Smart Susceptor Induction Heating Apparatus and Methods for Forming Parts with Non-Planar Shapes

    公开(公告)号:US20200164547A1

    公开(公告)日:2020-05-28

    申请号:US16201553

    申请日:2018-11-27

    Abstract: Heating apparatus and methods for forming a part with a non-planar shape include a table formed of a thermally conductive material and defining a table surface. A tool, also formed of a thermally conductive material, has a base surface configured to engage the table surface of the table and a tooling surface opposite the base surface, wherein the tooling surface has a contoured shape that is non-planar. A heating blanket is provided above the table and defines a heating surface. The tooling surface of the tool is configured to engage a first surface of the part and the heating surface of the heating blanket is configured to engage a second surface of the part opposite the first surface of the part. The table and the heating blanket are heated to a processing temperature so that the part at least partially conforms to the tooling surface of the tool.

    Induction forming and curing of thermoset composite charges

    公开(公告)号:US10814526B2

    公开(公告)日:2020-10-27

    申请号:US15713424

    申请日:2017-09-22

    Abstract: A first tooling die and a second tooling die are movable with respect to each other. The first tooling die and the second tooling die form a die cavity. The first tooling die and the second tooling die comprise a plurality of stacked metal sheets. A plurality of air gaps is defined between adjacent stacked metal sheets. A first smart susceptor material is within the die cavity and connected to the first tooling die. The first smart susceptor material has a first Curie temperature. A second smart susceptor material is within the die cavity and associated with the second tooling die. The second smart susceptor material has a second Curie temperature lower than the first Curie temperature. A flexible membrane is between the second tooling die and the first smart susceptor material. The flexible membrane is configured to receive pressure.

    Smart susceptor induction heating apparatus and methods for forming parts with non-planar shapes

    公开(公告)号:US11440224B2

    公开(公告)日:2022-09-13

    申请号:US16201553

    申请日:2018-11-27

    Abstract: Heating apparatus and methods for forming a part with a non-planar shape include a table formed of a thermally conductive material and defining a table surface. A tool, also formed of a thermally conductive material, has a base surface configured to engage the table surface of the table and a tooling surface opposite the base surface, wherein the tooling surface has a contoured shape that is non-planar. A heating blanket is provided above the table and defines a heating surface. The tooling surface of the tool is configured to engage a first surface of the part and the heating surface of the heating blanket is configured to engage a second surface of the part opposite the first surface of the part. The table and the heating blanket are heated to a processing temperature so that the part at least partially conforms to the tooling surface of the tool.

    Smart Susceptor Induction Heating Apparatus and Methods Having Improved Temperature Control

    公开(公告)号:US20200164548A1

    公开(公告)日:2020-05-28

    申请号:US16201612

    申请日:2018-11-27

    Abstract: Heating apparatus and methods for thermally processing a part including improved control of temperature. A thermal management system is coupled to a back surface of a table thermally coupled to an inductive heating circuit. The thermal management system includes a chamber defining an interior space, at least one cooling fin disposed within the chamber, an inlet extending through the chamber and fluidly communicating with the interior space, and an outlet extending through the chamber and fluidly communicating with the interior space. In some applications, an air source fluidly communicates with the inlet and is selectively operable to generate an air flow through the chamber, so that the thermal management system may be selectively operated in an insulator mode and a cooling mode.

    High temperature smart susceptor heating blanket and method

    公开(公告)号:US11284482B2

    公开(公告)日:2022-03-22

    申请号:US16123944

    申请日:2018-09-06

    Abstract: A heating blanket includes an interlaced heating layer having a fabric thread and a heat-generating thread interlaced with the fabric thread to form the interlaced heating layer. The heat-generating thread includes a conductor wire configured to generate a magnetic field in response to an electrical current applied to the conductor wire, and a susceptor wire formed of a susceptor material configured to inductively generate heat in response to the magnetic field of the conductor wire when a temperature of the susceptor wire is below a Curie point of the susceptor wire. Methods of forming the heating blanket and methods of heating a contoured surface using the heating blanket are also disclosed.

    INDUCTION FORMING AND CURING OF THERMOSET COMPOSITE CHARGES

    公开(公告)号:US20210001515A1

    公开(公告)日:2021-01-07

    申请号:US17026066

    申请日:2020-09-18

    Abstract: A first tooling die and a second tooling die are movable with respect to each other. The first tooling die and the second tooling die form a die cavity. The first tooling die and the second tooling die comprise a plurality of stacked metal sheets. A plurality of air gaps is defined between adjacent stacked metal sheets. A first smart susceptor material is within the die cavity and connected to the first tooling die. The first smart susceptor material has a first Curie temperature. A second smart susceptor material is within the die cavity and associated with the second tooling die. The second smart susceptor material has a second Curie temperature lower than the first Curie temperature. A flexible membrane is between the second tooling die and the first smart susceptor material. The flexible membrane is configured to receive pressure.

    High Temperature Smart Susceptor Heating Blanket And Method

    公开(公告)号:US20200084841A1

    公开(公告)日:2020-03-12

    申请号:US16123944

    申请日:2018-09-06

    Abstract: A heating blanket includes an interlaced heating layer having a fabric thread and a heat-generating thread interlaced with the fabric thread to form the interlaced heating layer. The heat-generating thread includes a conductor wire configured to generate a magnetic field in response to an electrical current applied to the conductor wire, and a susceptor wire formed of a susceptor material configured to inductively generate heat in response to the magnetic field of the conductor wire when a temperature of the susceptor wire is below a Curie point of the susceptor wire. Methods of forming the heating blanket and methods of heating a contoured surface using the heating blanket are also disclosed.

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