Compression Head Structure for Uniform Composite Material Heating

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Solution Overview

Problem

The composite material with reinforcing fibers exhibits low electric conductivity, leading to temperature unevenness and strength unevenness during heating, resulting in suboptimal quality due to existing formation methods.

Innovation Solution

An apparatus with a pressure head featuring a high thermal conductive material layer, transparent to magnetic fields, is used to distribute heat evenly across the composite material, reducing temperature and strength unevenness by incorporating a heat generating material layer and heat insulating material layer to enhance heating efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If a magnetic field is applied to the entire composite material to heat it, then the composite material can be heated, but temperature unevenness occurs in the composite material during heating

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheating uniformityVSAvoidtemperature uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

A pressure head is introduced as an intermediary component between the magnetic field coil and the composite material. The pressure head includes a high thermal conductive material layer that acts as a thermal mediator to distribute heat uniformly across the composite material surface, preventing localized overheating and temperature unevenness while maintaining effective heating.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The pressure head is designed with non-uniform thermal conductivity distribution, featuring a high thermal conductive material layer at the contact surface with the composite material to ensure uniform heat distribution, while the internal structure may have different thermal properties to manage heat flow from the magnetic field coil side.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Manufacturing precision

If the composite material is heated uniformly, then quality improves, but additional components and complexity are required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvequality uniformityVSAvoidapparatus structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pressure head serves multiple functions simultaneously: it applies mechanical pressure to the composite material, acts as a thermal conductor to distribute heat uniformly, and provides structural support during the heating process. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components and minimizes overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The functions of pressure application and heat distribution are merged into a single integrated pressure head component. The high thermal conductive material layer is incorporated directly into the pressure head structure, combining mechanical and thermal functions in one element rather than using separate components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution effectively reduces temperature unevenness and strength unevenness in the composite material, resulting in a higher quality product by ensuring uniform heating and resin reaction.

Implementation Method 1

the high thermal conductive material layer can distribute, in an in-plane direction, heat that has been generated inside the composite material

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

a magnetic field coil is provided on one side of the composite material... generating heat in accordance with the magnetic field applied by the magnetic field coil

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 3

a heat generating material layer provided between the pressure head body and the high thermal conductive material layer, generating heat in accordance with the magnetic field applied by the magnetic field coil

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 4

a heat insulating material layer provided on a side on which the pressure head body is present with respect to the high thermal conductive material layer and the heat generating material layer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Data Source

PatentEP3733390B1Composite-material molding device, and composite-material molding method
Publication Date: 2023.10.25 MITSUBISHI HEAVY IND LTD
  • EP3733390B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3733390B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3733390B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided are a compression head for reducing the occurrence of temperature unevenness in a composite material during heating, a composite-material molding device, and a composite-material molding method. A compression head 20 is provided on the other side of a pre-reaction composite material 2 from a magnetic field coil 30 provided on one side of the composite material 2, the compression head 20 facing the magnetic field coil 30 via the composite material 2. The compression head 20 has a compression head body 22 and a high-thermal-conductivity-material layer 24. The compression head body 22 is formed from a material that is transparent to a magnetic field 32 applied by the magnetic field coil 30. The high-thermal-conductivity-material layer 24 is formed on the side of the compression head body 22 that faces the composite material 2, and is transparent to the magnetic field 32 applied by the magnetic field coil 30 and is formed from a material having higher thermal conductivity than the composite material 2.