Apparatus and method for joining dissimilar materials to form a structural support member
AssigneeLockheed Martin Corporation
InventorsElbert Lee McKague, Jr., Ronald P. Schmidt
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A preformed component or “preform” for a structural member has a planar base with two longitudinal legs extending in parallel from the base. A channel is defined between the legs for insertion of a flat plate that forms the first member of the structural member. The base of the preform is bonded to a composite panel. The preform is a composite material having continuous filaments of woven or braided fiber. The preform is impregnated with a thermoset resin that bonds the first member to the second member of the structural member. The preform may have filaments in the legs having a coefficient of expansion to match the plate, and filaments in the base having a coefficient of expansion to match the panel.
Claims24
A structural member, comprising:
- a first member formed from one of a metallic material and a composite material, the first member having a longitudinal edge extending in an axial direction;
- a second member formed from the other of the metallic and composite materials;
- a preform formed from composite materials and having a base with a pair of axially elongated legs extending therefrom to define a channel therebetween, wherein the preform is formed from filaments that extend through the base and legs;
- and wherein
- the longitudinal edge of the first member is bonded in the channel of the preform and the second member is bonded to a surface of the base of the preform.
A structural member, comprising:
- a first member formed from one of a metallic material and a composite material, the first member having a longitudinal edge extending in an axial direction;
- a second member formed from the other of the metallic and composite materials;
- a generally pi-shaped preform formed from composite materials and having a base with a pair of axially elongated legs extending therefrom to define a channel therebetween, the preform being formed from axial filaments that extend through the base and legs, wherein the axial filaments are oriented parallel to the axial direction and a continuous length of the preform, and the axial filaments are selected to minimize a difference in thermal expansion coefficients of the first member and the second member;
- and wherein
- one of the longitudinal edges of the first member is bonded in the channel of the preform and the second member is bonded to a surface of the base of the preform.
A method for fabricating a structural member, comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a first member formed from one of a metallic material and a composite material and having a longitudinal edge extending in an axial direction, and a second member formed from the other of the metallic and composite materials;
- (b) forming a preform from composite materials, the preform having a base with a pair of legs extending therefrom to define a channel therebetween, wherein the preform has filaments that extend through the base and the legs;
- (c) positioning boundary tooling on the preform, first member, and second member and heating the structural member;
- (d) bonding the longitudinal edge of the first member in the channel of the preform such that the legs of the preform closely receive the first member;
- and
- (e) bonding the base of the preform to the second member to form a structural member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.