Reworking array structures
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsJoseph L. Hafenrichter, Joseph A. Marshall, IV, Jeffrey Lynn Duce, Manny Salazar Urcia, Jr., Otis Franklin Layton, David L. Banks
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for reworking an antenna aperture. A plurality of antenna cells comprise walls and antenna elements on the walls. Replacement antenna cells are placed adjacent to the plurality of antenna cells. The replacement antenna cells comprise a replacement wall and a replacement antenna element on the replacement wall. A conductive splice is attached to the replacement antenna element and to a one of the antenna elements on a one of the walls.
Claims20
An apparatus, comprising:
- a plurality of antenna cells comprising walls and antenna elements on the walls;
- replacement antenna cells adjacent to the plurality of antenna cells, wherein the replacement antenna cells comprise a replacement wall and a replacement antenna element on the replacement wall;
- and
- a conductive splice attached to the replacement antenna element and to a one of the antenna elements on a one of the walls.
An apparatus, comprising:
- a plurality of antenna cells comprising walls and antenna elements on the walls;
- a first facesheet attached to the walls on a first side of the plurality of antenna cells;
- replacement antenna cells adjacent to the plurality of antenna cells, wherein the replacement antenna cells comprise a replacement wall and a replacement antenna element on the replacement wall;
- a structural splice attached to the replacement wall and to a one of the walls of the plurality of antenna cells;
- a conductive splice attached to the replacement antenna element and to a one of the antenna elements on the one of the walls, wherein a shape of the conductive splice matches a shape of a portion of the replacement antenna element and a shape of a portion of the one of the antenna elements on the one of the walls;
- a replacement facesheet attached to the first facesheet and to the replacement wall on a first side of the replacement antenna cells;
- and
- a second facesheet attached to the walls on a second side of the plurality of antenna cells and to the replacement wall on a second side of the replacement antenna cells.
A method for reworking an antenna aperture, comprising:
- removing antenna cells from the antenna aperture, wherein the antenna cells comprise walls and antenna elements on the walls;
- placing replacement antenna cells in the antenna aperture in an area from which the antenna cells were removed, wherein the replacement antenna cells comprise a replacement wall and a replacement antenna element on the replacement wall;
- and
- placing a conductive splice to connect the replacement antenna element to a one of the antenna elements on a one of the walls.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.