Method for fastening a part to another part using electrically deformable rivets
AssigneeAirbus Operations GmbH
InventorsMatthias Hegenbart, Hermann Benthien, Peter Linde
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods for fastening two fiber composite parts to each other with a fastener that includes electroactive polymer material. The parts have an opening within an inner circumferential surface. Fibers protrude from the inner circumferential surface into the opening and interlock with chains of micrograins of the electroactive polymer material. The fastener may switch between an activated state and a deactivated state and in the deactivated state, the fastener engages the exposed fibers.
Claims11
A method for fastening a first fiber composite part to a second fiber composite part each fiber composite part including a matrix material and fibers embedded therein, the method comprising:
- a) forming an opening, that has an inner circumferential surface, in the first and second fiber composite parts;
- b) removing matrix material from the inner circumferential surface so as to expose fibers;
- c) activating a fastener, that includes electroactive polymer material, so as to reduce a diameter of the fastener and inserting the activated fastener into the opening;
- d) deactivating the fastener inside the opening so that the diameter of the fastener increases and an outer circumferential surface of the deactivated fastener engages the exposed fibers.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.