US 7,954,224 B2 · Method of joining composite honeycomb sections

Abstract

The invention includes a method of joining edges of adjacent honeycomb core panel sections. In one embodiment, the method includes forming a first edge along a first cellular core panel section. The first edge includes a first plurality of edge cell walls along the first edge. The method further includes forming a second edge along a second cellular core panel section, wherein the second edge includes a second plurality of edge cell walls along the second edge. The first edge is positioned proximate to the second edge. At least a portion of at least one of the first plurality of edge cell walls is mechanically interlocked with at least a portion of at least one of the second plurality of edge cell walls to form a joint therebetween. The invention also includes a composite structure at least partially produced by such a method.

Claims9

Dependent claims

A method of joining edges of two honeycomb core panel sections, the method comprising:

(a) forming a first edge along a first cellular core panel section, the first edge comprising a first plurality of edge cell walls therealong;
(b) forming a second edge along a second cellular core panel section, the second edge comprising a second plurality of edge cell walls therealong;
(c) positioning the first cellular core panel section proximate to the second cellular core panel section with the first and second edges opposing one another and edge cell walls of the first cellular core panel section facing edge cells walls of the second cellular core panel section;
and
(d) mechanically interlocking at least a portion of at least one of the first plurality of edge cell walls with at least a portion of at least one of the second plurality of edge cell walls.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method of joining composite honeycomb sections

Life of this patent

Method of joining composite honeycomb sections

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims9