Syntactic tunnel core
AssigneeNorthrop Grumman Corporation
InventorsCarl Reis, Doris Reis
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Abstract
A technique and tool are provided for repairing damaged areas of honeycomb structures. The tool includes a plurality of rods axially translatable into the damaged area. Foam material is inserted about the rods and allowed to cure. The rods are later withdrawn leaving a porous core of material. Sleeves may be provided to receive and support the rods as they translate into the damaged area. The sleeves may remain in the damaged area after the rods are withdrawn into the sleeves.
Claims15
A replacement core fabrication tool for fabricating a replacement honeycomb core corresponding to a damaged area of a vehicle honeycomb core comprising:
- a. first and second guide plates, the guide plates each having a plurality of apertures extending therethrough;
- b. a plurality of independently extendable rods slideably disposable through corresponding apertures of the first and second guide plates to a selected depth into the damaged area to conform distal ends of the rods to a contoured inner surface of the damaged area, and to conform hollow areas within a resin body disposed within the damaged area to a honeycomb configuration of the honeycomb core;
- and
- c. a plurality of sleeves slideably disposed over distal end portions of the plurality of independently extendable rods for disposing the sleeves in the resin body while the distal end portions of the rods are pulled out of the resin body.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.