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US 2024/0383174 A1Published application
Methods and apparatus for tooling in layered structures for increased joint performance
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsLuke G. Warpinski, Michael D. Nevinsky, Kenneth W. Young
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus for tooling in layered structures for increased joint performance are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes placing a tool onto a first substrate to define an impression in the first substrate, curing the first substrate, removing the tool from the first substrate to define a joint interface corresponding to the impression, and coupling, at the joint interface, the first substrate to a second substrate.
Claims20
A composite layer assembly comprising:
- a first composite structure including at least two plies, the first composite structure having at least one indentation with a first undercut;
- and
- a second composite structure including at least two plies defining a tab with a t-shaped cross-sectional profile, the tab defining a second undercut, the second composite structure coupled to the first composite structure by sliding the tab into the at least one indentation along a direction that is parallel to which planar surfaces of the first and second composite structures extend.
An interlocked composite structure comprising:
- first plies layered around an opening, the opening including:
- a first narrow portion extending from a first interface surface at a first side of the first narrow portion, the first narrow portion defining a first undercut in the first plies, and
- a first wide portion extending from the first narrow portion at a second side of the first narrow portion opposite the first side;
- and
- second plies extending from a second interface surface, the second plies layered to define a protrusion including:
- a second narrow portion extending from the second interface surface, the second narrow portion defining a second undercut in the second plies, and
- a second wide portion extending from the second narrow portion, the first interface surface and the second interface surface to contact one another such that the second narrow and wide portions of the protrusion are inserted into the first narrow and wide portions, respectively, of the opening of the first plies, the second narrow portion and the second wide portion defining a tab with a t-shaped or dove-tailed cross-sectional profile, the tab of the second plies to be inserted into the opening of the first plies along a direction that is orthogonal to which planar surfaces of the first and second plies extend.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.