US 11,930,565 B1
Carbon nanotube heater composite tooling apparatus and method of use
Anna P. Skinner, Rockledge, FL (US); Kayla S. O'Neill, Madison, WI (US); Rachna C. Igwe, Rockledge, FL (US); Philip Cox, Cocoa Beach, FL (US); and Justin J. Hill, Cape Canaveral, FL (US)
Assigned to Mainstream Engineering Corporation, Rockledge, FL (US)
Filed by Mainstream Engineering Corporation, Rockledge, FL (US)
Filed on Feb. 5, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/168,840.
Int. Cl. H05B 3/14 (2006.01); B29C 33/02 (2006.01); B29C 33/38 (2006.01); H05B 3/34 (2006.01)
CPC H05B 3/145 (2013.01) [B29C 33/02 (2013.01); B29C 33/3807 (2013.01); H05B 3/34 (2013.01); H05B 2203/005 (2013.01); H05B 2203/011 (2013.01); H05B 2203/013 (2013.01); H05B 2214/04 (2013.01)] 5 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A curing components out of autoclave and out of oven tool, comprising:
a first main tool plate made from a material having a thermal conductivity less than 2 W/m-K and having a first nonplanar geometry selected from the group consisting of aircraft aerodynamic surfaces, aircraft fuselage, wind turbine blades, and sailboat masts;
a second main tool plate made from a material having a thermal conductivity less than 2 W/m-K and having a second nonplanar geometry selected from the group consisting of aircraft aerodynamic surfaces, aircraft fuselage, wind turbine blades, and sailboat masts;
a first sealant layer directly applied onto the first main tool plate and closes off surface porosity;
a second sealant layer directly applied onto the second main tool plate and closes off surface porosity;
a first carbon nanotube resistive heater that is a network of electrically connected carbon nanotubes encompassed within a binder material and is directly applied onto the first sealant layer;
a second carbon nanotube resistive heater that is a network of electrically connected carbon nanotubes encompassed within a binder material and is directly applied onto the second sealant layer;
a first plurality of electrical conductors made from a thermoset or thermoplastic material in conjunction with a metal conductor and connected to the first heater;
a second plurality electrical conductors made from a thermoset or thermoplastic material in conjunction with a metal conductor and connected to the second heater;
a first ceramic topcoat is applied on the first heater and the first plurality of electrical conductors; and
a second ceramic topcoat is applied on the second heater and the second plurality of electrical conductors.