Strain isolation layer assemblies and methods
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A strain isolation layer assembly comprising:
- a rigid solar layer;
a sandwich structure attached to the rigid solar layer, the sandwich structure comprising a core layer bonded between a first facesheet layer and a second facesheet layer, the first and second facesheet layers each comprised of a thermoplastic material selected from the group consisting of one or more of carbon fiber reinforced polypheylene sulfide (PPS), carbon fiber reinforced polyetheretherketone (PEEK), carbon fiber reinforced polyetherketoneketone (PEKK), and carbon fiber reinforced polyethyleneimine (PEI), and the first facesheet layer continuously mounted above the core layer and bonded to the rigid solar layer, and the second facesheet layer continuously mounted below the core layer;
a strain isolation layer bonded below the second facesheet layer, the strain isolation layer having a discontinuous configuration, a vertical rigidity in an out-of-plane direction, and a horizontal shear flexibility in an in-plane direction; and
,an underlying substrate layer;
wherein the strain isolation layer is coupled between the rigid solar layer and the underlying substrate layer to form a strain isolation layer assembly, such that the strain isolation layer isolates the rigid solar layer to reduce one or more strains induced on the rigid solar layer.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In an embodiment of the disclosure, there is provided a strain isolation layer assembly. The assembly has a rigid solar layer; a strain isolation layer having a discontinuous configuration, a vertical rigidity, and a horizontal shear flexibility; and an underlying substrate layer. The strain isolation layer is coupled between the rigid solar layer and the underlying substrate layer to form a strain isolation layer assembly, such that the strain isolation layer isolates the rigid solar layer to reduce one or more strains induced on the rigid solar layer.
15 Citations
23 Claims
-
1. A strain isolation layer assembly comprising:
-
a rigid solar layer; a sandwich structure attached to the rigid solar layer, the sandwich structure comprising a core layer bonded between a first facesheet layer and a second facesheet layer, the first and second facesheet layers each comprised of a thermoplastic material selected from the group consisting of one or more of carbon fiber reinforced polypheylene sulfide (PPS), carbon fiber reinforced polyetheretherketone (PEEK), carbon fiber reinforced polyetherketoneketone (PEKK), and carbon fiber reinforced polyethyleneimine (PEI), and the first facesheet layer continuously mounted above the core layer and bonded to the rigid solar layer, and the second facesheet layer continuously mounted below the core layer; a strain isolation layer bonded below the second facesheet layer, the strain isolation layer having a discontinuous configuration, a vertical rigidity in an out-of-plane direction, and a horizontal shear flexibility in an in-plane direction; and
,an underlying substrate layer; wherein the strain isolation layer is coupled between the rigid solar layer and the underlying substrate layer to form a strain isolation layer assembly, such that the strain isolation layer isolates the rigid solar layer to reduce one or more strains induced on the rigid solar layer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. An aircraft comprising:
-
a strain isolation layer having a discontinuous configuration, a vertical rigidity in an out-of-plane direction, and a horizontal shear flexibility in an in-plane direction; and
,the strain isolation layer joining a rigid solar layer attached to a sandwich structure to a surface of a flexible aircraft wing, such that the strain isolation layer isolates the rigid solar layer to reduce one or more strains induced on the rigid solar layer, and, the sandwich structure comprising a core layer bonded between a first facesheet layer and a second facesheet layer via respective bonding element layers, the first and second facesheet layers each comprised of a thermoplastic material selected from the group consisting of one or more of carbon fiber reinforced polypheylene sulfide (PPS), carbon fiber reinforced polyetheretherketone (PEEK), carbon fiber reinforced polyetherketoneketone (PEKK), and carbon fiber reinforced polyethyleneimine (PEI), and the first facesheet layer continuously mounted above the core layer and bonded to the rigid solar layer via another bonding element layer, and the second facesheet layer continuously mounted below the core layer and bonded to the strain isolation layer via another bonding element layer. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. A method of reducing one or more strains on a rigid solar layer, the method comprising:
-
providing a strain isolation layer having a discontinuous configuration, a vertical rigidity in an out-of-plane direction, and a horizontal shear flexibility in an in-plane direction; and
,attaching the strain isolation layer between a rigid solar layer attached to a sandwich structure and an underlying substrate layer, such that the strain isolation layer isolates the rigid solar layer to reduce one or more strains induced on the rigid solar layer, and, the sandwich structure comprising a core layer bonded between a first facesheet layer and a second facesheet layer, the first and second facesheet layers each comprised of a thermoplastic material selected from the group consisting of one or more of carbon fiber reinforced polypheylene sulfide (PPS), carbon fiber reinforced polyetheretherketone (PEEK), carbon fiber reinforced polyetherketoneketone (PEKK), and carbon fiber reinforced polyethyleneimine (PEI), and the first facesheet layer continuously mounted above the core layer and bonded to the rigid solar layer, and the second facesheet layer continuously mounted below the core layer and bonded to the strain isolation layer. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
-
Specification