Adhesive bonded attachment assembly for an insulation blanket

• US 7,584,582 B1
• Filed: 12/18/2006
• Issued: 09/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Physical Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Physical Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Hutter, Charles G. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Glessner; Brian E
• Assistant Examiner(s): Painter; Branon C
• Application Number:
  US11/612,067
• Publication Number:
  US 20090226663A1
• Time in Patent Office: 995 Days
• Field of Search: 524/041, 524/042, 524/071, 524/074, 525/060.2, 525/060.5, 525/11, 525/12, 527/871, 156/91, 411/372.5, 411/372.6, 411/373, 411/374, 411/375, 411/376, 411/377, 411/396, 428/65.2, 428/99
• US Class Current: 52/506.02
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 1/40 Sound or heat insulation , e.g. using insulation blankets
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 1/403 Arrangement of fasteners specially adapted therefor, e.g. of clips
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 11/006 by gluing gluing of plastics material B29C65/48
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 37/048 Non-releasable devices F16B37/044, F16B37/045 and F16B37/06 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 37/145 Sleeve nuts, e.g. combined with bolts
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24008 including fastener for attaching to external surface

Abstract

An adhesive bonded attachment assembly is provided for supporting and retaining an insulation blanket on a substrate such as aircraft engine nacelle or the like. The attachment assembly includes a stud attachment having a base for adhesive bonded affixation to the nacelle substrate and a fastener element such as a threaded stud extending from the base at least partially into a grommet-lined mounting port formed in the insulation blanket. A radially enlarged, insulated cap fastener is secured to the fastener element to retain the insulation blanket on the nacelle substrate in a manner shielding surrounding structures and components from heat generated during engine operation. The insulated cap fastener projects radially beyond the associated grommet for improved heat-shielding of the adhesive bonded stud attachment, thereby safeguarding against debonding of the attachment base in response to high temperature exposure.

Claims

1. An adhesive bonded attachment assembly for supporting an insulation blanket on one side of a substrate, said attachment assembly comprising:

an attachment member including an enlarged base defining a mounting surface having an extended surface area for adhesive bonded attachment to the one side of the substrate, and a fastener element; and

a cap fastener including a radially enlarged and thermally insulated cap member, and a fastener component for assembly with said fastener element of said attachment member;

at least one of said fastener element and said fastener component having a size and shape to extend at least partially into a mounting port formed in the insulation blanket, and said radially enlarged cap member having a size and shape to overlie said fastener element and further to overlie and engage the insulation blanket in a region surrounding said mounting port;

said insulated cap member comprising an inboard-side cap plate and an outboard-side cap plate cooperatively defining an internal cap chamber having an insulation material carried therein.

2. The adhesive bonded attachment assembly of claim 1 wherein said fastener element comprises a threaded stud, and further wherein said fastener component comprises a threaded nut.

3. The adhesive bonded attachment assembly of claim 1 wherein said fastener element comprises an unthreaded stud, and further wherein said fastener component comprises an unthreaded sleeve for press-fit connection with said stud.

4. The adhesive bonded attachment assembly of claim 1 wherein said fastener element comprises a female fastener element, and further wherein said fastener component comprises a male fastener component.

5. The adhesive bonded attachment assembly of claim 1 wherein said insulation material comprises a refractory cloth material.

6. The adhesive bonded attachment assembly of claim 1 wherein said outboard-side cap plate has an annular array of apertures formed therein.

7. The adhesive bonded attachment assembly of claim 6 wherein said insulation material carried within said cap chamber further comprises a seal gasket exposed through said apertures for contacting the insulation blanket in a region surrounding said mounting port.

8. The adhesive bonded attachment assembly of claim 1 wherein said insulated cap member is formed from a heat insulative material.

9. The adhesive bonded attachment assembly of claim 1 wherein said insulated cap member further defines a drive surface formed thereon.

18. The adhesive bonded attachment assembly of claim 1 further comprising a bonding agent adhesively bonding said mounting surface of said enlarged base onto said one side of said substrate.

10. An adhesive bonded attachment assembly in combination with an insulation blanket having a mounting port formed therein and a substrate having a relatively high temperature environment at one side thereof, said attachment assembly supporting said insulation blanket on said one side of a said substrate at a position between said substrate and the high temperature environment, said attachment assembly comprising:

an attachment member including an enlarged base defining a mounting surface having an extended surface area for adhesive bonded attachment to said one side of the substrate, and a fastener element carried by said base;

a bonding agent adhesively bonding said mounting surface of said enlarged base onto said one side of said substrate; and

a cap fastener including a radially enlarged and thermally insulated cap member, and a fastener component carried by said cap member for assembly with said fastener element of said attachment member;

at least one of said fastener element and said fastener component having a size and shape to extend at least partially into said mounting port formed in said insulation blanket, and said radially enlarged cap member having a size and shape to overlie said fastener element and further to overlie and engage said insulation blanket in a region surrounding said mounting port;

said insulated cap member comprising an inboard-side cap plate and an outboard-side cap plate cooperatively defining an internal cap chamber having an insulation material carried therein.

11. The adhesive bonded attachment assembly of claim 10 wherein said fastener element comprises a male fastener element, and further wherein said fastener component comprises a female fastener component.

12. The adhesive bonded attachment assembly of claim 10 wherein said fastener element comprises a female fastener element, and further wherein said fastener component comprises a male fastener component.

13. The adhesive bonded attachment assembly of claim 10 wherein said insulation material comprises a refractory cloth material.

14. The adhesive bonded attachment assembly of claim 10 wherein said outboard-side cap plate has an annular array of apertures formed therein, and further wherein said insulation material carried within said cap chamber includes a seal gasket exposed through said apertures for contacting said insulation blanket in a region surrounding said mounting port.

15. The adhesive bonded attachment assembly of claim 14 further comprising a grommet lining said mounting port, said seal gasket contacting said insulation blanket in a region surrounding said grommet.

16. The adhesive bonded attachment assembly of claim 10 wherein said insulated cap member is formed from a heat insulative material.

17. The adhesive bonded attachment assembly of claim 10 wherein said cap member further defines a drive surface formed thereon.