US 12,377,617 B2
System and method for manufacturing panels for use in wind turbine rotor blade components
James Robert Tobin, Greenville, SC (US); Andrew McCalip, Houston, TX (US); Lauren Laurer Watts, Lyman, SC (US); Hongyi Zhou, Schenectady, NY (US); Huijuan Dai, Simpsonville, SC (US); and Collin McKee Sheppard, Greenville, SC (US)
Assigned to GE Vernova Infrastructure Technology LLC, Greenville, SC (US)
Appl. No. 17/627,198
Filed by General Electric Company, Schenectady, NY (US)
PCT Filed Jul. 16, 2019, PCT No. PCT/US2019/041905
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jan. 14, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/010980, PCT Pub. Date Jan. 21, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0260050 A1, Aug. 18, 2022
Int. Cl. B29C 70/50 (2006.01); B29C 35/08 (2006.01); B29C 43/32 (2006.01); B29C 43/36 (2006.01); B29C 43/44 (2006.01); B29C 43/52 (2006.01); B29C 35/16 (2006.01); B29C 43/34 (2006.01); B29L 31/08 (2006.01)
CPC B29C 70/50 (2013.01) [B29C 43/44 (2013.01); B29C 43/52 (2013.01); B29C 2035/0838 (2013.01); B29C 2035/1658 (2013.01); B29C 2043/3233 (2013.01); B29C 2043/3466 (2013.01); B29C 2043/3655 (2013.01); B29L 2031/085 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for manufacturing a panel, the system comprising:
a support frame;
a first caul plate arranged atop the support frame;
a second caul plate arranged atop the first caul plate;
a heating assembly comprising a housing defining an inlet and an outlet, the housing comprising one or more heaters, the one or more heaters configured to generate heat, the housing configured to generate a first pressurized gas film;
wherein one or more layers of material to be consolidated is placed between the first and second caul plates and drawn through the heating assembly as the heating assembly applies pressure to the one or more layers of material to be consolidated via the first pressurized gas film in combination with applying heat via the one or more heaters, thereby consolidating the panel; and
wherein the first and second caul plates are hinged on one side thereof to facilitate removal of the panel or reinserting one or more additional layers of material.