Splice seam
AssigneeLockheed Martin Corporation
InventorPaul E. Liggett
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A splice seam for joining various sections of fabric together is disclosed, wherein the fabric sections are initially delaminated into their constituent plies. The plies associated with each fabric section are then interleaved with each other, and bonded together. The amount of surface area between each interleaved plies can be adjusted as so as to achieve a desired level of load carrying strength between the fabric sections. Additionally, the splice seam may utilize an external and/or internal seam tape to increase the strength of the resultant seam.
Claims10
A splice seam comprising:
- a first and a second fabric section, each said fabric section comprising a barrier ply and a straight ply, wherein said barrier plies have inner and outer barrier surfaces, and said straight plies have respective internal and external surfaces;
- wherein said barrier ply and said straight ply of said second fabric section are disposed between said barrier ply and said straight ply of said first fabric section, such that said outer barrier surface of said barrier ply of said second fabric section is adjacent said inner barrier surface of said barrier ply of said first fabric section, and said internal surface of said straight ply of said second fabric section is adjacent said external surface of said straight ply of the first fabric section, said plies each being bonded to the adjacent ply with adhesive.
A splice seam comprising:
- a first and a second fabric section, each said fabric section comprising a barrier ply and a straight ply, wherein said barrier plies have inner and outer surfaces, and said straight plies have internal and external surfaces;
- wherein said barrier ply of said first and second fabric sections are adhesively bonded at a first bonding region, and wherein said barrier ply and said straight ply of said second fabric section are bonded at a second bonding region;
- and said straight plies of said first and second fabric sections are bonded at a third bonding region.
A splice seam comprising:
- at least two straight plies abutted at their edges to form a joint, said straight plies having an external and an internal straight surface;
- an internal seam tape having an internal tape surface and an external tape surface, said internal seam tape adhesively disposed across said joint, upon the external straight surface so as to join said straight plies;
- and
- at least two barrier plies, wherein said barrier ply is adhesively disposed upon said external tape surface of said internal seam tape, while said second barrier ply is adhesively disposed upon said first barrier ply.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.