BLADDER PRESSURE BONDING APPARATUS

• US 20100269979A1
• Filed: 03/30/2010
• Published: 10/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Spirit Aerosystems Incorporated (Spirit Aerosystems Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Spirit Aerosystems Incorporated (Spirit Aerosystems Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Abitz, Paul Bryan
• Application Number:
  US12/749,575
• Publication Number:
  US 20100269979A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 156/323
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/48 using adhesives , i.e. using supplementary joining material; solvent bonding
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/4835 Heat curing adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/485 Multi-component adhesives, i.e. chemically curing as a result of the mixing of said multi-components
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/4875 being spherical, e.g. particles or powders
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/488 being longitudinal, e.g. fibres
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/1122 Single lap to lap joints, i.e. overlap joints B29C66/45, B29C66/472, B29C66/52272 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/301 Three-dimensional joints, i.e. the joined area being substantially non-flat B29C66/5223, B29C66/5224, B29C66/5225 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/45 Joining of substantially the whole surface of the articles methods or apparatus for laminating B32B37/00
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/721 Fibre-reinforced materials B29C66/729 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/7212 characterised by the composition of the fibres
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/73111 Thermal expansion coefficient
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/73112 of different thermal expansion coefficient, i.e. the thermal expansion coefficient of one of the parts to be joined being different from the thermal expansion coefficient of the other part
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/742 to metals or their alloys
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/81455 being a fluid inflatable bag or bladder, a diaphragm or a vacuum bag for applying isostatic pressure inflatable element positioned between the joining tool and a backing-up part B29C66/82421
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/81463 comprising a plurality of single pressing elements, e.g. a plurality of sonotrodes, or comprising a plurality of single counter-pressing elements, e.g. a plurality of anvils, said plurality of said single elements being suitable for making a single joint
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/8322 Joining or pressing tools reciprocating along one axis
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2105/06 containing reinforcements, fillers or inserts
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2105/0809 Fabrics
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2105/16 Fillers
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2105/206 Meshes, lattices or nets
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2305/00 : Use of metals, their alloys or their compounds, as reinforcement
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2305/02 : Aluminium
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2307/00 : Use of elements other than metals as reinforcement
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2307/04 : Carbon
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2309/08 : Glass
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/3076 : Aircrafts blades, propellers B29L2031/08
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/3085 : Wings
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2605/18 : Aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/1018 : using only vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 41/00 : Arrangements for controlling or monitoring lamination processes; Safety arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 5/10 : Manufacturing or assembling aircraft, e.g. jigs therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/10 : Methods of surface bonding and/or assembly therefor

Abstract

An apparatus and method for providing pressure for bonding parts together. The apparatus may comprise a plurality of bladders independently actuatable to apply pressure for pushing a second part toward a first part having adhesive thereon. The apparatus may further comprise a frame supporting a plurality of reconfigurable bladder retainer devices positioned and angled such that the configuration of the bladders matches the contour of the second part. The bladders may expand and contract according to a sequence dictated by a control device, such that excess air and adhesive between the first and second part may be substantially squeegeed toward outer edges of the parts.

Claims

1. An apparatus for providing bonding pressure to bond parts together, the apparatus comprising:

a frame;

a plurality of malleable bladders held adjacent to each other by the frame and configured for independently expanding and contracting;

a bladder actuation device configured for actuating the bladders to expand and contract; and

a control device communicably coupled with the bladder actuation device and configured to control the bladder actuation device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control device is further configured to command at least one of when and by how much the bladder actuation device individually expands or contracts the bladders.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of retaining devices, each fixedly attached to one of the bladders and reconfigurably attached to the frame.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a base tool positioned proximate to the bladders and configured for supporting at least one of the parts between the bladders and the base tool.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a caul sheet adjacent to the bladders and positioned between the bladders and the base tool.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the bladder actuation device is configured to increase or decrease the amount of fluid, gas, or air within each of the rubber bladders.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the bladders are made of rubber.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control device is further configured to command the bladder actuation device to actuate the bladders according to a predetermined sequence of expansion or contraction of the bladders.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control device is configured to command the bladder actuation device to actuate expansion of at least one of the bladders most centrally located prior to actuating expansion of at least one of the bladders most outwardly located.

10. A method for bonding a second part to a first part, the method comprising:

placing adhesive onto the first part;

placing second part onto the adhesive and the first part; and

actuating at least one bladder to expand toward the second part, thereby pressing the second part toward the first part.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising placing the first part on a base tool configured for supporting the first part between the second part and the tool base.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one bladder comprises a plurality of bladders or a single bladder with a plurality of compartments.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of:

independently actuating expansion or contraction of each of the bladders or compartments using a bladder actuation device operable to increase or decrease fluid, gas, or air pressure within each of the bladders or compartments independently.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising arranging the plurality of bladders substantially adjacent with each other in a configuration that substantially matches contours of the first or second part.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of placing a caul sheet between the at least one bladder and the second part.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of controlling at least one of when and by how much each of the bladders or compartments expands or contracts using a control device.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising commanding the bladder actuation device to actuate expansion of at least one of the bladders or compartments most centrally located prior to actuating expansion of at least one of the bladders or compartments most outwardly located.

18. A method for bonding a second part to a first part, the method comprising:

placing adhesive onto the first part;

placing the second part onto the adhesive and the first part;

arranging a plurality of bladders substantially adjacent with each other in a configuration that substantially matches contours of the first or second part, wherein the second part is positioned between the first part and the bladders; and

independently actuating each of the bladders to expand toward the second part according to a pre-determined sequence, thereby pressing the second part toward the first part.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of controlling at least one of when and by how much each of the bladders expands or contracts using a control device.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising commanding the bladder actuation device to actuate expansion of at least one of the bladders most centrally located prior to actuating expansion of at least one of the bladders most outwardly located.