APPARATUSES AND METHODS FOR EFFICIENT SEALING OF VACUUM BAG SEAMS

摘要

Apparatuses and methods of the present disclosure relate to efficient sealing of vacuum bag seams for vacuum bag processing of composite parts. Vacuum bags may enclose a composite part and form a first sealed region around the composite part. The first sealed region may be sealed by vacuum bag seams to a base supporting the composite part and/or to other vacuum bags. The vacuum bag seams may be sealed with an edge sealing frame that forms a compression seal and that defines a second sealed region including the sealed seam. Vacuum applied to the second sealed region forms a vacuum moat adjacent to the seam and/or at least partially surrounding the first sealed region. Hence, minor leaks in the compressively sealed seam are mitigated by the vacuum moat and the vacuum integrity of the first sealed region is maintained despite some potential leaks in the sealed seam.

主权项

1. A method of manufacturing a composite part, the method comprising:
placing an uncured composite part on a base; forming a first sealed region by covering the uncured composite part with one or more vacuum bags and sealing the vacuum bags by one or more seams to the base and/or each other around the uncured composite part, wherein each seam includes at least a portion of an edge of the one or more vacuum bags, and wherein the sealing includes sealing at least one seam with a compression seal applied by an edge sealing frame that defines a second sealed region encompassing the at least one seam; applying workpiece vacuum to the first sealed region; applying sealing vacuum to the second sealed region; and curing the uncured composite part to form a cured composite part.