Blind-side panel repair method

Abstract

A method for repairing damaged sections of panels made of composite materials includes the steps of cutting the damaged section out of the panel and inserting, from the near-side, a bolt having a rigid washer, of about the same diameter as the hole to be repaired, and a flexible washer that is substantially larger than the hole, and against which the rigid washer bears. The flexible washer has radiating flukes, extending from a central hub region, which can bend when the flexible washer is pushed through the hole, and then spring back to about their original shape on the blind-side. One edge of the flukes is curved which causes the flukes to twist and present only one edge to the edge of the hole as the flexible washer is pushed through, to facilitate passage of the flexible washer through the hole. A set of resin-impregnated fabric plies is pushed through the hole behind the flexible washer on the bolt and is pressed against the marginal regions of the hold on the blind side of the panel by the flexible washer. The hole is packed full of resin-impregnated fill material or a plug cut from a similar panel, and a set of resin-impregnated repair plies is pressed over the fill material and against the near side of the panel around the marginal regions of the hole by a back-up plate on the bolt. The entire assembly is squeezed tight against the panel by a nut on the bolt and held in place while the resin cures, after which the nut and plate are removed and the bolt is cut off flush with the near side panel surface.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.