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US 8,795,455 B2Granted
Bonded patches with bond line control
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsSteve Blanchard, Aydin Akdeniz, John Spalding, David M. Anderson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A patch may be used to rework a composite structure in the field. The patch is bonded to the structure by a layer of adhesive and includes perforations that allow the escape of air from the adhesive as the patch is compressed against the structure. A spacer may be introduced between the patch and the structure to control the thickness of the adhesive layer.
Claims13
A method of reworking an area of a structure, comprising:
- placing a layer of viscous bonding adhesive of a substantially uniform thickness, with at least one spacer, over and around the area, the at least one spacer having a size that is about equal to said substantially uniform thickness;
- placing a patch on the layer of viscous bonding adhesive and over and around the area;
- placing an anti-caul plate around a periphery of the patch, the anti-caul plate surrounding an entirety of the patch;
- and
- pressing the patch against said viscous bonding adhesive using a caul plate, the caul plate covering the entirety of the patch and also covering at least a portion of the anti-caul plate.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.