Method and apparatus for making cellular material using slow cure adhesives
AssigneeRen Judkins
InventorRen Judkins
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A cellular structure is formed on a wheel from an elongated tubular structure. At least one longitudinal line of a slow cure adhesive is applied to the exterior surface of the elongated tubular material. Then the material is wrapped around a collector in a manner to cause the adhesive to be positioned between overlying surfaces of the elongated tubular material and to form a cellular structure on the collector. The cellular structure is cut from the collector before the adhesive has fully cured and is placed on a flat surface where the adhesive has fully cured.
Claims14
A method of making a honeycomb structure comprising:
- providing an elongated tubular structure having an exterior surface,
- applying at least one longitudinal line of an adhesive to the exterior surface of the elongated tubular material, the adhesive being a slow cure adhesive that will not fully cure for at least one hour,
- wrapping the elongated tubular structure around a collector in a manner to cause the adhesive to be positioned between and bond together overlying surfaces of the elongated tubular material forming a cellular structure on the collector,
- making at least one transverse cut through the cellular structure, the cut being made before the adhesive has fully cured,
- placing the cellular structure on a flat surface before the adhesive has fully cured, and
- allowing the adhesive to fully cure while the cellular structure is on the flat surface.
An apparatus for forming a cellular structure comprising:
- a supply of tubular material,
- a wheel on which the tubular material is to be wound,
- a drive mechanism positioned between the supply and the wheel which receives tubular material from the supply and directs the tubular material to the wheel,
- a glue applicator positioned between the supply and the wheel the glue applicator having a reservoir filled with a slow cure adhesive that requires at least two hours to cure, the glue applicator configured to apply at least one glue bead of the slow cure adhesive to the tubular material before the tubular material is wound on the wheel, the glue applicator having a reservoir containing the slow cure adhesive, and
- a flat surface located near the wheel, the flat surface sized to receive at least a portion of a cellular structure that has been formed by wrapping the tubular material around the wheel and then cutting the cellular structure to remove the cellular structure from the wheel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.