Patent ID: 9500593
Filing Date: 2016-11-22
CPC Classification: G01M,G01N

Claim Text:
1. Apparatus for compacting a composite part, comprising: a tool adapted to have the composite part placed thereon; a substantially transparent, gas impermeable film forming a bag adapted to be placed over the part and sealed to the tool, the film having an inside face, the bag configured to receive a vacuum applied on the inner face; a selectively activatable, colorimetric ink on the inside face of the film for providing a visual indication of the location of any air leaks in the film; a vacuum source for drawing the vacuum within the bag; and a radiation source for directing radiation through the film onto the colorimetric ink for activating the ink to an oxygen reactive state after the vacuum has been drawn in the bag, wherein the selectively activatable, colorimetric ink is configured to transition from a first color to a second color upon activation, and from the second color to a third color due to an oxidation-reduction reaction in areas of the film exposed to oxygen, the colorimetric ink configured to transition to the third color upon air leaking into the bag, and wherein the first color is blue, the second color is colorless, and the third color is green.