Static coil apparatus and method for welding thermoplastic composite structures
US6323468A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 25, 2000 |
| Grant date | Nov 27, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 25, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB29K2105/06
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A static coil induction welding apparatus and method for induction welding thermoplastic composite structures. The apparatus includes a plurality of independent coil segments disposed adjacent one another in side-by-side fashion to form a coil pack. A plurality of such coil packs are disposed in side-by-side fashion to form a coil assembly which covers the entire area of the weld zone. An AC power supply associated with each coil pack applies an AC signal through a switching network to electrically energize its associated coil segments such that the AC signals are in predetermined phase relationships relative to one another, thus generating a plurality of eddy current loops in a susceptor placed between the components being welded. The switching network alternately switches the coil segments such that the AC signals applied to the coil segments are shifted back and forth between adjacently disposed coil segments repeatedly approximately every 0.5 seconds. This produces a back and forth lateral shifting of the induced eddy current loops by about one-half the width of one current loop to provide uniform heating of the susceptor. It also eliminates various drawbacks associated with dy…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.