JP-7857108-B2 - System and method for connecting composite panels

JP7857108B2JP 7857108 B2JP7857108 B2JP 7857108B2JP-7857108-B2

Inventors

ショーンリチャードシソフスキ
クリストファービー．バーニー

Assignees

ザ・ボーイング・カンパニー

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20220204
Priority Date: 20210210

Claims (15)

A system for fixing a first composite panel to a second composite panel, A latch assembly comprising a first latch, a second latch, and a locking member disposed between the first latch and the second latch , wherein the latch assembly is configured to be fixed to either the first composite panel or the second composite panel, The device comprises one or more receiving portions configured to hold at least a portion of one or both of the first latch and the second latch , wherein the one or more receiving portions are configured to be fixed to the other of the first composite panel or the second composite panel. Each of the first latch and the second latch is Upright beam section, A system comprising an insertable beam section connected to the upright beam section, wherein the insertable beam section is configured to be retractable into and out of the one or more receiving sections .
The system according to claim 1, wherein the latch assembly is configured to secure the tab of the first composite panel to the slot case of the second composite panel without the use of adhesive.
The system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the latch assembly is located on either the tab of the first composite panel or the slot case of the second composite panel, and the one or more receiving portions are located on the other of the tab of the first composite panel or the slot case of the second composite panel.
A system for fixing a first composite panel to a second composite panel, A latch assembly comprising a first latch, a second latch, and a locking member disposed between the first latch and the second latch, wherein the latch assembly is configured to be fixed to either the first composite panel or the second composite panel, The device comprises one or more receiving portions configured to hold at least a portion of one or both of the first latch and the second latch, wherein the one or more receiving portions are configured to be fixed to the other of the first composite panel or the second composite panel . The locking member includes a first branch and a second branch connected at the crossbeam portion, and a groove is formed between the first branch, the second branch, and the crossbeam portion, and when the first latch and the second latch are in contact, a portion of the first latch and the second latch is held in the groove, in a system.
The system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the locking member is removable from the space between the first latch and the second latch, and when the locking member is removed from the space, the first latch and the second latch are movable.
Each of the first latch and the second latch is Upright beam section, The system according to claim 4 , comprising an insertable beam section connected to the upright beam section, wherein the insertable beam section is configured to be retractable from the one or more receiving sections.
The system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the locking member includes a first branch and a second branch connected at the crossbeam portion, a groove is formed between the first branch, the second branch and the crossbeam portion, and when the first latch and the second latch are in contact, a portion of the first latch and the second latch is held in the groove.
The system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the one or more receiving portions are located on the tab of the first composite panel, and the latch assembly includes a first latch and a second latch movably held within a slot case of the second composite panel.
The system according to claim 4, wherein the one or more receiving portions include a plurality of receiving portions arranged in the first composite panel, and the latch assembly includes a single latch having a plurality of latch elements in a slot case of the second composite panel.
The system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein each of the first composite panel and the second composite panel includes a honeycomb core sandwiched between an inner shell material and an outer shell material.
First composite panel and A second composite panel is fixed to the first composite panel in an orthogonal orientation, A latch assembly comprising a first latch, a second latch, and a locking member disposed between the first latch and the second latch , wherein the latch assembly is fixed to either the first composite panel or the second composite panel. One or more receiving portions configured to hold at least a portion of one or both of the first latch and the second latch , the receiving portions being fixed to the other of the first composite panel or the second composite panel , The locking member is removable from the space between the first latch and the second latch, and when the locking member is removed from the space, the first latch and the second latch are movable, and each of the first latch and the second latch includes an upright beam portion and an insert beam portion connected to the upright beam portion, the insert beam portion is configured to be retractable from the one or more receiving portions, the locking member includes a first branch and a second branch connected by a crossbeam portion, a groove is formed between the first branch, the second branch and the crossbeam portion, and when the first latch and the second latch are in contact, a portion of the first latch and the second latch is held in the groove, in a system.
The system according to claim 11 , wherein the latch assembly is configured to fix the tab of the first composite panel to the slot case of the second composite panel without using an adhesive.
The system according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the latch assembly is located on either the tab of the first composite panel or the slot case of the second composite panel, and the one or more receiving portions are located on the other of the tab of the first composite panel or the slot case of the second composite panel.
The system according to any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein the one or more receiving portions are arranged in the tab of the first composite panel, and the first latch and the second latch are movably held within the slot case of the second composite panel.
The system according to any one of claims 11 to 14 , wherein each of the first composite panel and the second composite panel includes a honeycomb core sandwiched between an inner shell material and an outer shell material.

Description

Embodiments of this disclosure generally relate to composite panels, and more specifically, to systems and methods for integrally connecting composite panels. Composite materials are used to construct a variety of structures. For example, the structural components of aircraft, including wings, can be made from composite materials. Composite materials contain a polymer matrix reinforced with fibers. The fibers are bonded together with polymers such as epoxy. Known fibers include glass, carbon, basalt, and aramid. Typically, multiple composite panels are joined together during the manufacturing process. Multiple slot cases are attached to the composite panel by adhesive. Then, for example, before or during the curing process, these slot cases are joined to the connecting structures of other composite panels, thereby integrating them. For example, this is achieved by inserting tabs into the slot cases and applying adhesive between the tabs and the slot cases. Thus, in a typical process of integrating multiple composite panels, multiple bonding steps are required for the slot case. Therefore, the process of integrating composite panels can be labor-intensive and time-consuming. Furthermore, adhesive may ooze out from between the tab and the slot case, potentially leading to the formation of unwanted bulges and other defects in other parts of the composite panel. There is a need for a system and method that can efficiently and effectively integrate composite panels. Furthermore, there is a need for a system and method that can integrate composite panels before or during the curing process while reducing the amount of adhesive used. With these considerations in mind, certain embodiments of this disclosure provide a system for fastening a first composite panel to a second composite panel. The system includes a latch assembly having one or more latches. The latch assembly is configured to be fastened to either the first or second composite panel. One or more receiving portions are configured to hold at least a portion of the one or more latches. The one or more receiving portions are configured to be fastened to the other of the first or second composite panel. In at least one latch assembly, the latch assembly is configured to secure the tab of the first composite panel to the slot case of the second composite panel without the use of adhesive. In at least one embodiment, the latch assembly is located on either the tab of the first composite panel or the slot case of the second composite panel. The one or more receiving portions are located on the other of the tab of the first composite panel or the slot case of the second composite panel. In one embodiment, the latch assembly includes a first latch, a second latch, and a locking member positioned between the first and second latches. In yet another embodiment, the locking member is removable from the space between the first and second latches. When the locking member is removed from the space, the first and second latches are movable. In one embodiment, each of the first latch and the second latch includes an upright beam portion and an insertable beam portion connected to the upright beam portion. The insertable beam portion is configured to be retractable into and out of the one or more receiving portions. In one embodiment, the locking member includes a first branch and a second branch connected at the crossbeam section. A groove is formed between the first branch, the second branch, and the crossbeam section. When the first latch and the second latch are in contact, a portion of the first latch and the second latch is held within the groove. In one embodiment, the one or more receiving portions are located on the tab of the first composite panel. The latch assembly includes a first latch and a second latch, which are movably held within the slot case of the second composite panel. In one embodiment, the one or more receiving portions include a plurality of receiving portions arranged in the tab of the first composite panel. The latch assembly includes a single latch having a plurality of latch elements within the slot case of the second composite panel. In at least one embodiment, each of the first composite panel and the second composite panel includes a honeycomb core sandwiched between an inner shell material and an outer shell material. A particular embodiment of this disclosure provides a method for fastening a first composite panel to a second composite panel. The method includes: fastening a latch assembly having one or more latches to one of the first or second composite panel; fastening one or more receiving portions to the other of the first or second composite panel; and holding at least a portion of the one or more latches with the one or more receiving portions. A particular embodiment of this disclosure provides a system comprising a first composite panel, a second composite panel fixed to the first composite panel in an orientation orthogonal t