Aircraft structural assembly with electromagnetic protection
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorArlene McKeeman Brown
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Abstract
Disclosed in this application is a novel method and apparatus for reducing electrical resistance of a carbon-reinforced plastic structure to thereby reduce damage due to lightning strikes or precipitation static. This apparatus includes a galvanically compatible conductive interface layer positioned between a nonconductive substrate and a conductive outer surface. The interface layer is electrically conductive to transmit electrical current from the outer surface to the substrate.
Claims20
A method for constructing an aircraft structural assembly comprising:
- providing an substrate having a low electrical conductivity;
- applying an interface layer to said substrate;
- and
- applying a conductive layer to said interface layer, said conductive layer having a higher electrical conductivity than said substrate;
- wherein said interface layer is electrically conductive and galvanically compatible with said expanded foil and said substrate.
A structural assembly for applying to a portion of an aircraft structure comprising:
- a nonmetallic substrate;
- an outer layer having an electrical conductivity higher than an electrical conductivity of the nonmetallic substrate, said outer layer being galvanically incompatible with said nonmetallic substrate;
- an interface layer between said nonmetallic substrate and said outer layer, said substrate having a high electrical conductivity relative to said nonmetallic substrate and being galvanically compatible with said nonmetallic substrate and said outer layer.
A method of increasing the electrical conductivity of an aircraft having a substrate with low electrical conductivity, the method comprising the steps of:
- applying a resin tape with pre-impregnated boron fibers to a portion of said substrate;
- applying an expanded aluminum foil over said tape and said substrate, said expanded aluminum foil having a higher electrical conductivity than said substrate;
- and
- applying a filler to said expanded aluminum foil to create an aerodynamic surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.