Planar Graphite Heater for Composite Bonding Cycle Time
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing bonding method for composite material members requires a longer cycle time and temperature decrease during transportation, and it is challenging to heat wide areas efficiently due to the size limitations of infrared heaters and pressure bonding devices.
Innovation Solution
A composite material bonding apparatus and method utilizing a planar sheet heater and a sheet heater motion device that moves the heater between bonding surfaces, allowing for direct heating and bonding while reducing the size of heating and pressure bonding devices, with a graphite heater achieving high temperatures in short times.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If an infrared heater is used to heat bonding surfaces, then the bonding process can be performed, but the rate of temperature rise is limited and cycle time cannot be further shortened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the infrared heater (electromagnetic radiation heating) with a contact-type heating device that directly contacts the bonding surfaces. This mechanical contact heating method provides faster heat transfer and higher temperature rise rates compared to infrared heating, thereby reducing the cycle time for bonding composite material members.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a heating device that acts as an intermediary between the heat source and the bonding surfaces. This heating device directly contacts the bonding surfaces to transfer heat efficiently, eliminating the limitations of infrared heating and enabling faster temperature rise and shorter cycle times.
2Area of stationary object
If a large infrared heater is used to heat wide areas, then wide area bonding can be performed, but the device size becomes large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the heating function into multiple heating devices that can be arranged in an array configuration. Each heating device is relatively small, but collectively they cover wide bonding areas. This segmentation allows wide area bonding without requiring a single large heating device.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single large heating device to multiple small heating devices arranged in a two-dimensional array. This dimensional arrangement enables coverage of wide bonding areas while keeping individual device sizes small, effectively solving the contradiction between bonding area and device size.
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
This approach shortens the cycle time for bonding composite material members and reduces the size of the heating and pressure bonding devices, enabling efficient bonding of wide areas with improved temperature control.
Implementation Method 1
a control unit that controls the sheet heater to heat the first bonding surface and the second bonding surface while the sheet heater is in contact with the first bonding surface and the second bonding surface
Implementation Method 2
a bonding method of attaching and bonding the composite material members to each other after heating and melting their bonding surfaces
Data Source
AI summary
The embodiment includes: a planar graphite heater; a clamp device that moves the graphite heater, which is arranged between a first bonding surface W1a of a first composite material member and a second bonding surface of a second composite material member facing the first bonding surface, in a traveling direction with the graphite heater being in contact with the first bonding surface and the second bonding surface; and a control unit that controls the graphite heater to heat the first bonding surface and the second bonding surface while the graphite heater is in contact with the first bonding surface and the second bonding surface.