A vacuum probe comprises a sharpened body that is displaceable downward and toward a vacuum bag during vacuum hose quick connection. The sharpened body and a valve element inside the vacuum probe move in tandem until the sharpened body projects outside the vacuum probe. A vacuum pressure applied via the vacuum hose pulls the vacuum bag upwards and towards the projecting sharpened body, which then punctures the vacuum bag, thereby enabling air under the vacuum bag to be evacuated via the vacuum probe as vacuum pressure continues to be applied.

A simple and inexpensive method for forming a vacuum bagging film includes formation of ribs, each by a sequence including placement of pressing members on the film, on either side of a region of the film, then translational displacement of at least a second of the pressing members, to reduce a distance mutually separating the pressing members, while exerting respective pressures on the film by each of the pressing members such that the pressing member in translation drives the film with it by friction, whereby the region of the film is deformed by buckling in forming the rib, then the stopping of the translational displacement, and then removal of the pressing members.

A ply transporting and compacting apparatus comprises a rigid frame, a top-layer sheet of flexible rubber material fastened to the frame, and a bottom-layer sheet of perforated flexible rubber material having openings. The apparatus also comprises a middle-layer sheet of flow media material disposed in a first plenum area that is defined between the top and bottom layer sheets. The apparatus further comprises a moving device coupled to the frame and arranged to lower the frame and sheets onto a composite ply at a trimming location to pick up the composite ply with a suction force when a vacuum is drawn in the first plenum area to create the suction force through the openings of the bottom-layer sheet.

Disclosed is an elastomeric bladder tool and related systems and methods. In one embodiment, the elastomeric bladder tool comprises an elastomeric inner layer substantially defining an inner cavity of the elastomeric bladder tool, an elastomeric outer layer substantially defining an outer surface of the elastomeric bladder tool, and a permeable middle layer positioned between the elastomeric inner layer and the elastomeric outer layer. The permeable middle layer has greater permeability than both the elastomeric outer layer and the elastomeric inner layer to allow for evacuating of gases that have entered the permeable middle layer.

A method for producing a composite material joint body includes steps of: bonding a plurality of composite materials, forming a hollow body including at least a first cell and a second cell adjacent to the first cell, and adjusting a pressure so that a first pressure in the first cell is greater than a second pressure in the second cell. In the step of forming the hollow body, the first cell includes an expansion member pressurizing a first inner surface facing the first cell of a first cell member, and the second cell includes a gas pressurizing a second inner surface facing the second cell of a second cell member, and in the step of adjusting the pressure, the first pressure generated by the expansion member pressurizing the first inner surface is increased as compared with the second pressure generated by the gas pressurizing the second inner surface.

A skin-to-core bond line mapping system and method is disclosed. Layered composite components formed by sandwiching multiple materials together require a continuous bond between those materials with voids below particular thresholds that can vary by application. The skin-to-core bond line mapping system can include a laminate, an adhesive, a separator film, a core, a breather, a layup tool, bagging material, sealant, and a vacuum port. By employing systems and processes that layer separator film over adhesive and applying a core proximate the adhesive, a bagging material can be disposed over the materials to facilitate vacuum compaction, thereby impressing core impressions on the adhesive to map the areas between the skin and core that have good contact. An iterative process is disclosed, in which additional adhesive can be used to build the bond line until contact is made (or engineering tolerance is reached).

Systems and methods are provided for securing laminates to mandrels. One embodiment is a method for facilitating layup of preforms, the method including selecting a mandrel that includes at least one receptacle, disposing a first vacuum bag atop the mandrel that covers the receptacle, selecting a Ply Location Template (PLT) that includes a securement element, aligning a portion of the securement element with the receptacle, pressing the portion of the securement element downward into the first vacuum bag and driving the portion of the securement element into the receptacle, and abutting a preform against the PLT.

Systems and methods are provided for securing laminates to mandrels. One embodiment is a method for facilitating layup of preforms, the method including selecting a mandrel that includes at least one receptacle, disposing a first vacuum bag atop the mandrel that covers the receptacle, selecting a Ply Location Template (PLT) that includes a securement element, aligning a portion of the securement element with the receptacle, pressing the portion of the securement element downward into the first vacuum bag and driving the portion of the securement element into the receptacle, and abutting a preform against the PLT.

This disclosure includes methods and apparatus for forming a non-pneumatic tire carcass comprising an inner hub, an outer band, and a plurality of spokes. The method includes arranging the inner hub, the plurality of spokes, and the outer band to form a curing assembly arranged in a first arrangement within a forming apparatus, where the inner hub is arranged concentrically within a radially inner annular side of the outer band and the plurality of spokes are arranged between the outer band and the inner hub. The plurality of spokes are forced in opposite radial directions from the first arrangement and to a second arrangement, where each spoke of the plurality of spokes is forced in a curing position against the inner hub and towards the outer band in a curing arrangement. The plurality of spokes are then cured to each of the inner hub and outer band.

Disclosed is an elastomeric bladder tool and related systems and methods. In one embodiment, the elastomeric bladder tool comprises an elastomeric inner layer substantially defining an inner cavity of the elastomeric bladder tool, an elastomeric outer layer substantially defining an outer surface of the elastomeric bladder tool, and a permeable middle layer positioned between the elastomeric inner layer and the elastomeric outer layer. The permeable middle layer has greater permeability than both the elastomeric outer layer and the elastomeric inner layer to allow for evacuating of gases that have entered the permeable middle layer.