Apparatus for curing a composite laminate

• US 20060249885A1
• Filed: 12/18/2003
• Published: 11/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airbus Operations Limited (Airbus SE)
• Original Assignee: Airbus Operations Limited (Airbus SE)
• Inventors: Stacey, Paul Stephen, Williams, Stephen
• Granted Patent: US 8,142,707 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 264/410
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 35/0227 using pressure vessels, e.g. autoclaves, vulcanising pans B29C35/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 35/0288 Controlling heating or curing of polymers during moulding, e.g. by measuring temperatures or properties of the polymer and regulating the process controlling or regulating chemical, physical or physico- chemical processes in general B01J19/0006

Abstract

An apparatus and method for controlling the curing process during the manufacture of composite laminates and components. The apparatus including a temperature controlled vessel such as an autoclave in which the material is placed during curing and an infra-red temperature measuring device such as a camera located remotely from the component to measure the temperature of at least part of the material during curing.

Claims

1. An apparatus for curing composite material including a temperature controlled vessel in which the material is placed during curing and an infra-red temperature measuring device located remotely from the component to measure the temperature of at least part of the material during curing.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the measuring device sends temperature information to a system for controlling the temperature of the vessel which processes the information and changes the temperature as necessary.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the measuring device is located within the vessel.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the measuring device is located outside the vessel

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the temperature controlled vessel is an autoclave.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the infra-red temperature measuring device is a camera.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the temperature across the whole of the material is monitored.

8. A method for curing composite material including the steps of;

placing the material in a temperature controlled vessel and then,

curing the material and during the curing monitoring the taking temperature readings and monitoring the temperature of at least part of the material using an infra-red device remote from the material.

9. A method as claimed in claim 8 including processing the temperature readings and then adjusting the temperature of the vessel to maintain a constant curing temperature.

10-11. -11. (canceled)