Lightning strike protection layer
AssigneeAirbus Operations GmbH
InventorSam Thompson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A lightning strike protection layer for an aircraft is disclosed having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion includes a first fibre reinforced polymer composite layer and a first electrically conductive metal layer and the second portion includes a second fibre reinforced polymer composite layer and a second electrically conductive metal layer, and the first and second portions are joined at a butt joint, with the first and second fibre reinforced polymer composite layers abutting and the first and second electrically conductive metal layers abutting; and a butt-strap extending across the butt joint, the butt-strap comprising a third electrically conductive metal layer electrically connected to the first and second electrically conductive metal layers.
Claims16
A lightning strike protection layer for laying on top of an aircraft structure, comprising:
- a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion comprises a first fibre reinforced polymer composite layer and a first electrically conductive metal layer and the second portion comprises a second fibre reinforced polymer composite layer and a second electrically conductive metal layer,
- wherein the first and second portions are joined at a butt joint, with the first and second fibre reinforced polymer composite layers abutting and the first and second electrically conductive metal layers abutting;
- a butt-strap extending across the butt joint, the butt-strap comprising a third electrically conductive metal layer electrically connected to the first and second electrically conductive metal layers;
- a third fibre reinforced polymer composite layer extending across the butt joint and adjacent the first reinforced polymer composite layer and the second fibre reinforced polymer composite layer on an opposite side of the first and second fibre reinforced polymer composite layers to the third electrically conductive metal layer.
A method of manufacturing a lightning strike protection layer for an aircraft, the method comprising:
- providing a mould;
- providing a first portion and a second portion of a lightning strike protection layer, wherein the first portion comprises a first fibre reinforced preform polymer layer and a first electrically conductive metal layer and the second portion comprises a second fibre reinforced preform polymer layer and a second electrically conductive metal layer;
- laying the first portion and the second portion into the mould to form a butt joint, wherein the first and second fibre reinforced preform polymer layers abut and the first and second electrically conductive metal layers abut;
- laying a third electrically conductive metal layer across the butt joint to form a butt-strap so as to electrically connect to the first and second electrically conductive metal layers;
- and,
- further comprising providing a third reinforced fibre preform polymer layer, the method comprising laying the third reinforced fibre preform polymer layer in the mould prior to laying the first and second portions in the mould, and wherein the first and second portions are laid in the mould such that the third reinforced fibre preform polymer layer extends across the butt joint and adjacent the first and second reinforced fibre preform polymer layers, wherein the third reinforced preform polymer layer is provided on an opposite side of the first and second fibre reinforced polymer preform layers to the third electrically conductive metal layer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.