceptor wire comprising an alloy having a third Curie temperature point. The third Curie temperature point of the third susceptor wire may be different than the first Curie temperature point of the first susceptor wire.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for performing induction welding. A number of protective layers are positioned between a susceptor layer and at least one of a plurality of workpieces at a weld location. An undesired current path is prevented from forming at the weld location during induction heating of the plurality of workpieces by the number of protective layers.