Web core structural panel

• US 6,412,251 B1
• Filed: 08/30/2000
• Issued: 07/02/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Aero Transportation Products, Inc. (Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Aero Transportation Products, Inc. (Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Early, Stephen R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Friedman, Carl D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DORSEY, DENNIS
• Application Number:
  US09/652,257
• Time in Patent Office: 671 Days
• Field of Search: 52/49, 52/56, 52/82, 527/831, 527/841.4, 527/841.6, 527/931, 527/991.1
• US Class Current: 52/783.1
• CPC Class Codes: B61D 17/041 with bodies characterised by use of light metal, e.g. aluminium B61D17/045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E04C 2/08 of metal, e.g. sheet metal E04C2/26 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E04C 2/34 composed of two or more spaced sheet-like parts E04C2/32 takes precedence; spacers for cavity walls E04B2/44
• CPC Class Codes: E04C 2/36 spaced apart by transversely-placed strip material, e.g. honeycomb panels honeycomb or other core members for layered products B32B

Abstract

A panel system includes a first skin, a second skin, a web core constructed from sheet material for securing the skins together in a spaced, sandwich relationship, and a connecting means for affixing the web core within the skins. The web core includes a plurality of spaced apart longitudinal members having longitudinally spaced projections extending therefrom and further having transversely aligned, longitudinally spaced slots therein. The web core further includes a plurality of spaced-apart, transverse cross members each having spaced slots therein receiving the longitudinal members at corresponding transversely aligned slots thereof to provide an interlocked grid between the first and second skins. The grid is connected to the skins utilizing the projections, which extend through slits in the skins to facilitate welding or otherwise bonding the components.

Claims

1. A structural panel comprising:

first and second metal skins each presenting exterior and interior panel surfaces,

a web core of metal construction between said first and second skins in engagement with said interior surfaces thereof to maintain the skins in a spaced relationship, including a plurality of spaced-apart, elongated primary members having longitudinally spaced connectors extending therefrom and further having transversely aligned, longitudinally spaced slots therein,

said web core further including a plurality of spaced-apart cross members each having spaced slots therein receiving said primary members at corresponding transversely aligned slots thereof to provide an interlocked grid between said first and second skins,

at least certain of said connectors including a pair of spaced projections, and said skins having openings therein receiving corresponding projections, and

welds at said projections securing said web core to the respective skins to provide a rigid panel structure.

2. The structural panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said primary and cross members is composed of a sheet material of desired thickness.

3. The structural panel as claimed in claim 2, wherein said skins and said sheet material are aluminum.

4. The structural panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cross members include spaced connectors extending therefrom, at least certain of said connectors extending from the cross members including a pair of spaced projections, said skins having openings therein receiving corresponding projections on the cross members, and there being welds at said cross member projections securing the cross members to the respective skins.

5. The structural panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least certain of said pairs of spaced projections comprise two spaced tabs, one of which has means for cooperating with a holding device during fabrication while the other tab is welded to the associated skin.

6. The structural panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least certain of said pairs of spaced projections comprise an initially relatively long tab and a short tab, the long tab having means for cooperating with a holding device during fabrication while the short tab is welded to the associated skin.

7. The structural panel as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means for connecting a plurality of said panels together.

8. The structural panel as claimed in claim 7, wherein said means for connecting includes an elongated member bonded to proximate edges of adjacent panels.

9. A method of forming a structural panel, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a first skin, a second skin and a web core including a plurality of primary grid members and cross grid members, all composed of a metal,

(b) mounting the cross grid members in a spaced relationship on the primary grid members to present an interlocked grid, including mating slots formed in the primary grid members with slots formed in the cross grid members, and

(c) affixing the first and second skins on opposed sides of the grid, including providing spaced-apart pairs of spaced projections that extend from at least certain of said grid members and welding the projections to the skins.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein said step (c) further includes providing openings in the skins to receive corresponding projections.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein said step (c) further includes providing each pair of projections with a relatively long projection and a relatively short projection, temporarily securing the skins to the grid using the long projections while welding the shorter projections to the skins.