Spirit Aerosystems, Inc.

Gerard F Spexarth

Rodney Eugene Bahr

Darin Clay Wiley

Ryan Craig Harris

A system and method of a method of sealing a leak in an internal bladder within a hollow uncured composite part during cure thereof. The method may include placing a rescue bladder within the internal bladder and sealing an impermeable membrane and/or rigid forming tool to the rescue bladder, such that the uncured composite part is sealed within a chamber cooperatively formed by the impermeable membrane, the rigid forming tool, and the outer surface of the rescue bladder. A vent opening of the rescue bladder and/or a vent opening of the end fitting may remain located outward of the chamber. The method may also include curing the hollow uncured composite part, introducing a pressure differential causing the rescue bladder to inflate and press the internal bladder against an inner surface of the hollow uncured composite part.

Method for bladder repair during composite part curing

A bladder monitoring apparatus and method for monitoring an inflatable bladder during curing of composite material in an autoclave. The bladder may be wrapped with composite material and have an impermeable membrane sealed around the composite material. The method may include the steps of fluidly coupling a vacuum port of the impermeable membrane with a vacuum source and fluidly coupling a vent of the bladder with a first port of a flow meter located outward of the autoclave. A second port of the flow meter may also be fluidly coupled with atmosphere within the autoclave. The method may then include evacuating air from within the impermeable membrane. If a flow above a threshold flow is detected by the flow meter, the leak in the bladder may be located and repaired or a valve of the flow meter between the first and second ports may be closed.

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Wichita, KS, United States of America

Gerard F Spexarth