Patent ID: 8043453

Claim:
A method of preparing an impregnated composite patch for use in reworking a composite part, the method comprising: providing a wet composite patch which is impregnated with resin; heating the impregnated composite patch to a temperature that causes the resin containing gaseous components to flow from the impregnated composite patch along a flow path; flowing the resin along the flow path to a filter; and venting the gaseous components from the resin through the filter while preventing the resin from flowing through the filter in order to remove the gaseous components from the impregnated composite patch while reducing the flow of resin out of the impregnated composite patch, wherein the flow path comprises a first portion having a first flow capability and a second portion having a second flow capability that is less than the first flow capability, the flow rate of resin through the flow path being limited by the second flow capability.