FITTING DOUBLERS USING GAP MAPPING
First Claim
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1. Apparatus used in fabricating a stack of adhesive plies for attaching a doubler to a surface on a structure, comprising:
- a digital scanner for scanning the surface on the structure and for producing a first set of digital data representing the contour of the surface;
a second set of digital data representing a surface on the doubler intended to be attached to the surface on the structure; and
,a computer for mapping the gap between the doubler surface and the surface on the structure using the first and second sets of digital data, and for segmenting the mapped gap into layers corresponding to the adhesive plies.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus are used to fit a metallic or composite doubler on an uneven surface. A three dimensional digital map of the gap between the doubler and the uneven surface is generated by digitally scanning the uneven surface. The digital map is then used to fabricate a stack of adhesive plies tailored to substantially fill the gap between the doubler and the uneven surface.
25 Citations
25 Claims
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1. Apparatus used in fabricating a stack of adhesive plies for attaching a doubler to a surface on a structure, comprising:
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a digital scanner for scanning the surface on the structure and for producing a first set of digital data representing the contour of the surface; a second set of digital data representing a surface on the doubler intended to be attached to the surface on the structure; and
,a computer for mapping the gap between the doubler surface and the surface on the structure using the first and second sets of digital data, and for segmenting the mapped gap into layers corresponding to the adhesive plies. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method of fabricating a stack of adhesive plies used to attach a doubler to a surface on a structure, comprising:
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generating a first set of digital data representing the surface on the structure; generating a second set of digital data representing a surface on the doubler that is intended to be attached to the surface of the structure; mapping the gap between the doubler surface and the surface of the structure; segmenting the mapped gap into patterned layers corresponding to the adhesive plies; and
,using the patterned layers to produce the adhesive plies. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of fitting a doubler on a surface, comprising:
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generating a three dimensional digital map of the gap between the doubler and the surface; and
,using the digital map to fabricate a stack of adhesive plies tailored to substantially fill the gap between the doubler and the surface. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of applying a doubler to an uneven surface of a structure, comprising:
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forming a doubler having a surface intended to be applied to the uneven surface of the structure; generating a three dimensional map of the gap between the surface of the doubler and the uneven surface of the structure; segmenting the three dimensional map into a plurality of layers each having a pattern; using the pattern of the layers to fabricate a stack of adhesive plies that substantially fill the gap; filling the gap with the stack of adhesive plies; and
,placing the doubler on the uneven surface of the structure overlying the stack of adhesive plies. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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24. A method of applying a doubler over a surface of an aircraft, comprising:
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generating a first set of digital data representing the surface on the structure by digitally scanning the surface; generating a second set of digital data representing a surface on the doubler; generating a three dimensional map of a gap between the surface of the aircraft and the surface of the doubler, including comparing the first and second sets of data; segmenting the three dimensional map into patterned layers, including generating a file representing the patterned layers; using the file representing the patterned layers to produce a stack of adhesive plies, including cutting the plies from a sheet of adhesive; filling the gap with the stack of adhesive plies; and placing the doubler on the surface of the aircraft overlying the stack of adhesive plies.
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25. Apparatus used in fabricating a stack of adhesive plies used to attaching a doubler to a surface on an aircraft skin, comprising:
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a digital scanner for scanning the surface on the skin and producing a first set of digital data representing the contour of the surface; a second set of digital data representing a surface on the doubler intended to be attached to the skin; a computer; a computer program for controlling the computer and for mapping the gap in three dimensions between the surface of the doubler and the surface of the skin and segmenting the mapped gap into patterned layers; and
,a cutter controlled by the computer for automatically cutting the adhesive plies from a sheet of adhesive based on the shape of the patterned layers.
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Specification