Reusable Bladder Venting for Faster Composite Curing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing composite resin part curing methods using inflatable bladders require additional sealing time and generate waste due to disposable vacuum bags, and improper venting can lead to bladder failure and compromised part quality.
Innovation Solution
A reusable composite curing system with a reusable bladder, end fitting, and cure tool featuring a venting channel and pneumatic connector that allows quick connection and pressurization without venting through the vacuum bag, using a reusable vacuum bag and metallic end fittings to withstand autoclave pressures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an inflatable bladder is placed in the cavity and pressurized through a vacuum bag, then the internal cavity can be maintained under autoclave pressure, but the process requires additional sealing time and generates waste from seals and disposable vacuum bags
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the pressurization function into two independent parts: the reusable bladder handles cavity support while the reusable vacuum bag handles vacuum sealing. The pneumatic connector allows the bladder to be pressurized independently of the vacuum bag sealing process, eliminating the need for additional sealing time.
Solution Approach 2:
The pneumatic connector acts as an intermediary mechanism that provides a direct pressurization pathway from the autoclave environment to the bladder interior. This bypasses the need to pressurize through the vacuum bag seal, eliminating waste from disposable seals while maintaining reliable cavity support.
2Reliability
If an inflatable bladder is pressurized through a vacuum bag, then the cavity can be maintained, but improper venting can result in the bladder failing to pressurize and affecting part quality
Solution Approach 1:
The pneumatic connector serves as a dedicated intermediary pathway for pressure equalization between the autoclave environment and the bladder interior. This separate pathway ensures reliable pressurization independent of vacuum bag sealing quality, preventing bladder failure and ensuring consistent part quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressurization function is extracted from the vacuum bag sealing process and assigned to a dedicated pneumatic connector system. This separation eliminates the dependency between vacuum sealing quality and bladder pressurization, ensuring that part quality is not affected by improper venting.
3Ease of manufacture
If a disposable vacuum bag is used for pressurization, then the process is simple, but it generates waste and increases cost
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces disposable vacuum bags with a reusable vacuum bag and reusable bladder combination. The pneumatic connector enables the reusable bladder to be pressurized directly without consuming disposable seals or vacuum bags, eliminating waste while maintaining process simplicity through standardized reusable components.
Solution Approach 2:
The reusable bladder and vacuum bag system with pneumatic connector provides universal functionality across multiple cure cycles. The same components can be reused indefinitely, eliminating the need for disposable materials while maintaining ease of manufacture through standardized, multi-functional equipment.
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
Reduces sealing time, minimizes waste, and ensures consistent part quality by enabling quick and reliable pressurization of the bladder, promoting sustainable and efficient composite curing processes.
Implementation Method 1
the pneumatic connector forming a pressure passageway to provide an external pressure to an interior of the reusable bladder
Implementation Method 2
a reusable bladder configured to apply pressure to an internal cavity of a composite part during autoclave curing
Implementation Method 3
Heat and pressure are applied to the composite material supported on the cure tool and the reusable bladder to cure the composite material
Implementation Method 4
Heat and pressure are applied to the composite material supported on the cure tool and the reusable bladder to cure the composite material
Data Source
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AI summary
A reusable composite curing system (202, 300, 501, 601) comprising: a reusable bladder (208, 302, 506, 604); an end fitting (210, 304, 504, 606) sealed to the reusable bladder (208, 302, 506, 604), the end fitting (210, 304, 504, 606) containing a passage (222, 306, 622) in communication with an interior (224, 303) of the reusable bladder (208, 302, 506, 604) and a first half (226, 310, 628) of a pneumatic connector (228, 311, 627) secured within the end fitting (210, 304, 504, 606) and in communication with the passage (222, 306, 622); and a cure tool (211, 316, 502, 608) having a venting channel (212, 314, 624) extending from a supporting surface (214, 318, 632) of the cure tool (211, 316, 502, 608) and exiting through one of an underside (216, 320, 624) or a side (218 or 220, 636 or 638) of the cure tool (211, 316, 502, 608), and a second half (230, 312, 626) of the pneumatic connector (228, 311, 627) secured within the venting channel (212, 314, 624), the first half (226, 310, 628) of the pneumatic connector (228, 311, 627) releasable from the second half (230, 312, 626) of the pneumatic connector (228, 311, 627) while maintaining the second half (230, 312, 626) of the pneumatic connector (228, 311, 627) in the cure tool (211, 316, 502, 608) and while maintaining the first half (226, 310, 628) of the pneumatic connector (228, 311, 627) from the end fitting (210, 304, 504, 606) .