Method and a device for bonding a metal fairing to the leading edge of an airfoil
AssigneeEurocopter
InventorsPatrick Boschet, Thomas Navarre, Bruno Lorcet
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and a device (1) for bonding a metal fairing (6) to protect a leading edge of an aircraft airfoil (7), the metal fairing (6) is designed to be bonded against the airfoil (7) with the help of an adhesive (9). The bonding device (1) is remarkable in that it includes a rigid yoke (2) having inserted therein induction heater elements (30) for heating the metal fairing (6).
Claims17
A bonding device for bonding a metal fairing for protecting a leading edge of an aircraft airfoil, said metal fairing having a shape and being for bonding against said airfoil with the help of an adhesive, said device comprising a rigid yoke in which induction heater means are inserted for heating said metal fairing, and wherein said induction heater means are arranged between first and second primary layers of a thermo-expandable material, said second primary layer matching to the shape of said metal fairing while said device is in use, wherein said induction heater means comprises four groups of Litz wires, first and second groups being disposed between said first and second primary layers so as to be situated on a suction side of said fairing, and third and fourth groups being disposed between said first and second primary layers so as to be situated on a pressure side of said metal fairing, and wherein said first group is separated from said second group so as to release a non-heated space, said third group also being separated from said fourth group.
A bonding device for bonding a metal fairing to an aircraft airfoil for protecting a leading edge of the aircraft airfoil, said metal fairing having a curved shape and being for bonding against said airfoil with the help of an adhesive, said device comprising a rigid yoke housing an induction heater for heating said metal fairing, said induction heater being arranged between first and second primary layers of a thermo-expandable material, said second primary layer being of a shape to correspond to the curved shape of said metal fairing and being housed within and adjacent the rigid yoke, wherein said induction heater comprises four groups of Litz wires, first and second groups being disposed between said first and second primary layers so as to be situated on a suction side of said fairing, and third and fourth groups being disposed between said first and second primary layers so as to be situated on a pressure side of said metal fairing, and wherein said first group is separated from said second group so as to release a non-heated space, said third group also being separated from said fourth group.
A bonding device for adhesively bonding a metal fairing having a shape to an aircraft airfoil, said device comprising:
- a non-deformable rigid yoke having a first curved surface;
- a first primary layer of thermo-expandable material secured adjacent to said yoke, said first primary layer having a second curved surface disposed within and facing said first curved surface;
- an induction heater for heating said metal fairing, said heater secured within to said first primary layer of thermo-expandable material;
- and
- a second primary layer of a thermo-expandable material secured adjacent to said induction heater, wherein said second primary layer corresponds to the shape of said metal fairing while said device is in use, said induction heater is disposed between said first and second primary layers, wherein said induction heater comprises four groups of Litz wires, first and second groups being disposed between said first and second primary layers so as to be situated on a suction side of said fairing, and third and fourth groups being disposed between said first and second primary layers so as to be situated on a pressure side of said metal fairing, and wherein said first group is separated from said second group so as to release a non-heated space, said third group also being separated from said fourth group.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.