Patent application number | Description | Published |
20120070668 | MULTI-FERROIC STRUCTURAL HEALTH MONITORING SYSTEMS AND METHODS - A method for testing a multiple layer structure is described. The method includes monitoring strains experienced by strain sensitive, magnetic particles disbursed within an adhesive between a first layer and a second layer, and analyzing any changes in the strains experienced by the particles to determine an amount of damage or degradation to the structure. | 03-22-2012 |
20120145703 | Curing Composites Out-Of-Autoclave Using Induction Heating with Smart Susceptors - A composite part is cured out-of-autoclave using an inductively heated, stand-alone tooling. The part in placed on a tool and is covered by a heating blanket. One side of the part is heated by inductive coil circuits in the tool, and the other side of the part is heated by inductive coil circuits in the blanket. | 06-14-2012 |
20120291948 | THERMOPLASTIC WELDING APPARATUS AND METHOD - A thermoplastic welding apparatus includes a thermoplastic welding tool, at least one tooling surface in the thermoplastic welding tool, a magnetic induction coil in the thermoplastic welding tool and generally encircling the at least one tooling surface and at least one smart susceptor in the thermoplastic welding tool at the at least one tooling surface. The magnetic induction coil is adapted to generate a magnetic flux field oriented generally parallel to a plane of the at least one smart susceptor. | 11-22-2012 |
20130082047 | Induction Heating Using Induction Coils in Series-Parallel Circuits - A part is inductively heated by multiple, self-regulating induction coil circuits having susceptors, coupled together in parallel and in series with an AC power supply. Each of the circuits includes a tuning capacitor that tunes the circuit to resonate at the frequency of AC power supply. | 04-04-2013 |
20130147636 | MULTI-FERROIC STRUCTURAL HEALTH MONITORING SYSTEMS - A structural health monitoring system for multiple layer structures includes a plurality of strain-sensitive magnetic particles dispersed within a bonding area between at least two individual layers, at least one multiferroic sensor dispersed on a surface of the multiple layer structure, proximate to an area of the structure to be monitored, the at least one multiferroic sensor capable of monitoring strains experienced by the strain-sensitive magnetic particles, and analyzing changes in the strains experienced by said strain-sensitive magnetic particles that may indicate damage or degradation in the structure, and a controller configured for periodic interrogation of the at least one multiferroic sensor. | 06-13-2013 |
20140116597 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR HEATING A MATERIAL - Methods and an apparatus are provided for heating a material. The apparatus includes a roller that includes at least one susceptor contained therein, and at least one induction coil coupled to the roller. The induction coil is configured to induce a magnetic field in the susceptor to facilitate increasing a temperature of the roller. | 05-01-2014 |
20140219854 | Method of Consolidating/Molding Near Net-Shaped Components Made from Powders - A method for consolidating a pre-form made of powder, comprising: (a) placing the pre-form between smart susceptors; (b) heating the smart susceptors to a leveling temperature by applying a varying low-strength magnetic field having a magnetic flux that passes through surfaces of the smart susceptors; (c) applying consolidation pressure to the pre-form at least during a time period subsequent to the temperature of the smart susceptors reaching the leveling temperature; and (d) while consolidation pressure is being applied, applying a pulsed high-strength magnetic field having a magnetic flux that passes through a surface of the pre-form. The strength and pulse rate of the high-strength magnetic field are selected so that the crystallographic phase of the pre-form will rapidly oscillate at a substantially constant temperature. The pulsed high-strength magnetic field is applied sufficiently long that superplasticity of the pre-form is attained during phase oscillation. | 08-07-2014 |
20140231402 | Induction Heating Augmentation for Thermal Curing - The thermal cycle time for curing a thermoset composite part in an autoclave is reduced by placing a heating blanket in proximity to an area of the composite part that is slow-to-heat, and inductively heating the area of the composite part that is slow-to-heat using the heating blanket. | 08-21-2014 |
20140353305 | Shim Manufacturing System - A method for forming a shim. A liquid shim material with a magnetically permeable material is applied in a location for the shim between a plurality of composite parts. A magnetic field is applied to the magnetically permeable material in the location. The magnetic field is configured to heat the liquid shim material to a temperature to cause the liquid shim material to become solid and form the shim. | 12-04-2014 |
20150014304 | Induction Welding System - A method and apparatus for performing induction welding. A number of protective layers are positioned between a susceptor layer and at least one of a plurality of workpieces at a weld location. An undesired current path is prevented from forming at the weld location during induction heating of the plurality of workpieces by the number of protective layers. | 01-15-2015 |