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US 11,235,855 B2Granted
Aerodynamic seals
AssigneeAirbus Operations GmbH
InventorsDavid Liversage, Darren Crew
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An aerodynamic structure comprising an aerodynamic surface. The aerodynamic surface is formed by a first part of the aerodynamic structure; a second part of the aerodynamic structure; and a sealed gap between the first part and the second part. The sealed gap contains a sealant material and a support material.
Claims20
An aerodynamic structure including an aerodynamic surface, wherein the aerodynamic surface is an outermost surface of the aerodynamic structure and the aerodynamic surface comprises:
- a first part of the aerodynamic structure;
- a second part of the aerodynamic structure;
- and
- a sealed gap between the first part and the second part;
- wherein the sealed gap is sealed with a sealant material and a compressible support material;
- wherein the gap contains the sealant material and the compressible support material;
- wherein the gap is arranged such that an outermost part of the gap immediately adjacent the aerodynamic surface contains only the sealant material and an inner part of the gap, which is relatively further from the aerodynamic surface than the outermost part, contains only the support material;
- wherein the sealant material is adjacent the compressible support material in the gap;
- and
- wherein the sealant material is a curable material configured to be applied to the aerodynamic structure in a fluid state and subsequently cured into a solid state.
7 more elements
An aerodynamic structure comprising:
- a first part of the aerodynamic structure, wherein the first part has an aerodynamic outer surface forming an outermost surface of the aerodynamic structure;
- a second part of the aerodynamic structure, wherein the second part has an aerodynamic outer surface configured to be aligned with the aerodynamic outer surface of the first part;
- and
- a gap formed by and existing between the first part and the second part, wherein the gap has an outer region extending from the aerodynamic outer surfaces of the first and second parts deeper into the gap, and the gap as an inner region inward of the outer region;
- a sealant material spanning the gap and having an aerodynamic outer surface aligned with the aerodynamic outer surfaces of the first and second parts,
- wherein the sealant material, while in the gap, is in a fluid state and in a solid state;
- wherein the sealant material, while in the gap, is cured to transition from the fluid state to the solid state;
- and
- wherein the sealant material entirely fills the outer region of the gap such that the outer region only contains the sealant material;
- and
- a compressible support material spanning the gap, adjacent the sealant material and entirely filling the inner region of the gap such that the inner region only contains the compressible support material.
8 more elements
A method to form a seal in an aerodynamic structure,
- wherein the aerodynamic structure includes:
- a first part including a first aerodynamic outer surface forming a first outermost surface of the aerodynamic structure;
- a second part including a second aerodynamic outer surface forming a second outermost surface of the aerodynamic outer surface, and aligned with the first aerodynamic outer surface of the first part;
- and
- a gap formed by and existing between the first part and the second part, wherein the gap has an outer region extending from the first and second aerodynamic outer surfaces deeper into the gap, and the gap has an inner region inward of the outer region;
- the method comprising:
- inserting a support material into the gap and positioning the support material at the inner region of the gap to entirely fill the inner region, wherein the support material is entirely inward of the outer region of the gap;
- filling the outer region of the gap with a sealant material in a fluid state, wherein the sealant material, while in the fluid state, is adjacent the support material and is prevented by the support material from flowing entirely through and out of the gap;
- and
- curing the sealant material while in the gap to transition the fluid state of the sealant material to a solid state,
- wherein the sealant material while in the solid state forms a third outer aerodynamic surface aligned with the first and second outer aerodynamic surfaces of the first and second parts.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.