Structural bonding and debonding system
AssigneeHughes Aircraft Company
InventorGustav A. Schmidt
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Two pieces (12 and 14) of material are releasably bonded together with a thermoplastic adhesive (28) in which a heating element (30) is embedded. After application, the adhesive (28) cures at ambient temperature or at a low elevated temperature produced by passing an electrical current through the heating element (30), to bond the pieces (12 and 14) together. The pieces (12 and 14) are debonded or separated by passing a relatively high electrical power through the heating element (30), to soften or melt the adhesive (28). A preferred adhesive (28) is a cyanoacrylate.
Claims12
A bonded structure, comprising:
- two pieces of material that are bonded together;
- and
- a joint between the two pieces of material, the joint including
- a layer of a thermoplastic adhesive,
- an electrical resistance element between the two pieces, and
- means for centering the electrical resistance element between the two pieces of material that are bonded together, wherein the means for centering contact the two pieces of material.
A process for temporarily joining and then separating two pieces of material, comprising the steps of:
- furnishing two pieces of material having conformably shaped facing surfaces;
- bonding the two pieces of material together at a joint, the joint including
- a layer of thermoplastic adhesive,
- an electrical resistance element between the two pieces;
- and
- means for separating and spacing the electrical resistance element apart from each of the two pieces of material that are bonded together, the means for separating and spacing apart including a plurality of nonconductive spacers placed between the electrical resistance element and the pieces of material on each side of the electrical resistance element;
- and
- passing a sufficient electrical current through the resistance element to melt the thermoplastic adhesive, thereby separating the two pieces.
A bonded structure, comprising:
- two pieces of material that are bonded together;
- and
- a joint between the two pieces of material, the joint including
- a layer of a thermoplastic adhesive,
- an electrical resistance element between the two pieces, the resistance element comprising an electrically conducting element and an insulator overlying the electrically conducting element;
- and
- means for separating and spacing the electrical resistance element apart from each of the two pieces of material that are bonded together, the means for separating and spacing being a different structural element from the insulator on the electrically conducting element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.