The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 06, 2012
Filed:
Feb. 23, 2009
Howard Daniel Driver, Greer, SC (US);
Howard Daniel Driver, Greer, SC (US);
General Electric Company, Schenectady, NY (US);
Abstract
A method of making a composite material article includes, in an exemplary embodiment, providing a pre-impregnated preform formed from a plurality of reinforcing fibers and a polymer matrix, positioning the preform on a flat base plate, positioning a pressure bladder on top of the preform, and positioning a bridge tool above the pressure bladder. The bridge tool includes a top plate and at least one support member. The support members are coupled to the base plate with the top plate spaced above the pressure bladder. The method also includes enclosing the preform and bridge tool inside a vacuum bag by sealingly attaching the vacuum bag to the base plate, drawing a vacuum in the vacuum bag to remove air and volatiles from the preform, and then applying pressure to the preform by inflating the pressure bladder to consolidate the preform.