SUPERIMPOSED ZONES PROCESS HEATING

• US 20140017620A1
• Filed: 07/11/2013
• Published: 01/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ADC Acquisition Company (Trelleborg AB)
• Original Assignee: ADC Acquisition Company (Trelleborg AB)
• Inventors: August, Zachary A., Hauber, David E.
• Granted Patent: US 9,696,091 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 432/10
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2035/0811 using induction
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2035/0822 using IR radiation
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2035/0827 using UV radiation
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2035/0838 using laser
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2035/0855 using microwave
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 35/045 using gas or flames
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 35/0805 using electromagnetic radiation
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 70/38 Automated lay-up, e.g. using robots, laying filaments according to predetermined patterns application heads for tyres B29D30/28
• CPC Class Codes: F27D 11/00 Arrangement of elements for electric heating in or on furnaces electric heating per se H05B
• CPC Class Codes: F27D 11/12 with electromagnetic fields acting directly on the material being heated
• CPC Class Codes: F27D 2099/0028 Microwave heating
• CPC Class Codes: F27D 99/0006 Electric heating elements or system

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention include a heating method and apparatus in which a plurality of heated regions is superimposed in order to improve energy density control.

Claims

1. An apparatus for heating a material comprising:

a first heat source;

a second heat source;

wherein the first heat source is configured and disposed to form a first energy window on the material, and wherein the second heat source is configured and disposed to form a second energy window on the material, wherein the first energy window is completely superimposed on the second energy window.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first heat source and second heat source comprise lasers.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first heat source and second heat source comprise microwave heat sources.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first heat source and second heat source comprise ultraviolet heat sources.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first heat source and second heat source comprise infrared heat sources.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a third heat source.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the third heat source is configured and disposed to form a third energy window on the material, wherein the second energy window is completely superimposed on the third energy window.

8. An apparatus for heating a material comprising:

a first heat source;

a second heat source;

a third heat source;

wherein the first heat source is configured and disposed to form a first energy window on the material, and wherein the second heat source is configured and disposed to form a second energy window on the material, and wherein the third heat source is configured and disposed to form a third energy window on the material.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the first heat source, second heat source, and third heat source, are arranged to form nested energy windows.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first heat source, second heat source, and third heat source, are arranged to form five heat zones.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a tape feed controller, configured and disposed to dispense a composite tape into the five heat zones.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the first heat source, second heat source, and third heat source comprise microwave heat sources.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the first heat source, second heat source, and third heat source comprise ultraviolet heat sources.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the first heat source, second heat source, and third heat source comprise infrared heat sources.

15. A method for heating a composite material comprising:

passing the composite material through a first energy window from a first heat source;

passing the composite material through a second energy window from a second heat source;

monitoring the temperature of the material at an exit point from the second energy window; and

adjusting an energy output of the first heat source and second heat source in response to the monitored temperature of the material.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising adjusting a tape dispensing speed in response to the monitored temperature of the material.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising creating a material profile.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein creating a material profile comprises:

establishing a tape speed;

establishing an energy density profile; and

establishing an exit temperature range.

16. The method of 15, further comprising setting the first energy source to a preheat energy.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising setting the second energy source to a maintenance energy.