Methods and Apparatuses for Maintaining Temperature Differential in Materials Using Thermoelectric Devices During Hot Bonded Repair

Abstract

Methods systems and apparatuses are disclosed for maintaining and controlling the temperature of a material adjoining a composite material in situ, while the composite material is being heating during a composite material repair.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a heat source positioned proximate to a composite material;   a thermoelectric device positioned proximate to a structure, said structure positioned adjacent to the composite material;   a controller in communication with the thermoelectric device;   wherein said heat source is configured to apply heat to the composite material; and   wherein the apparatus is configured to maintain a temperature difference between a composite material temperature and a structure temperature, said temperature difference between the composite material temperature and the structure temperature ranging from about 20° F. to about 150° F.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the structure comprises a metallic material. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the structure comprises a non-metallic material. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the thermoelectric device is a Peltier device. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the thermoelectric device comprises a thermocouple. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the thermoelectric device comprises: a plurality of Peltier devices configured in series orientation or a plurality of Peltier devices configured in a stacked orientation. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the thermoelectric device comprises a solid-state active heat pump. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the thermoelectric device is configured to intimately contact the structure, said structure comprising a non-planar structure surface. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to control a current directed from an electric source to the thermoelectric device. 
     
     
         10 . A system for reworking a composite material in situ, said system comprising:
 a composite material requiring rework, said composite material comprising: a composite material first side and a composite material second side;   a structure, said structure having a first side and a second side, with the first side of the structure located proximate to the composite material second side;   a heat source, said heat source in communication with the composite material first side;   a thermoelectric device, said thermoelectric device configured to be positioned adjacent to the second side of the structure;   a controller in communication with the thermoelectric device; and   wherein, during reworking of the composite material, the system maintains a temperature difference between a composite material temperature and a structure temperature, said temperature difference ranging from about 20° F. to about 150° F.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the thermoelectric device is a Peltier device. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the thermoelectric device comprises a thermocouple. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the thermoelectric device comprises: a plurality of Peltier devices configured in series orientation or a plurality of Peltier devices configured in a stacked orientation. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the thermoelectric device comprises a solid-state active heat pump. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the thermoelectric device is moldable to intimately contact the structure, said structure comprising a non-planar surface. 
     
     
         16 . A system for reworking a component in situ; the system comprising:
 a component, said component comprising:
 a composite material requiring rework, said composite material comprising a composite material first side and a composite material second side; 
 a structure, said structure comprising a first side and a second side, said first side of the structure positioned adjacent to said composite material second side; 
 a heat source in communication with the composite material first side; 
   a Peltier device, said Peltier device configured to be positioned adjacent to the second side of the structure;   a controller in communication with the Peltier device; and   wherein, during reworking in situ of the composite material, the system maintains a temperature difference between a composite material temperature and a structure temperature, said temperature difference ranging from about 20° F. to about 150° F.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , said system further comprising:
 a plurality of Peltier devices configured in series orientation or a plurality of Peltier devices configured in a stacked orientation.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the Peltier device is moldable to intimately contact the structure, said structure comprising a non-planar structure surface. 
     
     
         19 . A vehicle comprising the component of  claim 16 . 
     
     
         20 . The vehicle of  claim 19 , where the vehicle is selected from the group consisting of:
 manned aircraft, unmanned aircraft, manned spacecraft, unmanned spacecraft, manned rotorcraft, unmanned rotorcraft, manned terrestrial vehicles, unmanned terrestrial vehicles, manned surface water-borne vehicle, unmanned surface water-borne vehicles, manned sub-surface water-borne vehicles, unmanned sub-surface water-borne vehicles, satellites, rockets, and missiles.