IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,667,904
Granted Patent B2
US 12,667,904 · App. 17/651,430 · Granted Jun 30, 2026

System for heating components for curing and bonding multi-component structures

Inventors: William C. Dykstra (Rockford, MI); Luke A. Martin (Wyoming, MI)
Assignee: Temper IP, LLC
B23K13/01B32B5/02B32B37/06H05B6/08H05B6/101H05B6/105H05B6/44B32B2262/106B32B2310/0812H05B2206/023
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,667,904
App. No.
17/651,430
Granted
Jun 30, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

An adaptable heating source includes an insulating substrate. A plurality of heating elements are at least partially disposed within the insulating substrate. The plurality of heating elements, when energized, generate heat. Each heating element of the plurality of heating elements includes a ferromagnetic material and an electrically conductive material. The ferromagnetic material has a Curie temperature. When the plurality of heating elements are energized, the plurality of heating elements generate heat at a temperature that does not exceed the Curie temperature. An alternating current energizes the plurality of heating elements to generate heat at the temperature that does not exceed the Curie temperature.

Claims (55)

1 . A method for performing heated joining of materials, the method comprising:

providing a component to be joined with another component;

providing one or more laminated structures in proximity to a joining region of the component, wherein the one or more laminated structures comprise one or more ferromagnetic elements;

with the one or more laminated structures in proximity to the joining region, generating heat at the joining region by exposing the one or more ferromagnetic elements of the one or more laminated structures to an electromagnetic field; and

wherein the one or more ferromagnetic elements have a respective Curie temperature, and wherein, when the one or more ferromagnetic elements are exposed to the electromagnetic field, the one or more ferromagnetic elements generate heat at the joining region at a temperature that does not exceed the respective Curie temperature; and

wherein the heat generated by the one or more ferromagnetic elements when the one or more ferromagnetic elements are exposed to the electromagnetic field is the only heat source at the joining region.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more laminated structures comprise one or more coupler components connecting the component to the other component.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more laminated structures are integrally formed with the component to be joined with the other component.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more ferromagnetic elements are integrally formed with the one or more laminated structures.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein one or more secondary ferromagnetic elements are integrally formed with the component to be joined with the other component.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more ferromagnetic elements comprise a first material and a second material different from the first material, and wherein the first material comprises a non-ferrous material.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more ferromagnetic elements comprises an alloy, the alloy defining the respective Curie temperature.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more ferromagnetic elements comprises an electrically conductive material and a ferromagnetic material.

9 . A method for performing heated joining of materials, the method comprising:

providing a component to be joined with another component;

providing one or more laminated structures in proximity to a joining region of the component, wherein the one or more laminated structures comprise one or more ferromagnetic elements;

with the one or more laminated structures in proximity to the joining region, generating heat at the joining region by exposing the one or more ferromagnetic elements of the one or more laminated structures to an electromagnetic field;

wherein the one or more ferromagnetic elements have a respective Curie temperature, and wherein, when the one or more ferromagnetic elements are exposed to the electromagnetic field, the one or more ferromagnetic elements generate heat at the joining region at a temperature that does not exceed the respective Curie temperature; and

wherein the one or more laminated structures comprise alternating laminations of Carbon Fiber and a material different from Carbon Fiber.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the material comprises one selected from the group consisting of (i) a fiberglass material, (ii) a plastic material, (iii) an organic polymer material, (iv) a synthetic polymer material, (v) a crystalline material, (vi) an amorphous material, (vii) a metalloid polymer material, (viii) a nanomaterial, (ix) a powdered material, (x) a metallic material, and (xi) a composite material.

11 . A method for performing heated joining of materials, the method comprising:

providing a component to be joined with another component;

providing one or more laminated structures in proximity to a joining region of the component, wherein the one or more laminated structures comprise one or more ferromagnetic elements;

with the one or more laminated structures in proximity to the joining region, generating heat at the joining region by exposing the one or more ferromagnetic elements of the one or more laminated structures to an electromagnetic field;

wherein the one or more ferromagnetic elements have a respective Curie temperature, and wherein, when the one or more ferromagnetic elements are exposed to the electromagnetic field, the one or more ferromagnetic elements generate heat at the joining region at a temperature that does not exceed the respective Curie temperature; and

wherein the one or more laminated structures comprise fibers having diameters between 0.00001 inch and 1 inch.

12 . A method for performing heated joining of materials, the method comprising:

providing a component to be joined with another component;

providing one or more laminated structures in proximity to a joining region of the component, wherein the one or more laminated structures comprise one or more ferromagnetic elements;

with the one or more laminated structures in proximity to the joining region, generating heat at the joining region by exposing the one or more ferromagnetic elements of the one or more laminated structures to an electromagnetic field;

wherein the one or more ferromagnetic elements have a respective Curie temperature, and wherein, when the one or more ferromagnetic elements are exposed to the electromagnetic field, the one or more ferromagnetic elements generate heat at the joining region at a temperature that does not exceed the respective Curie temperature; and

wherein the method comprises generating heat at the joining region via the electromagnetic field and a secondary heat source.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the one or more laminated structures comprise one or more coupler components connecting the component to the other component.

14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the one or more laminated structures are integrally formed with the component to be joined with the other component.

15 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the one or more ferromagnetic elements are integrally formed with the one or more laminated structures.

16 . The method of claim 12 , wherein one or more secondary ferromagnetic elements are integrally formed with the component to be joined with the other component.

17 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the one or more ferromagnetic elements comprise a first material and a second material different from the first material, and wherein the first material comprises a non-ferrous material.

18 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the one or more ferromagnetic elements comprises an alloy, the alloy defining the respective Curie temperature.

19 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the one or more ferromagnetic elements comprises an electrically conductive material and a ferromagnetic material.

20 . A method for performing heated joining of materials, the method comprising:

providing a component to be joined with another component;

providing one or more laminated structures in proximity to a joining region of the component, wherein the one or more laminated structures comprise one or more ferromagnetic elements;

with the one or more laminated structures in proximity to the joining region, generating heat at the joining region by exposing the one or more ferromagnetic elements of the one or more laminated structures to an electromagnetic field;

wherein the one or more ferromagnetic elements have a respective Curie temperature, and wherein, when the one or more ferromagnetic elements are exposed to the electromagnetic field, the one or more ferromagnetic elements generate heat at the joining region at a temperature that does not exceed the respective Curie temperature; and

wherein the electromagnetic field is generated by an electromagnetic field energy source, and wherein the electromagnetic field energy source comprises an electromagnetic coil.

21 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the electromagnetic coil comprises a plurality of electromagnetic coils, and wherein each electromagnetic coil of the plurality of electromagnetic coils is selectably energizable to generate a respective electromagnetic field.

22 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the electromagnetic coil comprises a plurality of conductors.

23 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the electromagnetic field is modified at or near the joining region via the electromagnetic field energy source.

24 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the electromagnetic field is redirected at or near the joining region via the electromagnetic field energy source.

25 . A method for performing heated joining of materials, the method comprising:

providing a component to be joined with another component;

providing one or more laminated structures in proximity to a joining region of the component, wherein the one or more laminated structures comprise one or more ferromagnetic elements:

with the one or more laminated structures in proximity to the joining region, generating heat at the joining region by exposing the one or more ferromagnetic elements of the one or more laminated structures to an electromagnetic field;

wherein the one or more ferromagnetic elements have a respective Curie temperature, and wherein, when the one or more ferromagnetic elements are exposed to the electromagnetic field, the one or more ferromagnetic elements generate heat at the joining region at a temperature that does not exceed the respective Curie temperature; and

wherein exposing the one or more ferromagnetic elements to the electromagnetic field comprises operating an electromagnet remote from and in proximity to the one or more laminated structures.