Sealing and Testing Segmented Tools

• US 20170074749A1
• Filed: 12/02/2016
• Published: 03/16/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Dull, Kenneth M.
• Granted Patent: US 10,921,210 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 33/0038 with sealing means or the like seals on envelopes used in tyre retreading B29D30/542; for injection moulding footwear B29D35/0045
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 33/485 cores or mandrels collapsible mandrels for shaping tube ends B29C57/02; collapsible mandrels for winding and joining B29C53/824
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 70/44 using isostatic pressure, e.g. pressure difference-moulding, vacuum bag-moulding, autoclave-moulding or expanding rubber-moulding
• CPC Class Codes: F16J 15/02 between relatively-stationary surfaces F16J15/46, F16J15/48 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/04 by detecting the presence of fluid at the leakage point
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/3236 by monitoring the interior space of the containers

Abstract

A substantially air-tight triple seal arrangement along a seam between first and second tool segments comprises inner, middle and outer seals forming first and second substantially air tight vacuum chambers.

Claims

1. A method of sealing and testing the integrity of seals between at least two segments of a tool, comprising:

arranging an inner seal, an outer seal and a middle seal to form first and second seal chambers between the two tool segments;

applying a vacuum to each of the first and second seal chambers; and

detecting a leak in the inner seal or the outer seal by sensing a change in vacuum pressure within the first and second seal chambers.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

placing an H-shaped seal area between the two tool segments, and connecting legs of the H-shaped seal area to each of the middle and the outer seals.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

placing an inner vacuum bag over the two tool segments; and

sealing the inner vacuum bag to the H-shaped seal area.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

placing an outer vacuum bag over the two tool segments covering the inner vacuum bag; and

sealing the outer vacuum bag to legs of the H-shaped seal area.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

using the outer vacuum bag to apply pressure to a seal between the inner vacuum bag and the H-shaped seal area.

6. A method of autoclave processing a composite part on a segmented tool, comprising:

forming a triple seal between adjoining segments of the tool, including forming an inner seal, a middle seal and an outer seal;

placing an inner vacuum bag over the segmented tool covering the composite part;

forming an inner bag vacuum chamber by forming a seal between the inner vacuum bag and the inner seal;

placing an outer vacuum bag over the segmented tool covering the inner vacuum bag;

forming an outer bag vacuum chamber by forming a seal between the outer vacuum bag and the outer seal;

drawing vacuums respectively within the inner vacuum bag chamber and the outer vacuum bag chamber;

using the outer vacuum bag to apply pressure to the seal between the inner vacuum bag and the inner seal; and

compressing the triple seal by applying autoclave pressure to the segments of the tool.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

detecting a leak in any one of the inner seal, the middle seal or the outer seal.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the inner seal, the middle seal and the outer seal are arranged to form an inner seal chamber and an outer seal chamber, and detecting the leak is performed by sensing a change in vacuum pressure in either the inner seal chamber or the outer seal chamber.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein forming the outer vacuum bag chamber further includes forming an H-shaped seal between the adjoining segments of the tool outside of the inner vacuum bag chamber.

10. A substantially air-tight seal arrangement along a seam between first and second tool segments, comprising:

inner, middle and outer seals forming first and second substantially air tight vacuum chambers.

11. The seal arrangement of claim 10, wherein:

the inner, middle and outer seals extend along a length of the seam, and are arranged in an H-shaped pattern at each of opposite ends of the seam.

12. The seal arrangement of claim 11, wherein:

the first and second tool segments are arranged to form a layup surface, and the H-shaped pattern includes first and second legs adapted to be sealed to first and second vacuum bags covering the layup surface.

13. The seal arrangement of claim 10, wherein the inner, the middle and the outer seals are spaced apart from, and extend longitudinally along the seam.

14. The seal arrangement of claim 10, wherein:

the inner and middle seals are spaced apart from each other and form the first vacuum chamber, and

the middle and outer seals are spaced apart from each other and form the second vacuum chamber.

15. The seal arrangement of claim 10, further comprising:

an H-shaped seal area located at opposite ends of the seam and connected to the middle seal and the outer seal.

16. The seal arrangement of claim 10, wherein:

each of the first and second vacuum chambers is adapted to be coupled with a vacuum source and a vent for independently testing the inner, middle and outer seals for air leaks.

17. The seal arrangement of claim 10, further comprising:

first and second vacuum probes are respectively sensing vacuum pressure in the first and second vacuum chambers.