Method of securing a curing composite substrate wrap to a structure
AssigneeAir Logistics Corporation
InventorSteve R. Bazinet
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A wrapped and curing substrate is secured: with a strap. The strap has two clips, each having a prong. The prong of a first clip is slid in a first direction into a first portion of the wrapped substrate. A second clip is pulled away from the first clip over a substrate edge, and the prong of the second clip is slid into a second portion of the wrapped substrate in a direction opposite the first direction. In one embodiment, the first portion of the wrapped substrate is an overlapping layer of substrate, and the second portion of the wrapped substrate is the layer of substrate extending from underneath the overlapping substrate.
Claims23
A method of securing a curing substrate that is wrapped about a structure, the method comprising:
- sliding a prong of a first clip of a strap into a first portion of the wrapped substrate, wherein the prong is slid in a first direction;
- pulling a second clip, that is coupled with the first clip, away from the first clip over a substrate edge;
- positioning a bar over the substrate edge and under the strap;
- and
- sliding a prong of the second clip into a second portion of the wrapped substrate, wherein the prong is slid in a direction opposite the first direction,
- wherein the clips secure the substrate in position during cure of the substrate.
A method of connecting an underlying layer of a composite substrate to an end edge of an overlapping layer that overlaps the underlying layer of substrate, the method comprising:
- sliding prongs of a first clip of a strap into the overlapping layer of the substrate near the end edge thereof, wherein the prongs are slid in a first direction toward the end edge;
- pulling a second clip, that is coupled with the first clip, over the end edge and away from the first clip;
- positioning a bar over the substrate edge and under the strap;
- and
- sliding prongs of the second clip into the underlying substrate layer, wherein the prongs are slid toward the end edge in a second direction which is opposite the first direction,
- wherein the clips secure the substrate during cure of the substrate.
A combination of a curing substrate and a strap securing the curing substrate, the combination comprising:
- a composite substrate that is wrapped about a structure wherein an overlapping layer of the substrate is wrapped over an underlying layer of the substrate, wherein an end of the overlapping layer is an end of the substrate;
- a strap having a first clip and a second clip coupled to the first clip, wherein each clip has prongs;
- and
- a bar positioned over the substrate end and under the strap;
- wherein the prongs of the first clip are slid in a first direction into the overlapping layer of the substrate near the end of the substrate, the second clip is stretched away from the first clip and the prongs of the second clip are slid into the underlying layer of the substrate in a second direction that is opposite the first direction,
- wherein when the substrate is curing the clips secure the end of the overlapping layer of substrate to the underlying layer of substrate and the bar holds down the substrate end.
A method of repairing a damaged area of a cylindrical structure comprising:
- wrapping a strip of flexible substrate around a damaged area of the cylindrical structure at least once;
- positioning a bar over an edge of the substrate;
- and
- strapping an end of the substrate to a previously wrapped layer of substrate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.