Abstract:
The flexible, flat element for producing and repairing components made of glass or carbon fiber composites, comprising glass or carbon fibers and a material that can be hardened by heat and/or cross-linked, the glass or carbon fibers being embedded, is characterized in that it can be heated. The invention further relates to a repair method using said element.
Abstract:
A tool comprises a caul plate having at least one suction hole and a vacuum port fluidly coupled to the suction hole for drawing a patch against the caul plate under vacuum.
Abstract:
Les portions de réparation (6, 20, 21, 22 et 23), établies à travers deux couches d'âme (16, 19), par exemple en nid d'abeille et trois peaux (2, 3, 17) en polymère, dont deux peaux externes et une peau médiane intercalée entre les couches d'âme pour donner une structure composite, sont installées et le polymère est durci sous vide. Une contre-forme (8) est appuyée sur une des peaux (2) pour garantir un bon aspect et une bonne qualité de surface. Selon l'invention, des évents (24) sont prévus à travers la peau médiane (21) et éventuellement à travers la peau (2) recevant la contre-forme pour un bon dégazage de l'âme alvéolaire sous-jacente (20).
Abstract:
An in-situ double vacuum debulk (DVD) composite repair system designed to produce partially or fully cured autoclave-quality hot-bond composite repairs on contoured structures. The system provides vacuum pressure for hot bond repairs to be performed on flat and contoured structures using one set-up capable of debulking (partially curing) and then fully curing composite repairs on composite and metallic aircraft structures. The use of in-situ DVD also eliminates handling of the patch/adhesive when transferring from an off-aircraft DVD chamber to the repair site on the aircraft. This can increase the probability of successful repairs because the possibility of contaminating and misaligning the adhesive and repair patch are eliminated.
Abstract:
A method of repairing a composite component (1) having a damaged area including: laying a composite lay-up (7) over the damaged area; locating at least one pressure chamber (3, 4) over the damaged area, the pressure chamber including a displaceable abutment face (5, 6); circulating fluid at an elevated temperature and pressure through the pressure chamber (3, 4) to thereby compress the lay-up (7) between the abutment face of the pressure chamber and the composite and elevate the temperature thereof to effect curing of the lay-up.
Abstract:
The invention concerns a method for reconstituting or reconstructing a composite object (1), comprising a defect (1a) affecting at least its surface, which consists in: a) arranging in or on said defect (1a) at least a part (2) or material directly mounted, whereof the shape and dimensions are adapted to those of the defect (1a), the part or said material comprising continuous or discontinous fibres, mechanically resistant, whether organised or not; b) arranging in or on said defect a polymer material, to obtain a plastic matrix wherein the fibres are distributed; c) arranging on the directly mounted part, successively and one on top of the other, a means, for example a textile web (3), for gaseous draining of the gases evacuated from the plastic matrix during step (c), and an envelope (4) for extracting said gases, forming with the rest of the object a chamber (5) sealed with regard to outside atmosphere, surrounding the defect (1a) and the directly mounted part (2); e) while evacuating the sealed chamber (5), heating the directly mounted part with a radiant source (6), whereof the emission comprises an infrared radiation, and by placing said source relative to the defect (1a) so as to irradiate the envelope (4) extracting gases evacuated from the plastic matrix. The invention is characterised in that the composite object comprising a cellular layer (22), of the honeycomb type, the method consists in depositing a first resin at the defect (1a) bottom surface, then inserting a substitute honeycomb type cellular portion (24); depositing a second resin on the part exposed cellular portion with at least a piece of said continuous or discontinous fibre fabric; and in performing at least a step which consists in operations (c) and (d), whereby the radiant source (6) is operative beyond the cellular layer (24).
Abstract:
The invention concerns the on-site repair of a composite structure (10) such as an aircraft structure which consists in: machining a concave recess (14) in the damaged zone, placing therein a non-polymerised composite part (16), and polymerising under pressure said part (16) using an equipment comprising stacked plates (32) which multiplies the pressure applied on the composite part, thereby obtaining a non-visible repair with mechanical characteristics close to those of the original structure.
Abstract:
An apparatus for thermal management of a composite plies and adhesive applied to a repair area on a composite structure uses a combination of an optical scanner and projection system, coded photogrammetric targets, a coded two-dimensional thermocouple array and a coded heat blanket that all communicate with a computerized control system that develops spatial relationships between the composite structure being repaired, the repair area of the composite structure, the thermocouples used to monitor the temperatures in the repair area and the heat blanket used to heat the repair area. The optical scanner and projection system projects identifications of the thermocouples and the real time temperatures of the thermocouples at the positions of the thermocouples over the repair area on the composite structure.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a system for sealing a pipeline system, comprising a fluid-tight hose (1) for inserting into the area of the gap (2) between two pipes (3a, 3b) of a pipeline system to be sealed. The hose (1) is provided with a supply element (4) containing a valve (4a) for introducing the fluid into the hose (2), and the system is provided with a pump for conveying the fluid, wherein said pump can be connected to the supply element (4). In particular, the hose (2) contains material that can be vulcanized or welded, and the hose can be connected to a ring by vulcanization or welding. A very safe and easy-to-handle system for sealing a pipeline system is thereby created.