Cycle counter mechanism for use in an autoclave oven

Abstract

A cycle counter mechanism is provided for monitoring the service life of layup molds, such as a mold used for the manufacturing of parts in an autoclave oven. A body that is suitable for use in the autoclave oven is located on the mold. At least one rod is located on the body which elongates and contracts due to heat. At least one gear is located on the body so as to rotate about its own axis and which extends when the heat in the autoclave oven increases to trigger the gear. A gear is triggered by the rod to rotate about its own axis. A counter is triggered with the rotational movement of the gear and provides information about the number of uses of the mold depending on the rotational movement.

Claims

1. A cycle counter mechanism (1) comprising: at least one mold (K) used for production of parts in an autoclave oven (O), a body (2) suitable for use in the autoclave oven (O) and located on the mold (K), a plurality of rods (3) located on the body (2), each of which elongates and contracts, due to heat, a plurality of gears (4) located on the body (2) that each rotate about an associated axis and when the heat increases in the autoclave oven (O), each of the plurality of rods (3) extends and triggers an associated one of the plurality of gears (4) to rotate about the axis associated with that gear, a counter (5) which is triggered with a rotational movement of the at least one of the plurality of gears (4) and provides information about a number of uses of the mold (K) depending on the rotational movement, and wherein each of the plurality of rods (3) triggers each associated gear of the plurality of gears (4) at a different time while the mold (K) is heated within the autoclave oven (O).

2. The cycle counter mechanism (1) according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of rods (3) is manufactured from a different material.

3. The cycle counter mechanism (1) according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of rods (3) is manufactured from a bimetallic material.

4. A cycle counter mechanism (1) according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of rods (3) is manufactured from a shape memory alloy material.

5. The cycle counter mechanism (1) according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of gears (4) has a shape and/or size which remains fixed during the production of parts in the autoclave oven (O).

6. The cycle counter mechanism (1) according to claim 1, wherein the body (2) is detachably mounted onto the mold (K).

7. The cycle counter mechanism (1) according to claim 1, wherein the counter (5) is adapted for use for a same and/or different mold (K) and enables recounts to be made by getting reset by a user and/or getting reduced to a predetermined value by the user.

8. The cycle counter mechanism (1) according to claim 1, comprising at least one tracking indicator (6) on which service life information of the mold (K) predetermined by a manufacturer thereof is provided and which is located on the body (2) for tracking maintenance and/or repair of the mold (K).

9. The cycle counter mechanism (1) according to claim 1, wherein the counter (5) is positioned on one of the plurality of gears (4).

10. The cycle counter mechanism (1) according to claim 1, wherein the body (2) is adapted for use in production of composite parts for aerospace vehicles.

Description

(1) FIG. 1is a schematic view of the autoclave and composite mold.

(2) FIG. 2is a schematic view of the cycle counter mechanism.

(3) FIG. 3is a schematic view of the mold and cycle counter mechanism.

(4) FIG. 4is a schematic view of the cycle counter mechanism.

(5) FIG. 5is a schematic view of the cycle counter mechanism.

(6) The parts in the figures are individually numbered and the equivalents of these numbers are given below. 1. Cycle counter mechanism 2. Body 3. Rod 4. Gear 5. Counter 6. Tracking indicator (K) Mold (O) Autoclave oven

(7) The cycle counter mechanism (1) comprises at least one mold (K) used for the production of parts in the autoclave oven (O), a body (2) suitable for use in the autoclave oven (O) and located on the mold (K), at least one rod (3) which is located on the body (2) and is capable of elongating and contacting due to heat, at least one gear (4) located on the body (2) so as to rotate about its own axis, a gear (4) which extends when the heat in the autoclave oven (O) increases and triggers the gear (4), and which is triggered by the rod (3) to rotate about its own axis, and a counter (5) which is triggered with the rotational movement of the gear (4) and provides information about the number of uses of the mold (K) depending on the rotational movement. (FIG. 1 and FIG. 2)

(8) The cycle counter mechanism (1) according to the present invention comprises a body (2) having multiple rods, each triggering the gear (4) at a different time than the other while the mold (K) is heated in the autoclave oven (O). (FIG. 2)

(9) The cycle counter mechanism (1) comprises at least one mold (K) used for the production of parts in the autoclave oven (O), and a body (2) which is located on the mold (K) and is suitable for use in the autoclave oven (O). At least one gear (4) located on the body (2) so as to rotate about its own axis by means of at least one rod (3) which is located on the body (2) and is capable to elongate and contract due to heat, extends and triggers the gear (4) when the heat in the autoclave oven (O) increases. The gear (4), which is triggered by the rod (3) and rotates about its own axis, comprises a counter that is triggered by the gear's (4) rotational movement and gives information about the number of uses of the mold (K) depending on the rotational movement.

(10) By virtue of multiple rods (3) located on the body (2), the cycle counter mechanism (1) provides the triggering of the gear (4) with each of the rods triggering it at a different time than the other while the mold (K) is heated in the autoclave oven (O).

(11) In an embodiment of the present invention, the cycle counter mechanism (1) comprises more than one rod (3), each manufactured from a different material. By virtue of multiple rods (3) for different temperature and/or pressure values, the number of uses and/or service life of the mold (K) is monitored.

(12) In an embodiment of the present invention, the cycle counter mechanism (1) comprises a rod (3) manufactured from a bimetallic material. It comprises more than one rod (3) manufactured from a bimetallic material and elongating as a result of getting triggered by the pressure and/or temperature variation it is exposed to. As a result of producing the rod (3) from a bimetallic material, the rod (3) can restore itself when the influence of temperature and/or pressure passes away.

(13) In an embodiment of the present invention, the cycle counter mechanism (1) comprises a rod (3) manufactured from a shape memory alloy material. It comprises more than one rod (3) manufactured from a shape memory alloy material and elongating as a result of becoming triggered by the pressure and/or temperature variation it is exposed to. As a result of producing the rod (3) from a shape memory alloy material, the rod (3) can restore itself when the influence of temperature and/or pressure passes away.

(14) In an embodiment of the present invention, the cycle counter mechanism (1) comprises a gear (4) of which the shape and/or size remains constant during the manufacturing of parts in the autoclave oven (O). As a result of manufacturing the rod (3) from a bimetallic and/or shape memory alloy material, it is triggered under the influence of temperature and/or pressure. The gear (4) manufactured from a material which is not affected by temperature and/or pressure values is ensured to remain in its fixed form for the rod (3) which is triggered under the influence of temperature and/or pressure.

(15) In an embodiment of the present invention, the cycle counter mechanism (1) comprises a body (2) detachably mounted onto the mold (K), enables adapting itself to different molds (K). It can be used for molds (K) which are exposed to different temperature and/or pressure influences.

(16) In an embodiment of the present invention, the cycle counter mechanism (1) comprises more than one gear (4) located on the body (2) so that each of which can trigger the other, and more than one rod (3) located on the body (2) so that each of which can trigger a different gear (4). It can be used for higher number of uses by virtue of multiple gears (4) that actuate each other and/or of multiple rods (3) each of which actuating a different gear (4).

(17) In an embodiment of the present invention, the cycle counter mechanism (1) comprises a counter (5) that can be used for the same and/or different molds (K) and that enables recounts to be made by getting reset by the user and/or getting reduced to a predetermined value by the user. In this way, the cycle counter mechanism (1) is used even if the mold (K) is not used.

(18) In an embodiment of the present invention, the cycle counter mechanism (1) comprises at least one tracking indicator (6) on which the service life information of the mold (K) predetermined by the manufacturer is provided and which is located on the body (2) for tracking the maintenance and/or repair of the mold (K). In this way, it is ensured that molds (K) that are due for maintenance and/or repair are monitored simultaneously for maintenance and/or repair.

(19) In an embodiment of the present invention, the cycle counter mechanism (1) comprises a counter (5) positioned on the gear (4). By virtue of the counter (5) positioned on the gear (4), the number of uses of the mold is monitored on the gear (4).

(20) In an embodiment of the present invention, the cycle counter mechanism (1) comprises a body (2) suitable for use in the production of composite parts in aerospace vehicles. In aerospace vehicles manufactured at high temperatures and/or high pressures, the number of uses of the mold (K) for the production of composite parts is hereby monitored.