Self heating structural adhesives for out-of-autoclave and out-of-oven curing
AssigneeTextron Innovations Inc.
InventorsPhilip C. Sears, Samuel L. Bryk, Bradyn C. Crider
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods are described for applying a self-heating structural adhesive to components of aircraft or other structures. A conductive scrim can be placed in between layers of adhesive for use in joining two components together. Leads can be provided to apply an electrical current to the scrim, which can raise the temperature of the system and cure the adhesives, creating a strong bond with a conductive layer there between.
Claims16
A method of joining components, the method comprising:
- coupling a plurality of surfaces together about an adhesive and a conductive scrim, the conductive scrim coupled to two or more leads by a coupling method and located in areas of the conductive scrim that are configured to be sacrificial after joining;
- associating the adhesive and the coupling method with a cure temperature and a time duration;
- applying a current to the two or more leads so as to raise the temperature of the conductive scrim to the cure temperature;
- and
- maintaining the temperature of the conductive scrim near the cure temperature for the time duration to thereby bond the components to each other, wherein the scrim is absorbed into the adhesive such that the scrim adds no thickness to a bonding layer between the components.
A method performed by a controller for curing an adhesive used to join components together, the method comprising:
- receiving an identification of an adhesive used to join a plurality of surfaces;
- receiving an identification of a conductive scrim, the conductive scrim coupled between the plurality of surfaces and comprising a plurality of leads located in areas of the conductive scrim that are configured to be sacrificial after curing;
- associating the adhesive with a cure temperature and time duration needed to cure the adhesive so as to join the plurality of surfaces to each other about the conductive scrim;
- associating the conductive scrim with one or more levels of current needed to raise the adhesive to the cure temperature for the time duration;
- and
- applying the one or more levels of current to the plurality of leads to thereby bond the components to each other, wherein the conductive scrim is absorbed into the adhesive such that the scrim adds no thickness to a bonding layer between the components.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.