Aircraft joint with a curable composite bushing
AssigneeAirbus Operations GmbH
InventorsFlorian Lorenz, Dustin Shapi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An aircraft structural joint comprising a first structural component provided with an attachment hole that is configured to receive an corresponding attachment fastener provided by a second structural component; a curable composite bush compressed and cured between an outer diameter of the attachment fastener and the attachment hole when the first component is mounted to the second component, wherein the curable composite bush, when cured, prevents radial displacement of the attachment fastener within the attachment hole.
Claims19
An aircraft joint comprising:
- a first structural component provided with an attachment hole configured to receive a corresponding attachment fastener provided by a second structural component;
- a curable composite bush compressed and cured between an outer diameter of the attachment fastener and the attachment hole when the first component is mounted to the second component,
- wherein the curable composite bush prevents radial displacement of the attachment fastener within the attachment hole.
A method of joining a first aircraft structural component to a second aircraft structural component, the method comprising the steps of:
- holding the first aircraft structural component provided with an attachment hole in an installation position relative to the second aircraft structural component provided with an attachment fastener, such that the attachment fastener is inserted in the attachment hole, which creates a gap between the fastener and the hole;
- placing a first end of a curable composite bush into the gap;
- providing a tool for installing the bush, the tool comprising one or more guides and a compactor;
- positioning a guide in proximity to the bush so that it encloses the bush within an inner surface
- positioning a compactor within the guide and compacting the curable composite bush into a compressed state, at a further end of the compactor, into the gap between the attachment fastener and an attachment hole such that the bush substantially conforms to dimensions of the gap so that no gap exists thereafter;
- holding the composite bush in the compressed state until it is cured.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.