Systems and methods for joining composite structures to metal structures
AssigneeFMC Technologies, Inc.
InventorGabriel Silva
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems, methods, and devices for providing a joining technique for a metal part and a composite part. The joining technique in which either the metal or the composite part has at least one portion receive a laser etching treatment according at least in part to a laser configuration. Further, the joining technique in which the metal and composite parts are positioned to contact at least one etched surface. Even further, the joining technique in which a joining process is used to join the metal part and composite part to produce a unitary structure.
Claims20
A method of joining a metal part and a composite part to form a unitary structure, the method comprising:
- selecting a laser configuration for a laser etching treatment to be applied to at least one surface of the metal part,
- wherein the metal part comprises a metal material and the composite part comprises a composite material,
- wherein the laser configuration is selected based at least in part on a material property of the metal material;
- etching the at least one surface of the metal part using the laser etching treatment according to the laser configuration;
- etching at least one surface of the composite part using the laser etching treatment;
- positioning the metal part such that the at least one surface of the metal part contacts the at least one surface of the composite part;
- providing heat, using at least one heating element, to the at least one surface of the metal part;
- and
- simultaneously while providing heat, compressing the at least one surface of the metal part and the at least one surface of the composite part together to form the unitary structure.
A method of joining a metal part and a composite part to form a unitary structure, the method comprising:
- disjoining the metal part from a first composite part by applying heat to the first composite part;
- selecting a laser configuration for a laser etching treatment to be applied to at least one surface of the metal part,
- wherein the metal part comprises a steel material and a second composite part comprises a carbon fiber material,
- wherein the laser configuration is selected based at least in part on a material property of the steel material;
- etching the at least one surface of the metal part using the laser etching treatment according to the laser configuration;
- positioning the metal part such that the at least one surface of the metal part contacts the second composite part;
- providing heat, using at least one heating element, to the at least one surface of the metal part;
- and
- simultaneously while providing heat, compressing the at least one surface of the metal part and the second composite part together to form the unitary structure.
A method of joining a metal part and a composite part to form a pressure containment structure, the method comprising:
- selecting a laser configuration for a laser etching treatment to be applied to at least one surface of the metal part,
- wherein the metal part comprises a metal material and the composite part comprises a composite material;
- etching the at least one surface of the metal part with a laser pattern using the laser etching treatment according to the laser configuration,
- wherein the laser pattern comprises a first portion having a first depth and a second portion having a second depth,
- wherein the second depth is greater than the first depth;
- positioning the metal part such that the at least one surface of the metal part contacts the composite part;
- providing heat, using at least one heating element, to the at least one surface of the metal part;
- and
- simultaneously while providing heat, compressing the at least one surface of the metal part and the composite part together to form the pressure containment structure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.