Sealing and testing segmented tools

摘要

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.

主权项

1. A method for sealing and monitoring multiple segments of a mandrel in an autoclave environment, comprising:
forming an inner bag vacuum chamber overlapping ends and seams of the mandrel segments and an inner seal between the mandrel segments; forming an outer vacuum bag chamber and an H-shaped seal area on opposite ends of the inner bag vacuum chamber; forming an outer seal chamber using the H-shaped seal area, an outer seal and a middle seal; forming an inner seal chamber using the middle seal and the inner seal; applying autoclave pressure to the segments of the mandrel; and monitoring the integrity of any of the inner seal, the middle seal and the outer seal.