Methods of shimming an assembly
Assignee3M Innovative Properties Company
InventorsJonathan D. Zook, Larry S. Hebert, Chris A. Praggastis, Jacob P. Jones, Susan E. DeMoss
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods for making structural shims (220) for the mating assembly of parts, such as for installation between a skin (212) and substructure (214) of an aircraft. The methods include the steps of disposing a hardenable composition (216) into a gap between the first (212) and second parts (214), hardening the hardenable composition to provide a shim pattern (218) that is dimensionally stable, and removing the shim pattern from the gap without damage. The shim pattern can be used to provide a digital model thereof, which can in turn be used to fabricate the structural shim (220).
Claims10
A method for making a structural shim for installation between a first part and second part of an assembly, the method comprising:
- disposing a hardenable composition into a gap between the first and second parts, wherein the hardenable composition is a liquid at ambient temperature;
- hardening the hardenable composition to provide a shim pattern that is dimensionally stable;
- removing the shim pattern from the gap, the shim pattern being capable of removal from the gap without damage;
- and
- using the shim pattern to fabricate the structural shim,
- wherein the hardenable composition is a curable composition and hardening the hardenable composition comprises curing the curable composition,
- wherein the curable composition is cured by exposure to actinic radiation, and wherein the exposure to actinic radiation is provided by transmitting the actinic radiation through a plurality of films, fibers, and/or particles that are embedded in the curable composition.
A method for making a structural shim for installation between a first part and second part of an assembly, the method comprising:
- disposing a hardenable composition into a gap between the first and second parts, wherein the hardenable composition is dimensionally stable at ambient temperature and provided in the form of a film or sheet;
- hardening the hardenable composition to provide a shim pattern that is dimensionally stable;
- removing the shim pattern from the gap, the shim pattern being capable of removal from the gap without damage;
- and
- using the shim pattern to fabricate the structural shim.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.