Attachment system and method for thermal protection system
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorKeith A. Etling
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An attachment system for mounting a tile of a thermal protection system to a substructure comprises a post assembly configured to interconnect the tile to the substructure. The post assembly is configured to allow relative sliding movement between the tile and the substructure along a plane which is generally parallel to the tile. The attachment system facilitates installation and removal of the tile from the substructure for inspection, maintenance and repair of the tile and/or the substructure.
Claims12
A method of mounting a tile to a substructure, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing at least one element and a strain isolation pad;
- forming a bore in the tile, the at least one element, and the strain isolation pad;
- inserting a cord into the bore of the tile such that an excess portion of the cord extends outwardly from the tile;
- bonding the cord to the tile;
- inserting the cord into the bore of the strain isolation pad and the at least one element such that the strain isolation pad is disposed between the tile and the at least one element;
- applying tension to the cord while the at least one element and the strain isolation pad are forced against the tile;
- bonding the cord to the at least one element while the cord is under tension;
- and
- bonding the at least one element to the substructure.
A method of removing and installing a tile mounted to a substructure using an attachment system having a post assembly comprising a lower element, a center element and an upper element, the lower element being fixedly mounted to the substructure, the center element being engaged to the lower element and being slidably movable along a second sliding direction, the upper element being engaged to the center element and being slidably movable along a first sliding direction, the method comprising the steps of:
- removing the tile from the substructure by performing at least one of the following:
- slidably disengaging the upper element from the center element on an end of the center element opposite the tile and along the first sliding direction such that the tile and upper element are removed as a unit;
- slidably disengaging the center element from the lower element along the second sliding direction oriented generally parallel to a longitudinal direction of the tile such that the tile, upper element and center element are removed as a unit;
- and
- providing a tile replacement having at least one of an upper element and a center element mounted thereto;
- and
- mounting the tile replacement to the substructure by performing at least one of the following:
- slidably engaging the upper element to the center element along the first sliding direction;
- slidably engaging the center element to the lower element along the second sliding direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.