Expandable tooling systems and methods
US11298892B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 1, 2019 |
| Grant date | Apr 12, 2022 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 6, 2040 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB29L2031/3076
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
Methods of manufacturing composite workpieces that include adding an expandable element to an internal volume of a constraining container proximate to a uncured composite workpiece supported on a rigid form, where the expandable element is configured to expand when a predetermined change is produced in an attribute of the expandable element; expanding the expandable element by producing the predetermined change in the attribute of the expandable element, so that an expansion of the expandable element applies pressure to the workpiece supported on the rigid form within the internal volume, and curing the composite workpiece while the resulting pressure is applied to the workpiece supported on the rigid form.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.