Blade-and-slot joints that unite composite panels via internal blades
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorPaul Gooch
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and methods are provided for blade-and-slot panel affixation. One embodiment is a method. The method includes cutting a first slot into a first composite panel that includes a core between two facesheets. The first slot penetrates through the core of the first composite panel. The method also includes cutting a second slot into a second composite panel that includes a core between two facesheets. The second slot penetrates through a facesheet of the second composite panel as well as the core of the second composite panel. The method further includes inserting a blade into the first slot, and inserting the blade into the second slot.
Claims43
A method comprising:
- cutting a first slot into a first composite panel that includes a core between two facesheets, the first slot penetrating through the core of the first composite panel;
- cutting a second slot into a second composite panel that includes a core between two facesheets, the second slot penetrating through a facesheet of the second composite panel as well as the core of the second composite panel;
- inserting a blade into the first slot;
- and
- inserting the blade into the second slot.
An apparatus comprising:
- a first composite panel and a second composite panel, each comprising:
- a first facesheet that extends laterally across a top of the panel;
- a second facesheet that extends laterally across a bottom of the panel;
- and
- a core that separates the first facesheet and the second facesheet;
- a blade that occupies a first slot that penetrates laterally through the core of the first composite panel between the facesheets of the first composite panel
- the blade further occupies a second slot that penetrates vertically through the first facesheet of the second composite panel into the core of the second composite panel;
- and
- adhesive that secures the blade into the first slot and the second slot.
A system comprising:
- a first composite panel and a second composite panel, each comprising:
- a first facesheet that extends laterally across a top of the panel;
- a second facesheet that extends laterally across a bottom of the panel;
- and
- a core that separates the first facesheet and the second facesheet;
- a first slot that penetrates laterally through cells of the core of the first composite panel between the facesheets of the first composite panel, that has a thickness less than a thickness of the first composite panel, and that extends a predetermined depth into the first composite panel;
- a second slot that penetrates vertically through the first facesheet and the core of the second composite panel into cells of the second composite panel, and that extends a predetermined depth into the composite panel;
- and
- a blade dimensioned for insertion into the first slot and the second slot.
An apparatus comprising:
- a first composite panel comprising:
- a first facesheet that extends laterally across a top of the first composite panel;
- a second facesheet that extends laterally across a bottom of the first composite panel;
- a first core separating the first facesheet and the second facesheet;
- and
- a portion of the first core that extends beyond the first facesheet and the second facesheet at an end of the first composite panel, and extends a predetermined depth beyond the end of the panel;
- and
- a second composite panel comprising:
- a third facesheet that extends laterally across a top of the second composite panel;
- a fourth facesheet that extends laterally across a bottom of the second composite panel;
- a second core separating the third facesheet and the fourth facesheet;
- and
- a slot penetrating through the third facesheet as well as penetrating through the second core,
- the portion of the first core is inserted into the slot and affixed to the slot via adhesive.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.