Method and apparatus for performing a repair on a contoured section of a composite structure
AssigneeGrumman Aerospace Corporation
InventorCharles C. Mimbs
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for performing a repair to a damaged area on a contoured section of a composite structure, including the steps of laying up a repair patch over the damaged area of the composite structure, installing a conformal thermocouple over the repair patch so that the conformal thermocouple is in direct communication with and completely conforms to the exact shape of the contour section so as to act as a vehicle for the transfer of heat and pressure to the repair patch, applying heat to the repair patch via the conformal thermocouple, applying pressure to the repair patch via the conformal thermocouple, and curing the repair patch.
Claims23
A method for performing a repair to a damaged area on a contoured section of a composite structure, comprising the steps of:
- (a) supporting the contoured section of the composite structure to be repaired;
- (b) removing the damaged area from the contoured section of the composite structure to be repaired;
- (c) laying up a repair patch over the damaged area of the composite structure;
- (d) placing a release patch over the repair patch;
- (e) installing a conformal thermocouple over the repair patch so that conformal thermocouple is in direct communication with and completely conforms to the exact shape of the contoured section so as to act as a vehicle for the transfer of heat and pressure to the repair patch;
- (f) applying heat to the repair patch via the conformal thermocouple;
- (g) applying a pressure to the repair patch via the conformal thermocouple;
- (h) applying insulation to the contoured section of the composite structure so as to reduce heat loss;
- and
- (i) curing the repair patch.
A method for performing a repair to a damaged area on a contoured section of a composite structure, comprising the steps of:
- (a) supporting the contoured section of the composite structure to be repaired;
- (b) removing the damaged area from the contoured section of the composite structure and leaving a repair site:
- (c) laying up a first patch over the repair site;
- (d) placing a second patch over the first patch:
- (e) installing a conformal thermocouple over the second patch so that the conformal thermocouple is in direct communication with and completely conforms to the exact shape of the repair site so as to act as a vehicle for the transfer of heat and pressure to the repair site;
- (f) applying heat to the repair site via the conformal thermocouple;
- (g) applying pressure to the repair site via the conformal thermocouple;
- and
- (h) applying insulation to the repair site so as to reduce heat loss:
- (i) curing the first patch.
A method for performing a repair to an area consisting of a damaged core and a damaged skin on a contoured section of a composite structure, comprising the steps of:
- (a) supporting the contoured section of the composite structure to be repaired;
- (b) removing the damaged core and the damaged skin from the contoured section of the composite structure and leaving a repair site with a skin-to-core faying surface;
- (c) applying an adhesive to the skin-to-core faying surface;
- (d) installing a core to the skin-to-core faying surface to replace the removed damaged core:
- (e) laying up adhesive and a repair patch to the replacement core and surrounding area of the repair site;
- (f) placing a release film over the repair patch;
- (g) installing a conformal thermocouple over the release film so that the conformal thermocouple is in direct communication with and completely conforms to the exact shape of the repair site so as to act as a vehicle for the transfer of heat and pressure over the repair site;
- (h) positioning at least one conventional heating blanket over the conformal thermocouple for producing heat in the conformal thermocouple;
- (i) applying a local vacuum bag over the repair site for producing pressure in the conformal thermocouple;
- (j) insulating the area surrounding the repair site so as to reduce heat loss from the repair site;
- (k) activating the at least one conventional heating blanket so that heat is applied to the complete repair site via the conformal thermocouple;
- (l) activating the vacuum bag so that pressure is applied to the complete repair site via the conformal thermocouple;
- and
- (m) curing the repair patch.
An arrangement for performing a repair to a damaged area on a contoured section of a composite structure wherein the damaged area is removed from the contoured section of the composite structure so as to leave a repair site, comprising:
- (a) a repair patch laid up over the repair site;
- (b) a release film placed over said repair patch;
- (c) a conformal thermocouple installed over said release film so that said conformal thermocouple is in direct communication with and completely conforms to the exact shape of the repair site so as to act as a vehicle for the transfer of heat and pressure to the complete repair site;
- (d) an insulator applied to the area surrounding the repair site so as to reduce heat loss;
- (e) at least one conventional heating blanket applied over said conformal thermocouple for applying heat to the entire repair site via the conformal thermocouple;
- and
- (f) a vacuum bag applied over said at least one conventional heating blanket for applying pressure to the entire repair site via the conformal thermocouple.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.