System, Method, and Apparatus for Joining Honeycomb Panels

A method of joining a surface of a first honeycomb panel to an edge of a second honeycomb panel, the method comprising:

• providing a honeycomb panel fastener comprising:
• an elongated body;
• a head at a first end of the elongated body, the head having a larger outer dimension than a cross-sectional dimension across the elongated body;
• a point at a distal second end of the elongated body;
• one or more threads on an outside surface of the elongated body, the threads arranged to pull the elongated body into the second honeycomb panel;
• a channel passing through the head and traversing the elongated body;
• a plurality of bores in the elongated body, each of the plurality of bores in fluid communications with the channel, such that, a fluid injected into the channel through the head flows through the channel and out of each of the plurality of bores;
• a torqueing feature on a surface of the head enabling twisting of the head and, consequently, the honeycomb panel fastener;
• inserting the point of the honeycomb panel fastener through a hole in the first honeycomb panel at a point where an edge of the second honeycomb panel abuts a planar surface of the first honeycomb panel;
• interfacing a driver to the torqueing feature;
• rotating the driver, thereby rotating the honeycomb panel fastener;
• the point piercing the edge of the second honeycomb panel, the at least one threads drawing the honeycomb panel fastener into the edge of the second honeycomb panel;
• stopping of the rotating of the driver when the head interfaces to an outer surface of the first honeycomb panel and the edge of the second honeycomb panel interfaces to an opposing second surface of the first honeycomb panel;
• removing the driver from the torqueing feature;
• inserting adhesive through the head and into the channel, such that the adhesive oozes out of the bores, filling airspaces that surround the honeycomb panel fastener in both the first honeycomb panel and the second honeycomb panel;
• and
• curing the adhesive, thereby joining the first honeycomb panel and the second honeycomb panel.

A honeycomb panel system comprising:

• a first honeycomb panel;
• a second honeycomb panel,
• a fastener for joining the first honeycomb panel to the second honeycomb panel, such that an edge of the second honeycomb panel is joined to a surface of the first honeycomb panel, the honeycomb panel fastener comprising:
• an elongated body;
• a head at a first end of the elongated body, the head having a larger outer dimension than a cross-sectional dimension across the elongated body;
• a point at a distal second end of the elongated body;
• a helix thread on an outside surface of the elongated body, the helix thread arranged to pull the elongated body into the second honeycomb panel;
• a channel passing through the head and traversing the elongated body;
• a plurality of bores in the elongated body, each of the plurality of bores in fluid communications with the channel, such that, a fluid injected into the channel through the head flows through the channel and out of each of the plurality of bores;
• and
• a torqueing feature in the head enabling twisting of the head and, consequently, the honeycomb panel fastener.