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US 7,731,817 B2Granted
Interlocking tooth bond for assembly of fiber composite laminates
AssigneeBell Helicopter Textron Inc.
InventorsJames Donn Hethcock, Rodney H. Jones
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved method of joining fiber composite laminates is disclosed. Two fiber composite laminates may be joined together end-to-end. The bonding is done through the thickness of the fiber composite laminates. There are two ways to form the bond: (1) non-interlocking; and (2) interlocking.
Claims24
A method of joining two fiber composite laminates comprising the steps of:
- cutting a first set of teeth in the end of the first fiber composite laminate;
- cutting a second set of teeth in the end of the second fiber composite laminate, the second set of teeth being matingly aligned with the first set of teeth;
- spatially aligning the first fiber composite laminate and the second fiber composite laminate so as to produce a variable thickness bondline therebetween;
- disposing an adhesive in the bondline;
- and
- curing the adhesive;
- wherein the variable thickness bondline is thickest near the tips of the teeth and thinnest near the midpoint of the teeth.
4 more elements
A method of joining a component part to a fiber composite laminate comprising the steps of:
- cutting a first set of teeth in the end of the fiber composite laminate;
- cutting a second set of teeth in the end of the component part, the second set of teeth being matingly aligned with the first set of teeth;
- spatially aligning the first fiber composite laminate and the component part so as to produce a variable thickness bondline therebetween;
- disposing an adhesive in the bondline;
- and
- curing the adhesives;
- wherein the variable thickness bondline is thickest near the tips of the teeth and thinnest near the midpoint of the teeth.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.