US 9,315,995 B2 · Method and device for stiffener protection, and corresponding composite panel

Abstract

The stiffeners of a composite material panel may be protected by a structural section having a configuration absorbing edge impacts without propagation of impact energy to the protected structure. Each composite panel with protected parallel stiffeners has a multiply front face coming to an edge and extending between two lateral flanks of outside plies, symmetrically relative to a median plane (Pm). A device for protecting each stiffener includes a structural section that caps the stiffener symmetrically relative to this median plane (Pm). This structural section consists of an upper section formed above the edge and configured to envelop a space above the edge, a lower section framing the lateral flanks by longitudinal walls (Pi) fastened to these flanks, and an intermediate section bearing at least partially on the edge via transverse walls (Pb) so as to minimize the propagation of impact forces to the lower section.

Claims10

Dependent claims

A method for protecting a stiffener of composite panels, the stiffener including an edge and first and second lateral flanks, the method comprising:

coupling a structural section to the stiffener, the coupling comprising:
positioning an intermediate section of the structural section to at least partially bear on the edge;
framing the first and second lateral flanks by a lower section of the structural section, the lower section extending from the intermediate section and having first and second longitudinal walls extending from the intermediate section;
and
fastening the first and second longitudinal walls to the first and second lateral flanks, respectively, via first and second clamping means, respectively,
wherein the structural section further comprises an upper section extending from the intermediate section away from the edge and forming an envelope for absorbing an impact thereupon via plastic deformation and reducing propagation of the impact force to the stiffener.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and device for stiffener protection, and corresponding composite panel

Life of this patent

Method and device for stiffener protection, and corresponding composite panel

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims10