초록 ▼

A method and apparatus for light curing of composite materials in which the radiation required to initiate the curing is delivered via one or more lossy fiber optics. The fiber optics are made lossy by methods such as bending the fiber, weaving the fiber into a mat to create periodic micro-bends, ta

A method and apparatus for light curing of composite materials in which the radiation required to initiate the curing is delivered via one or more lossy fiber optics. The fiber optics are made lossy by methods such as bending the fiber, weaving the fiber into a mat to create periodic micro-bends, tailoring the thickness of the fiber cladding to allow evanescent wave transmission, or simply removing the cladding at intervals along the fiber. Distribution of the light through out the composite material results in dramatic power and time reductions over traditional light curing methods. Unlike thermal curing of composite materials, there is no need for an auto-clave and hence no limit on the size of the part that may be created. Additional benefits include the possibility of curing at operational temperature and so avoiding thermal stresses.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A curing apparatus, comprising:a light curable material, said material being capable of being cured by exposure to one or more specific wavelengths of electro-magnetic radiation; andone or more lossy optical fibers arranged in proximity to said curable material such that when one end of said fibe

1. A curing apparatus, comprising:a light curable material, said material being capable of being cured by exposure to one or more specific wavelengths of electro-magnetic radiation; andone or more lossy optical fibers arranged in proximity to said curable material such that when one end of said fibers is illuminated with said electro-magnetic radiation,said curable material is cured by said electro-magnetic radiation leaked by said lossy optical fiber at one or more sites along the length of said fibers. 2. The curing apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a source of electro-magnetic radiation. 3. The curing apparatus of claim 2 wherein said source of electro-magnetic radiation is chosen from the group consisting of light emitting diodes, fluorescent lights, mercury lamps, xenon flash lamps, deuterium lamps, gas UV lasers and diode UV lasers. 4. The curing apparatus of claim 1 wherein said curable material is chosen from the group consisting of epoxy resins, polyester/styrene resins and acrylate resins. 5. The curing apparatus of claim 1 wherein said curable material is a composite structure. 6. The curing apparatus of claim 5 wherein said lossy optical fibers are embedded in said composite structure. 7. The curing apparatus of claim 1 wherein said electro-magnetic radiation is ultra-violet radiation with a wavelength less than or equal to 400 nm. 8. The curing apparatus of claim 7 wherein said ultra-violet radiation has a wavelength in the range 200 to 400 nm. 9. The curing apparatus of claim 1 wherein said electro-magnetic radiation is visible radiation with wavelengths in the range of 400 to 700 nm. 10. The curing apparatus of claim 1 wherein said electro-magnetic radiation is near infrared radiation with wavelengths in the range of 700-2000 nm. 11. The curing apparatus of claim 1 wherein said electro-magnetic radiation is mid wave infrared radiation with wavelengths in the range of 2-5 microns. 12. The curing apparatus of claim 1 wherein said electro-magnetic radiation is far infrared radiation with wavelengths in the range of 5-20 microns. 13. A curing apparatus, comprising:a light curable material, said material being capable of being cured by exposure to one or more specific wavelengths of electro-magnetic radiation; andone or more lossy optical fibers in proximity to said curable material such that when one end of said fibers is illuminated with said electro-magnetic radiation, said curable material is cured by said electro-magnetic radiation leaked from said light transmitting fiber as an evanescent wave. 14. The curing apparatus of claim 13 wherein said fibers have intermittently thin cladding, whereby said electro-magnetic radiation is leaked as said evanescent wave. 15. The curing apparatus of claim 13 wherein said fibers have continuously thin cladding, whereby said electro-magnetic radiation is leaked as said evanescent wave. 16. A curing apparatus, comprising:a light curable material, said material being capable of being cured by exposure to one or more specific wavelengths of electro-magnetic radiation; andone or more lossy optical fibers in proximity to said curable material, said fibers including a plurality of light holes spaced along said fibers such that when one end of said fibers is illuminated with said electro-magnetic radiation, said curable material is cured by said electro-magnetic radiation leaked from said light transmitting fiber via said light holes. 17. The curing apparatus of claim 16 wherein said light holes are formed as divots in the cladding. 18. The curing apparatus of claim 17 wherein said divots are approximately 100 microns in width and are spaced at approximately 5 mm intervals. 19. A curing apparatus, comprising:a light curable material, said material being capable of being cured by exposure to one or more specific wavelengths of electro-magnetic radiation; andone or more light transmitting fibers in proximity to said curable material, said fiber including one or more bent regions of said fiber such that when one end of said fibers is illuminated with said electro-magnetic radiation, said curable material is cured by said electro-magnetic radiation leaked from said light transmitting fiber via said bent regions. 20. The curing apparatus of claim 19 wherein said bent regions are formed by weaving said fibers. 21. The curing apparatus of claim 20 further including a fiber pigtail. 22. A curing apparatus, comprising:a light curable material, said material being capable of being cured by exposure to one or more specific wavelengths of electro-magnetic radiation; andone or more light transmitting fibers in proximity to said curable material, said fiber including a protective sheath surrounding said fibers, wherein said protective sheath is a thin cladding of about 1 micron of a cured material substantially transparent to ultraviolet radiation obtained by exposing an ultraviolet radiation curable material to ultra-violet radiation. 23. A curing apparatus, comprising:a light curable material, said material being capable of being cured by exposure to one or more specific wavelengths of electro-magnetic radiation;a multiplicity of non-light transmitting fibers;a multiplicity of lossy optical fibers, said lossy optical fibers being woven together with said non-light transmitting fibers to form a mat, said mat being placed in proximity to said curable material;a source of said one or more specific wavelengths of electro-magnetic radiation, said source being capable of illuminating at least one end of said multiplicity of lossy optical fibers. 24. A curing method, comprising the steps of:a) placing one or more lossy optical fibers near to a material, wherein said material is characterized by curing on exposure to electro-magnetic radiation;b) illuminating at least one end of said lossy optical fibers with said electro-magnetic radiation;c) curing said material by exposure to said electro-magnetic radiation leaked from said lossy optical fibers at one or more sights along the length of said fibers. 25. The method recited in claim 24, wherein said electro-magnetic radiation is leaked as an evanescent wave. 26. The method recited in claim 24, wherein said lossy optical fibers further include a plurality of light holes spaced along said lossy optical fibers, and wherein said electromagnetic radiation is leaked from said lossy optical fibers at said light holes. 27. The method recited in claim 24, wherein said lossy optical fibers further include one or more bent regions, and wherein said electromagnetic radiation is leaked from said lossy optical fibers at said one or more bent regions. 28. The method recited in claim 24, wherein said lossy optical fibers further include a protective sheath surrounding said fibers and wherein said protective sheath is made of said material capable of being cured by exposure to ultra-violet radiation. 29. The method recited in claim 24, further including the steps of providing a multiplicity of non-light transmitting fibers; weaving said lossy optical fibers together with said non-light transmitting fibers to form a mat; and placing said mat in proximity to said curable material.