Outlet Guide Vane Bonding Without Vacuum Autoclave
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing method for assembling guide vanes in turbojet engines is cumbersome and prone to errors due to the use of single-use airtight pockets, which can be damaged and lead to geometric and mechanical faults, and requires a vacuum autoclave for polymerization, making the process time-consuming and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A method using an inflatable bladder and a pocket to apply pressure and heat for polymerizing resin between the guide vane body and cowl, eliminating the need for a vacuum autoclave and reducing assembly time, with optional internal or external heating means and reinforcement for the bladder to protect against sharp edges.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If an airtight pocket is used to hold the body and cover under vacuum during polymerization, then the resin joint quality is improved by avoiding porosities, but the assembly process becomes time-consuming and the pocket is prone to damage
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the vacuum requirement from the process by replacing the vacuum autoclave with an atmospheric pressure heating chamber. The bladder maintains pressing force without vacuum, eliminating the time-consuming vacuum creation and maintenance steps while preserving resin joint quality through controlled atmospheric heating.
Solution Approach 2:
The bladder acts as an intermediary between the heating chamber and the resin joint. It provides the necessary pressing force to prevent porosity formation during polymerization, replacing the function previously achieved through vacuum pressure differential, while allowing the process to occur at atmospheric pressure.
2Strength
If an airtight pocket is used to apply pressing force during polymerization, then the resin seal thickness and adhesion are improved, but the pocket is single-use and prone to perforation or tearing
Solution Approach 1:
The invention reverses the disposable concept by making the bladder reusable. The bladder is designed with reinforcement at critical points to withstand multiple assembly cycles, eliminating the need for single-use pockets while maintaining the necessary pressing force for strong resin adhesion.
Solution Approach 2:
The bladder incorporates reinforcement elements before use to prevent damage from sharp edges and high pressing forces. This pre-protection allows the bladder to withstand the demanding assembly process repeatedly, transforming a previously fragile single-use tool into a durable reusable component.
3Temperature
If a vacuum autoclave is used for heating and polymerization, then the resin polymerization is achieved, but the process requires complex vacuum equipment and extended time
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the vacuum requirement from the heating and polymerization process. By using a bladder to provide pressing force at atmospheric pressure, the complex vacuum autoclave equipment is replaced with a simple atmospheric heating chamber, significantly reducing device complexity while maintaining polymerization effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the vacuum mechanical system with a pneumatic system. The bladder, inflated with compressed air, provides the necessary pressing force that previously required vacuum pressure differential, eliminating the need for vacuum pumps and complex vacuum control systems.
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 reduces assembly time, avoids damage to the assembly tool, and ensures a strong, reliable bond without the need for single-use consumables, improving the efficiency and quality of the guide vane assembly process.
Implementation Method 1
a step for inflating the bladder thus held against the lower surface so as to exert on the cover a force for pressing the latter against said junction face of the body
Implementation Method 2
a heating step capable of polymerizing the resin and thus fixing the cover to the body of dawn
Implementation Method 3
a step for wrapping the bladder, the cowl and the body with a pocket so as to hold the bladder against the lower surface
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
AI summary
The invention relates to a method of assembling a member (71) and a cap (72) of a vane (7) using a tool (9) which allows the application of a pressing force of the cap (72) against the member (71) during a step of polymerisation by heating a resin for bonding these components. To this end, the tool (9) comprises an inflatable bladder (91) and a pocket (92) which surrounds the bladder (91) and the vane (7) so that the inflated bladder (91) applies said pressing force. The heating can be carried out by resistors (912) which are mounted in the bladder (91) and/or using a device for supplying external heat.