Folded Core Panel
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorAllan Tien
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A folded core panel disclosed herein that includes a folded core having peaks and valleys characterized by a corrugated zigzag pattern. The folded core may include an airflow channel. The airflow channel may provide an egress to reduce the concentration of moisture in the folded core. The folded core may be formed from a single piece of material. The folded core may have varying face slopes depending on the force distribution requirements at the location of the peak. One or more folded cores may be stacked to form a stacked core.
Claims30
A panel for use in an aircraft, comprising:
- a top face sheet;
- a bottom face sheet;
- and
- a folded core bonded to the top face sheet and the bottom face sheet, the folded core characterized by a corrugated zigzag pattern having a plurality of peaks, a plurality of valleys, and a plurality of non-vertical faces extending between the plurality of peaks and the plurality of valleys, wherein the plurality of peaks comprises a generally planar shape having a bend at a zenith.
(canceled)
A folded core for use in an aircraft, comprising:
- a plurality of peaks comprising a plurality of ridges, wherein the plurality of peaks comprises a generally planar shape having a bend at a zenith;
- a plurality of valleys;
- and
- a plurality of non-vertical faces extending between the plurality of peaks and the plurality of valleys,
- wherein the plurality of peaks and the plurality of valleys are formed in a corrugated zigzag pattern.
A method of making an aircraft panel, comprising:
- providing a top face sheet;
- providing a bottom face sheet;
- providing a folded core characterized by a corrugated zigzag pattern comprising;
- a plurality of peaks, and
- a plurality of valleys,
- applying an adhesive to a top surface of the folded core;
- applying the adhesive to a bottom surface of the folded core;
- and
- curing the adhesive to form an integral panel.
A stacked core, comprising:
- a plurality of folded cores comprising:
- a plurality of peaks comprising a plurality of ridges;
- a plurality of valleys;
- and
- a plurality of non-vertical faces extending between the plurality of peaks and the plurality of valleys,
- wherein the plurality of peaks and the plurality of valleys are formed in a corrugated zigzag pattern,
- wherein the plurality of folded cores comprise complementary features to allow a first folded core of the plurality of folded cores to be stacked on a second folded core of the plurality of folded cores.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.