# US 11,299,293 B2 · Bond fixture for leading edge assembly

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- Number: US 11,299,293 B2
- Document ID: US11299293B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/545,652
- Filed: 2019-08-20
- Published: 2019-12-05
- Granted: 2022-04-12
- Earliest claimed: 2016-08-09
- Assignees: Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation
- Applicants: Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation
- Inventors: David Littlejohn; Sven Roy Lofstrom
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11299293B2

## CPC

- B64F 5/10: Manufacturing or assembling aircraft, e.g. jigs therefor
- B64C 27/46: Blades
- B64F 5/40: Maintaining or repairing aircraft
- B29C 73/24: Apparatus or accessories not otherwise provided for
- B64F: GROUND OR AIRCRAFT-CARRIER-DECK INSTALLATIONS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR USE IN CONNECTION WITH AIRCRAFT; DESIGNING, MANUFACTURING, ASSEMBLING, CLEANING, MAINTAINING OR REPAIRING AIRCRAFT, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; HANDLING, TRANSPORTING, TESTING OR INSPECTING AIRCRAFT COMPONENTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B64C: AEROPLANES; HELICOPTERS
- B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00)

## Abstract

A bond fixture includes a frame defining a chamber for receiving a component. At least one bladder assembly is connected to the frame. The at least one bladder assembly includes a pad for contacting the component. A position of the pad relative to the component is controlled by a pressure of the bladder assembly. A caul assembly is adapted to thermally couple to the component to heat a localized portion of the component.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of bonding a leading edge fairing to a rotor blade comprising:
installing the leading edge fairing about the rotor blade;
mounting a bond fixture about the leading edge fairing; and
applying localized and constant heat and localized and constant pressure to the leading edge fairing via the bond fixture,
wherein mounting the bond fixture to the rotor blade includes tightening at least one strap about the bond fixture to the rotor blade.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, further comprising installing a caul assembly about the leading edge fairing, the caul assembly being positioned within the bond fixture.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein mounting the bond fixture to the rotor blade includes coupling the bond fixture to at least one of a trailing edge guard and a cuff guard mounted to the rotor blade, opposite the bond fixture.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, further comprising connecting a power source to the bond fixture to apply heat to the leading edge fairing.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, further comprising connecting an air supply to the bond fixture to apply pressure to the leading edge fairing.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method according to claim 5 wherein pressure applied to the rotor blade by a pad is adjusted when air from an air supply is provided to a bladder operably coupled to the pad.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the bond fixture includes a plurality of frames spaced over a span of the leading edge fairing.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method according to claim 7, wherein at least one of the plurality of frames forms a chamber, the chamber configured to receive the leading edge fairing.