US 11,717,992 B2
Apparatus and method for improved heating and cooling rates of a composite cure tool
William L. Serencsits, Charleston, SC (US)
Assigned to The Boeing Company, Arlington, VA (US)
Filed by The Boeing Company, Chicago, IL (US)
Filed on Feb. 7, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/785,038.
Prior Publication US 2021/0245403 A1, Aug. 12, 2021
Int. Cl. B29C 35/02 (2006.01); B29C 35/16 (2006.01)
CPC B29C 35/02 (2013.01) [B29C 35/16 (2013.01); B29C 2035/1658 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A cure tool for managing thermal cycling of a composite component, the cure tool comprising:
a base plate comprising a work surface, for supporting the composite component, and a back surface opposite the work surface;
one or more fins protruding from the back surface of the base plate and in thermal communication with the base plate, the one or more fins comprises a planar surface; and
one or more separately controllable heating elements directly coupled to the planar surface of one of the one or more fins and configured to selectively provide heat to the base plate.