US 12,409,617 B2
Composite compaction system supported by a number of morphable bag supports
Luis Velasquez, Charleston, SC (US); and Cristina Velasquez, Daytona Beach, FL (US)
Assigned to The Boeing Company, Chicago, IL (US)
Filed by The Boeing Company, Chicago, IL (US)
Filed on Jan. 5, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/150,676.
Prior Publication US 2024/0227326 A1, Jul. 11, 2024
Int. Cl. B29C 70/44 (2006.01); B29C 70/54 (2006.01); B29L 31/30 (2006.01)
CPC B29C 70/443 (2013.01) [B29C 70/446 (2013.01); B29C 70/544 (2021.05); B29L 2031/3082 (2013.01)] 24 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of supporting a composite compaction system comprising: holding a number of morphable bag supports of the composite compaction system in a retracted state; placing a contact face of a vacuum bag of the composite compaction system in contact with a material on a support structure; and placing the number of morphable bag supports in an engaged state to conform to the support structure, wherein each of the number of morphable bag supports comprises a plurality of fingers separated by gaps and a plurality of pressure chambers within the plurality of fingers, wherein holding the number of morphable bag supports in the retracted state comprises applying a vacuum to the plurality of pressure chambers within the plurality of fingers, and wherein placing the number of morphable bag supports in the engaged state comprises applying a positive pressure to the plurality of pressure chambers within the plurality of fingers, wherein applying the vacuum to the plurality of pressure chambers within each of the number of morphable bag supports comprises applying a respective vacuum to each morphable bag support of the number of morphable bag supports independently of each other morphable bag support, and wherein applying the positive pressure to the plurality of pressure chambers within each of the number of morphable bag supports comprises applying positive pressure to each morphable bag support of the number of morphable bag supports independently of each other morphable bag support.