Apparatus for fabricating composite structures

Claim 1

APPARATUS FOR FABRICATING A COMPOSITE STRUCTURE FORMED OF COMPONENT ELEMENTS ADAPTED TO BE ADHESIVELY BONDED TOGETHER UNDER HEAT AND PRESSURE, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING A BASE HAVING A SUPPORTING FACE, A PERFORATED SHEET MEMBER MOUNT ON SAID SUPPORTING FACE FOR CARRYING THE COMPONENT ELEMENTS OF THE COMPOSITE STRUCTURE, VACUUM FITTING MEANS INSERTED THROUGH SAID BASE AND ADAPTED FOR CONNECTION TO A PUMP FOR THE DRAWING OF A VACUUM AT THE FACE OF SAID SHEET MEMBER, AN ENCLOSING SHROUD OF RESILIENT MATERIAL FOR FITTING OVER WORK CARRIED BY SAID SUPPORTING FACE, SAID SHROUD HAVING A PLURALITY OF PRESSURE PADS FORMED UPON A PORTION OF THE AREA OF ITS UNDERSIDE, SAID PRESSURE PADS BEING SEPARATED BY INTERCOMMUNICATING PASSAGEWAYS, SAID SHROUD HAVING A PERIPHERAL SMOOTH-SURFACE AREA SURROUNDING SAID AREA HAVING SAID PRESSURE PADS, MEANS FOR RELEASABLY, SEALABLY AFFIXING SAID SMOOTH-SURFACE PORTION OF SAID SHROUD TO SAID SUPPORTING BASE, AND VACUUM FITTING MEANS INSERTED THROUGH SAID SHROUD IN COMMUNICATION WITH SAID PASSAGEWAYS AND ADAPTED FOR CONNECTION TO A PUMP FOR THE DRAWING OF A VACUUM BENEATH SAID SHROUD.