Method of using composite reinforced grommet
OwnerJames D. Moyerinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A device and method to prevent delamination at load-bearing apertures in structural composite substrates is disclosed. The device is a composite reinforcing grommet having a hollow, generally tubular member of braided filaments impregnated with polymer. The member may be radially deformed for insertion into an aperture in a structural composite substrate and is then capable of being radially expanded to form flanges to secure the structural composite between the flanges. A method of reinforcing a substrate having an aperture therethrough including the step of cobonding a composite reinforcing grommet to a structural composite substrate is also disclosed.
Claims9
A method of reinforcing a substrate having an aperture therein, comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a composite reinforcing grommet comprising a hollow generally tubular member of braided filaments, said filaments being impregnated with a polymeric material, said member having a central body portion and opposite end portions, said braided filaments allowing said member to be generally radially deformable, one or both of said end portions capable of being radially expanded to form flanges;
- (b) providing a substrate which comprises a polymeric material and which has an aperture therein;
- (c) inserting said member into said aperture;
- (d) expanding at least one of the end portions of the member radially outward to form a flange which cannot be drawn through said aperture;
- and
- (e) while the polymeric materials of both the substrate, at least in the vicinity of the apertures, and the grommet are soft, curing the said polymeric materials while applying pressure thereto so that a bond is formed between the substrate and the grommet.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.