Hinged Composite Sandwich Panels
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsStephen M. Young, Jason Turner, Kevin G. Swanson, Duane M. Egging
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus comprises a composite sandwich panel, a seal, and a hinge. The composite sandwich panel has a first edge in a first over-crush edge region, wherein a thickness of the composite sandwich panel decreases within the first over-crush edge region in a direction towards the first edge. The seal is bonded to the first over-crush edge region of the composite sandwich panel and extending past the first edge. The hinge is connected to the composite sandwich panel such that an axis of rotation of the hinge is positioned over the first over-crush edge region of the composite sandwich panel.
Claims23
An apparatus comprising:
- a composite sandwich panel having a first edge in a first over-crush edge region, wherein a thickness of the composite sandwich panel decreases within the first over-crush edge region in a direction towards the first edge;
- a seal bonded to the first over-crush edge region of the composite sandwich panel and extending past the first edge;
- and
- a hinge connected to the composite sandwich panel such that an axis of rotation of the hinge is positioned over the first over-crush edge region of the composite sandwich panel.
A method comprising:
- bonding a seal to a first over-crush edge region of a composite sandwich panel, wherein a thickness of the composite sandwich panel decreases within the first over-crush edge region in a direction towards a first edge of the composite sandwich panel within the first over-crush edge region;
- and
- connecting a hinge to the first over-crush edge region of the composite sandwich panel.
An apparatus comprising:
- a composite sandwich panel having a cut first edge, a cut second edge, and a cut third edge each with a flat appearance without visible core cells;
- a seal bonded to the composite sandwich panel adjacent the cut first edge;
- and
- a hinge connected to the composite sandwich panel adjacent the cut first edge.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.