Structural integrated repair method and system tool device for repairing delaminated composite structures
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorEugene Dan-Jumbo
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system for repair of damaged holes in composite structures incorporates a repair system tool device having a sleeve sized to be closely received in a hole in a composite structure. The sleeve has a central bore for receiving parent resin and an array of orifices for radial expulsion of the parent resin into the hole. A caul plate seals the central bore and a vacuum bag covering the caul plate is sealed to the surface of the composite structure. Introduction of vacuum in the vacuum bag provides a differential pressure for infusion of resin from the orifices in the sleeve into delaminations extending from the hole.
Claims20
A system for repair of damaged holes in composite structures, said system comprising:
- a repair system tool device having a sleeve sized to be closely received in a hole in a composite structure, said sleeve having a central bore for receiving parent resin and a selected array of orifices for radial expulsion of the parent resin into adjacent delaminations in the hole;
- a caul plate sealing the central bore;
- a vacuum bag covering the caul plate and sealed to a surface of the composite structure, wherein introduction of vacuum in the vacuum bag provides a differential pressure for infusion of resin from the orifices in the sleeve into delaminations extending from the hole.
A method for repair of damage holes in composite structures, the method comprising:
- conducting a non-destructive evaluation of a structural composite delaminated hole to assess damage;
- inserting a repair system tool device sleeve having a plurality of orifices into the damaged delaminated hole;
- introducing a predetermined amount of parent toughed resin into the sleeve of the repair system tool device through a central bore in the sleeve;
- installing a caul plate and bagging for application of vacuum;
- applying vacuum on the bag to urge the caul plate into sealing contact with a top flange maintaining substantially atmospheric pressure in the sleeve while placing a laminate around the hole under vacuum for diffusion of the resin through the orifices in the sleeve;
- and,
- forcing the resin into the delaminations in the laminate surrounding the hole by capillary action.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.