Heated Air Curing Press for Aircraft Sandwich Components
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Solution Overview
Problem
Curing sandwich components for aircraft in autoclaves requires high energy input and uses massive, cumbersome equipment, especially for large-format components.
Innovation Solution
A press device that uses a closed or open heated-air circuit with temperature-controlled air to heat sandwich components directly, incorporating thermal insulating layers and sheet-type heating elements to reduce energy consumption, and allows for curved surface geometries by adjustable sidewall arrangements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sandwich components are cured in an autoclave, then the curing process achieves reliable mechanical strength and fire safety standards, but the energy input and equipment mass become excessively high
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the heating function from the autoclave environment and implements it through a separate heated air circuit system. Heated air is conveyed through conduits directly to the sandwich component, eliminating the need for massive autoclave equipment and reducing energy consumption while maintaining curing quality
Solution Approach 2:
Heated air serves as an intermediary medium to transfer thermal energy from the heating device to the sandwich component. This intermediary approach allows controlled heat delivery through the core structure, achieving reliable curing without requiring the component to be placed in a high-energy autoclave environment
2Reliability
If sandwich components are cured in an autoclave, then the curing process achieves reliable mechanical strength and fire safety standards, but the equipment becomes heavy and cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the heating function from the autoclave environment and implements it through a separate heated air circuit system. Heated air is conveyed through conduits directly to the sandwich component, eliminating the need for massive autoclave equipment and reducing energy consumption while maintaining curing quality
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the mechanical autoclave system with a thermal field-based curing system. Instead of using a pressurized autoclave chamber, the system uses heated air circulation and thermal conduction through the core structure to achieve curing, significantly reducing equipment mass
3Use of energy by stationary object
If heated air is conveyed through the core structure, then energy input is reduced, but thermal insulation measures are required to maintain curing temperature
Solution Approach 1:
Thermal insulating layers are applied to the pressure piston and abutment before the curing process begins. This preliminary insulation prevents heat loss during the curing operation, maintaining curing temperature without requiring excessive energy input
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the thermal parameters of the press device components by applying thermal insulating layers. This modifies the heat transfer characteristics, reducing heat loss to the surroundings and maintaining the required curing temperature with lower energy consumption
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 press device operates with lower energy input, enabling efficient curing of large-area sandwich components while maintaining stringent mechanical strength and fire safety standards, and can produce components with complex surface geometries.
Implementation Method 1
a heater arranged outside the press device, by which heater the heated air is temperature-controllable so that in the region of the core structure a defined curing temperature TCuring results
Implementation Method 2
two thermal insulating layers which at least in some regions are arranged on the pressure piston and the abutment
Implementation Method 3
a conveying device by which heated air can be fed through at least one inlet in a first sidewall of the press device at a defined curing pressure pCuring through the core structure of the sandwich component to at least one outlet in a second sidewall of the press device
Data Source
AI summary
A press device for the energy-efficient curing of a sandwich component for an aircraft, includes an open and mechanically adequately loadable core structure with cover layers applied to one side or to both sides. The sandwich component is restrained between a pressure piston, an abutment and sidewalls of the press device, thus forming an essentially closed interior space. At least one of at least one cover layer and the core structure includes a curable duroplastic plastic material. A conveying device feeds heated air through the core structure of the sandwich component in a closed heated-air circuit or preferably in an open heated-air circuit in order to ensure energy-efficient curing of the sandwich component from the inside out. The heated air is temperature-controlled by a heater. In the case of an open heated-air circuit, heat recovery by a heat exchanger is provided.