Apparatus for bonding laminate structures

A composite laminate reinforcing system for forming a reinforced joint at a bond line in a composite laminate structure comprising at least two composite laminate elements positioned over a backing surface, the system comprising:

• a plurality of clips, each of the plurality of clips comprising a base, a first post coupled to the base at a first joint section between the first post and the base, and a second post coupled to the base at a second joint section between the second post and the base, the first post and the second post extending at first and second initial angles, respectively, relative to the base, the first and second initial angles being approximately 90 degrees so that each of the plurality of clips has a U-shape, the first post defining a first post outer surface, facing away from the base and comprising an inwardly tapered section at a tip of the first post, and the second post defining a second post outer surface, facing away from the base and comprising an inwardly tapered section at a tip of the second post;
• a tool, comprising:
• a tool base;
• a housing coupled to the tool base, the housing and tool base defining a chamber for receiving the plurality of clips, the chamber defining an outlet end;
• a guide assembly disposed in the chamber and configured to hold the plurality of clips in a predetermined orientation and to bias the plurality of clips toward the outlet end of the chamber;
• a plunger head disposed in the chamber adjacent the outlet end of the chamber, the plunger head positioned to engage the base of a leading clip of the plurality of clips, the plunger head being movable between a retracted position, in which the plunger head is disposed in the chamber, and an extended position, in which the plunger head passes through the outlet end of the chamber to dispense the leading clip;
• and
• a heating element thermally coupled to the plunger head and configured to heat the first and second joint sections sufficiently above an ambient temperature to increase a pliability of the first and second joint sections, wherein as the plunger head moves to the extended position so that the first and second posts pierce through the at least two composite laminate elements, the inwardly tapered section of the first post outer surface and the inwardly tapered section of the second post outer surface engage the backing surface to deflect the first and second posts toward the base at the first and second joint sections, respectively, until the first and second posts extend at first and second deflected angles relative to the base.