Patent ID: 9669579
Date: 2017-06-06
CPC Classifications: B29C,B29K,B29L,B64F,Y10T

Claim:
1. A method for producing a composite structural member, comprising: positioning a first composite section and a second composite section on a tool, the tool being supported by a tool platform and wherein the tool comprises an inner surface and a top wall joining a side wall at a wall intersection, the tool platform and a pressure platform relatively movable between an open position and a closed position; the tool having a non-planar outer surface against which the composite structural member may be pressed; positioning a composite splice member at least partially overlapping both the first composite section and the second composite section to form a splice joint that joins the first composite section and the second composite section in an end-to-end relationship in the composite structural member; pressing the composite structural member against the non-planar outer surface of the tool by applying pressure to the splice joint from a pressure bladder; applying heat to the composite structural member at the splice joint to cure the composite splice member to the first composite section and the second composite section, wherein the heat is applied through a tool liner applied to the inner surface of the tool, wherein the tool liner is in thermal contact with the inner surface of the tool for distributing the heat, and wherein a heat sink is in thermal contact with a portion of the inner surface and being mounted between the tool liner and the wall intersection.