WINDOW PANEL FOR AN AIRFRAME AND METHOD OF PRODUCING SAME

• US 20150064389A1
• Filed: 08/26/2014
• Published: 03/05/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Original Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Inventors: Zahlen, Pierre C., Born, Johannes, Zuardy, M. Ichwan, Meyer, Lars, Baumbach, Gregor, Hanske, Claus, Prowe, Jens, Oentoro, Johan, Brok, Wouter, Metten, Martin
• Granted Patent: US 9,902,483 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 428/76
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2793/0018 for making a hole
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2793/0081 before shaping
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 70/023 with reinforcing inserts
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 70/026 and with one or more layers of pure plastics material, e.g. foam layers applying a non-preformed coating, e.g. a gel-coat B29C37/0025; with foam blocks B29C70/86
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 70/302 Details of the edges of fibre composites, e.g. edge finishing or means to avoid delamination
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 70/545 Perforating, cutting or machining during or after moulding
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2007/002 Panels; Plates; Sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2009/00 Layered products
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/005 for making window frames windows B29L2031/778
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/30 Vehicles, e.g. ships or aircraft, or body parts thereof vanes or blades B29L2031/08, air bags B29L2022/027
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/3082 Fuselages
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2250/03 3 layers
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2250/24 All layers being polymeric
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2250/40 Symmetrical or sandwich layers, e.g. ABA, ABCBA, ABCCBA
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2250/44 Number of layers variable across the laminate
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2260/00 Layered product comprising an impregnated, embedded, or bonded layer wherein the layer comprises an impregnation, embedding, or binder material
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2266/08 Closed cell foam
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2305/022 Foam
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2305/07 Parts immersed or impregnated in a matrix
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2605/00 Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2605/006 : Transparent parts other than made from inorganic glass, e.g. polycarbonate glazings
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2605/18 : Aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 3/02 : characterised by features of form at particular places, e.g. in edge regions non-uniform thickness B32B3/263
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 3/08 : characterised by added members at particular parts layer formed of separate pieces of material which are juxtaposed side-by-side B32B3/14, B32B3/18
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 3/263 : characterised by a layer having non-uniform thickness
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 3/266 : characterised by an apertured layer, the apertures going through the whole thickness of the layer, e.g. expanded metal, perforated layer, slit layer regular cells B32B3/12
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/16 : with all layers existing as coherent layers before laminating
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/30 : Partial laminating
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 38/04 : Punching, slitting or perforating
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/18 : characterised by features of a layer of foamed material
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/245 : another layer next to it being a foam layer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/26 : another layer next to it also being fibrous or filamentary relative arrangement of fibres or filaments of different layers B32B5/12
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/28 : impregnated with or embedded in a plastic substance not used
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 7/04 : Interconnection of layers
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 1/00 : Windows; Windscreens; Accessories therefor B60J10/00 takes precedence; air curtains instead of windows B60J9/04 ; sealing strips for windshields B60J10/70; sealing sash guides for sliding window panes B60J10/74; glass partitions inside vehicles to protect occupants against personal attack B60R21/12
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 1/004 : Mounting of windows
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 1/006 : characterised by fixation means such as clips, adhesive, etc. incorporated in seal B60J10/70
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 1/12 : Construction or attachment of skin panels
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 1/14 : Windows; Doors; Hatch covers or access panels; Surrounding frame structures; Canopies; Windscreens accessories therefor, e.g. pressure sensors, water deflectors, hinges, seals, handles, latches, windscreen wipersfairings movable in conjunction with undercarriage elements B64C25/16; bomb doors B64D1/06
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 1/1484 : Windows B64C1/1492 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 1/1492 : Structure and mounting of the transparent elements in the window or windscreen
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 2001/0072 : from composite materials
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/40 : Weight reduction
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49163 : with sintering of base
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49165 : by forming conductive walled aperture in base
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/12667 : Oxide of transition metal or Al
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/239 : Complete cover or casing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24322 : Composite web or sheet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24521 : with component conforming to contour of nonplanar surface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/25 : Web or sheet containing structurally defined element or component and including a second component containing structurally defined particles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/256 : Heavy metal or aluminum or compound thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/257 : Iron oxide or aluminum oxide
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/26 : Web or sheet containing structurally defined element or component, the element or component having a specified physical dimension
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2982 : Particulate matter [e.g., sphere, flake, etc.]

Abstract

The present disclosure pertains to a window panel for a body structure of a vehicle, especially an airframe of an aircraft or spacecraft, including a first skin which extends over a first side of the panel to form an outer skin of the vehicle body structure; a second skin which extends over a second side of the panel to form an inner skin of the vehicle body structure; and a core, especially a foam core, located between and covered by the first and second skins in a sandwich structure. The window panel includes at least one window aperture formed through the first layer, the core, and the second layer. The core may be confined to or extends over a limited extent, region or part of the panel. Thus, the first skin and/or the second skin may extend over or cover a greater area of the panel than the core.

Claims

1. A window panel for a body structure of a vehicle, comprising:

a first skin extending over a first side of the panel to form an outer skin of the vehicle body structure;

a second skin extending over a second side of the panel to form an inner skin of the vehicle body structure;

a core located between and covered by the first and second skins in a sandwich structure; and

at least one window aperture formed through the first layer, the core, and the second layer.

2. The window panel according to claim 1, wherein each window aperture is substantially surrounded by the core in the sandwich structure, wherein the core is confined to or extends over a limited part or area of the panel.

3. The window panel according to claim 1, wherein the first skin and/or the second skin extend over or cover a greater area than the core.

4. The window panel according to claim 1, wherein the first skin and/or the second skin of the panel either individually or in combination form a monolithic structure in region of the panel beyond an extent of the core.

5. The window panel according to claim 1, wherein the core is elongate and confined to extend in a central region of the panel between a monolithic first edge region and a monolithic second edge region of the panel.

6. The window panel according to claim 1, wherein a thickness of the core diminishes or tapers from a central region of the panel towards each of a first edge region and a second edge region;

wherein the first skin and the second skin are bonded or joined to one another at or along each of the first and second edge regions.

7. The window panel according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of window apertures are provided in the panel through the first skin, the core, and the second skin, wherein the plurality of window apertures are arranged spaced at intervals laterally adjacent one another along the panel.

8. The window panel according to claim 1, wherein the first skin comprises a fibre-reinforced composite, and/or wherein the second skin comprises a fibre-reinforced composite, and/or wherein the core comprises a solid foam having closed cells.

9. The window panel according to claim 1, wherein the first skin and the second skin are joined to one another to form a monolithic region at or around a periphery of each window aperture;

wherein a reinforcing insert is included between the first skin and the second skin.

10. The window panel according to claim 9, wherein the monolithic region at or around a periphery of each window aperture forms an attachment region at which a window assembly is fixed in the panel.

11. The window panel according to claim 10, wherein the window assembly includes a seal and at least one pane to cover the window aperture, and wherein the seal seals against the at least one pane and the attachment region at the periphery of the window aperture.

16. A vehicle having a body structure that includes one or more window panel according to claim 1.

17. The window panel according to claim 3, wherein the first skin and/or the second skin extend over or cover the entire area of the panel.

18. The window panel according to claim 9, wherein the reinforcing insert is included between the first skin and the second skin at or around the periphery of each window aperture.

12. A method of producing a window panel for a body structure of a vehicle, the method comprising:

providing an expanse of a core material, such as a solid foam, having at least one aperture formed therein;

providing one or more reinforcement fibre layers over a first side of the core material;

providing one or more reinforcement fibre layers over a second side of the core material;

wherein the reinforcement fibre layers are impregnated with a polymer resin; and

curing the polymer resin impregnated reinforcement fibre layers on the first and second sides of the core material to form a first skin and a second skin of fibre-reinforced polymer covering the core in a sandwich structure in the panel;

wherein the first skin and the second skin extend beyond the expanse of the core material.

13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising:

forming a monolithic portion of the panel from the resin impregnated reinforcement fibre layers in a region of the panel beyond the expanse of the core material by joining or bonding the resin impregnated reinforcement fibre layers at or along a first edge region and/or at or along a second edge region of the panel.

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein the one or more reinforcement fibre layers over the first side of the core material include a respective window aperture in alignment with each window aperture formed in the expanse of core material;

and/or wherein the one or more reinforcement fibre layers over the second side of the core material include a respective window aperture in alignment with each window aperture formed in the expanse of core material.

15. The method according to claim 12, wherein the resin impregnated reinforcement fibre layers of the first side are joined or bonded to the resin impregnated reinforcement fibre layers of the second side at or around a periphery of the at least one window aperture.