Methods and apparatus for fabricating panels
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsMarc R. Matsen, Bret Alan McGinness Voss, Vincent C. Ku, Christopher J. Hottes
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Abstract
A composite sandwich panel includes a first composite part and a second composite part. A plurality of stiffeners extend between the first and second composite parts. A fiberglass composite perimeter edge closeout is positioned along one or more edges of the first and second composite parts. The fiberglass composite perimeter edge closeout controls a magnetic flux to bond the first and second composite parts to the plurality of stiffeners.
Claims20
A composite sandwich panel comprising:
- a first composite part;
- a second composite part;
- a plurality of stiffeners extending between the first and second composite parts;
- and
- a fiberglass composite perimeter edge closeout positioned along one or more edges of the first and second composite parts, the fiberglass composite perimeter edge closeout configured to control a magnetic flux to bond the first and second composite parts to the plurality of stiffeners.
A perimeter edge closeout comprising:
- a body formed from a material having dielectric properties to control magnetic flux into a sandwich panel, the body being sized and shaped to form edges of the sandwich panel;
- and
- a pair of ends extending from the body, the pair of ends configured to abut edges of the sandwich panel and bond thereto to form the edges of the sandwich panel as the magnetic flux is being controlled.
A method for forming a composite sandwich panel, the method comprising:
- positioning components of the composite sandwich panel with respect to a plurality of induction coils;
- positioning a fiberglass composite perimeter edge closeout along edges of the components of the composite sandwich panel, the fiberglass composite perimeter edge closeout configured to direct magnetic flux to within the components of the composite sandwich panel;
- and
- generating a magnetic flux using the plurality of induction coils to bond the components of the composite sandwich panel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.