Methods of joining rotor blade components using thermoplastic welding
First Claim
1. A method for welding thermoplastic rotor blade components together the method comprising:
- arranging a first thermoplastic rotor blade component and a second thermoplastic rotor blade component together at an interface;
determining a size of a tolerance gap between the first and second thermoplastic rotor blade components at the interface;
placing a thermoplastic insert between the first and second thermoplastic rotor blade components at the interface, the thermoplastic insert being larger than the tolerance gap;
heating the thermoplastic insert and the first and second thermoplastic rotor blade components such that the thermoplastic insert begins to flow so as to fill the tolerance gap between the first and second thermoplastic rotor blade components;
applying pressure to the interface such that the thermoplastic insert and the first and second thermoplastic rotor blade components remain substantially in direct contact with each other at the interface; and
,subsequently welding the thermoplastic insert and the first and second thermoplastic rotor blade components together at the interface, wherein the heat and the applied pressure between the thermoplastic insert and the first and second thermoplastic rotor blade components at the interface maintain the thermoplastic insert and the first and second rotor blade components substantially in direct contact at the interface during welding.
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Abstract
The present disclosure is directed to methods for joining rotor blade components using thermoplastic welding. The method includes arranging a first thermoplastic component and a second thermoplastic component together at an interface, determining a size of a tolerance gap between the first and second components at the interface, placing a thermoplastic insert between the first and second components at the interface, the insert being larger than the tolerance gap, heating the insert and the first and second components such that the insert begins to flow so as to fill the tolerance gap between the first and second components, applying pressure to the interface such that the insert and the first and second blade components remain substantially in direct contact with each other at the interface, and welding the insert and the first and second components together at the interface, wherein the heat and the applied pressure between the insert and the first and second components at the interface maintain the insert and the first and second substantially in direct contact at the interface during welding.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for welding thermoplastic rotor blade components together the method comprising:
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arranging a first thermoplastic rotor blade component and a second thermoplastic rotor blade component together at an interface; determining a size of a tolerance gap between the first and second thermoplastic rotor blade components at the interface; placing a thermoplastic insert between the first and second thermoplastic rotor blade components at the interface, the thermoplastic insert being larger than the tolerance gap; heating the thermoplastic insert and the first and second thermoplastic rotor blade components such that the thermoplastic insert begins to flow so as to fill the tolerance gap between the first and second thermoplastic rotor blade components; applying pressure to the interface such that the thermoplastic insert and the first and second thermoplastic rotor blade components remain substantially in direct contact with each other at the interface; and
,subsequently welding the thermoplastic insert and the first and second thermoplastic rotor blade components together at the interface, wherein the heat and the applied pressure between the thermoplastic insert and the first and second thermoplastic rotor blade components at the interface maintain the thermoplastic insert and the first and second rotor blade components substantially in direct contact at the interface during welding. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for welding thermoplastic rotor blade components together, the method comprising:
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arranging a first thermoplastic rotor blade component and a second rotor blade thermoplastic component together at an interface; applying a plurality of discrete, point welds at the interface such that one or more point loads are applied at the interface so as to cause the first thermoplastic rotor blade component to flex to fit the second thermoplastic rotor blade component; and
,subsequently welding the arranged first and second thermoplastic rotor blade components together at the interface, wherein the plurality of discrete, point welds maintain contact between the first and second thermoplastic rotor blade components at the interface during welding. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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Specification