초록 ▼

A method and apparatus for repairing composite skin structures from a blind side. The method includes using an elongated patch with a compression jig to hold the patch in place while the patch is either bonded in place or fixed in place with countersunk fasteners or both. The patch, when used on com

A method and apparatus for repairing composite skin structures from a blind side. The method includes using an elongated patch with a compression jig to hold the patch in place while the patch is either bonded in place or fixed in place with countersunk fasteners or both. The patch, when used on composite materials, is constructed and positioned so as to have the same anisotropic load-carrying characteristics as does the material to be repaired. A blind side repair can be completely made in the field without requiring extensive facilities.

대표청구항 ▼

A field repair method for forming a structural blind patch in a sheet of anisotropic load-bearing material having a known thickness, comprising the steps of: providing an anisotropic flush patch having a major axis and a minor axis of substantially different dimensions, a filler portion having a thi

A field repair method for forming a structural blind patch in a sheet of anisotropic load-bearing material having a known thickness, comprising the steps of: providing an anisotropic flush patch having a major axis and a minor axis of substantially different dimensions, a filler portion having a thickness equal to the thickness of the material to be patched, and a circumferential backing lip extending from the perimeter of the filler portion so as to form a circumferential shoulder therewith; providing a grasping member extending from the filler portion; trimming a damaged area of the material to be patched to the same shape as that of the filler portion, thereby providing a trimmed area having a major axis and a minor axis; aligning the major axis of the flush patch with the minor axis of the trimmed area; inserting the minor axis of the flush patch through the major axis of the trimmed area, thereby inserting the patch through the trimmed area; aligning the filler portion with the trimmed area after the flush patch has been inserted so that the trimmed area is flushly filled by the filler portion, and so that the circumferential shoulder is closely received by the trimmed area, and so that the backing lip abuts the material adjacent to the trimmed area; fixing the backing lip to the material while holding the flush patch in place with the grasping member; and removing the grasping member, whereby compressive loads are transferred across the trimmed area through the filler portion and tensile loads are transferred across the trimmed area through the backing lip.