Systems and methods for joining a first structure and a second structure with vacuum dispersion process
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsJoseph L. Hafenrichter, Gary E. Georgeson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An example method of joining a first structure and a second structure is described that includes forming a bond cavity between a first structure and a second structure, placing a semi-permeable breather material at one or more exits of the bond cavity, placing a vacuum bag around the bond cavity and the semi-permeable breather material, evacuating the bond cavity via a vacuum port and forcing adhesive into the bond cavity via an adhesive port while the bond cavity is evacuated, and curing the adhesive via one or more heaters to bond the first structure to the second structure.
Claims20
A system for joining a first structure and a second structure, the system comprising:
- one or more fixtures forming a bond cavity between a first structure and a second structure via positioning of the first structure relative to the second structure;
- a semi-permeable breather material positioned at one or more exits of the bond cavity;
- a vacuum bag positioned around the bond cavity and the semi-permeable breather material;
- a vacuum port coupled to the vacuum bag for evacuating the bond cavity and forcing adhesive into the bond cavity via an adhesive port while the bond cavity is evacuated;
- perforated adhesive tape positioned over the semi-permeable breather material to allow vacuum through and to block flow of the adhesive;
- and
- one or more heaters for curing the adhesive to bond the first structure to the second structure.
A system for joining a first structure and a second structure, the system comprising:
- one or more fixtures forming a bond cavity between a first structure and a second structure via positioning of the first structure relative to the second structure;
- a semi-permeable breather material positioned at one or more exits of the bond cavity;
- a vacuum bag positioned around the bond cavity and the semi-permeable breather material;
- a vacuum port coupled to the vacuum bag for evacuating the bond cavity and forcing adhesive into the bond cavity via an adhesive port while the bond cavity is evacuated;
- a fill sensor disposed at least partially in the semi-permeable breather material to detect that the adhesive fills the bond cavity;
- and
- one or more heaters for curing the adhesive to bond the first structure to the second structure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.