STRUCTURAL WINDOW IN COMPOSITE SANDWICH BEAM

• US 20070028553A1
• Filed: 08/05/2005
• Published: 02/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Richard Kirby
• Original Assignee: Richard Kirby
• Inventors: Kirby, Richard
• Granted Patent: US 8,020,886 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 52/202
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 5/06 with special devices thereon, e.g. steering devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 5/128 A part for the binding being integrated within the board structure, e.g. plate, rail, insert
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 3/20 Integral or sandwich constructions

Abstract

A window for installation in a sandwich composite beam shown in FIG. 2B that contains window body (18), tabs (22), and a means of attaching the tabs to the composite sandwich beam. The means of attaching tabs (22) could be an interlocking mechanism such as dowel interlock feature (48) in FIG. 3A. The window body (18) protects the composite beam core from moisture. Structural webbing (24) allows the strength and flexibility of the window to be adjusted to match the beam it is being installed in. The structural window also provides a platform for an imaging system shown in FIG. 6 including illumination source (36), collimating lens (34), and imaging lens (38).

Claims

1. A window for a composite sandwich beam comprising:

a. a window body

b. one or more tabs

c. said tabs being attached to said window body

d. attachment means for structurally fixing said tabs to said composite sandwich beam

whereby a hole is created and reinforced in said composite sandwich beam without compromising the strength or flexibility of said composite sandwich beam.

2. The window of claim 1 wherein said window body consists of a fiber reinforced plastic material.

3. The window of claim 2 wherein said fiber reinforced plastic material is glass filled polyamide.

4. The window of claim 1 wherein said tabs are partially or completely made of polyethylene.

5. The window of claim 1 wherein said tabs include a structural reinforcement.

6. The window of claim 5 wherein said structural reinforcement is a web.

7. The window of claim 1 wherein said means of attachment is glue.

8. The window of claim 1 wherein said means of attachment is a mechanical interlock.

9. The window of claim 8 where said mechanical interlock is a dowel.

10. The window of claim 8 where said mechanical interlock is a rib.

11. The window of claim 8 where said mechanical interlock consists of one or more fish scales.

12. The window of claim 1 further including an optical bottom window.

13. The window of claim 12 wherein one or more ramps lead to said bottom window.

14. The window of claim 1 further including one or more items from the list consisting of imaging lens(es), collimation lens(es), illumination source(s), mirror(s), and prism(s) inside said window body.

15. The window of claim 1 further including an optical sensor or optical sensor array.

16. The window of claim 1 further including a top window attached to said window body.

17. A method for reinforcing an opening in a composite sandwich beam comprising:

a. inserting a window body with tabs inside a hole in the structural beam

b. attaching said tabs to said composite sandwich beam

whereby said window body with tabs transfers the tensile and compression forces as well as the bending moment force across the opening in said composite sandwich beam in a manner that keeps the strength and flex characteristics of said composite sandwich beam in the area of the hole substantially the same as would be if there were no hole in said composite sandwich beam.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein said tabs are partially or completely made of polyethylene.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein said tabs include a structural reinforcement.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein said structural reinforcement is a web.