QUICK-REPAIR PATCH FOR RENOVATING EXTERNAL DAMAGE, AND QUICK-REPAIR METHOD

Abstract

A quick-repair patch for renovating external damage, and quick-repair method for quick repairs of local and structurally mechanically irrelevant damage to aircraft components. The quick-repair patch has a layer structure with a plastic film, to which lightning protection is applied, and an adhesive layer, which is arranged at least on the plastic film. The quick-repair patch can be adhesively bonded to the damage such that the lightning protection is in electrical contact with the lightning protection of the component. The quick-repair patch can have a QR code or an RFID tag, by which specifications relating to the quick-repair patch or to the quick repair can be stored or retrieved.

Claims

1. A quick-repair patch for renovating local and structurally mechanically irrelevant damage to a component or an aircraft component, comprising a covering layer and lightning-strike surface protection located therebeneath, wherein the quick-repair patch has a layer structure and the layer structure comprises: a plastic film layer, which can be materially bonded to the covering layer and which faces away from the damage when the quick-repair patch is fastened to the component; an electrically conductive lightning-protection layer which is suitable for a lightning-protection function or an electromagnetic-interference-protection function and is on the plastic film layer and makes electrically conductive contact with the lightning-strike surface protection when the quick-repair patch is fastened to the component; and a fastening layer, which is suitable for fastening the quick-repair patch to the component by a material bond and is at least on the plastic film layer on a same side as the electrically conductive lightning-protection layer.

2. The quick-repair patch according to claim 1, wherein the plastic film layer contains reinforcing fibers, a material that attenuates radar radiation or absorbs radar radiation, and/or an electrically conductive material, wherein the plastic film layer is electrically insulated from the lightning-protection layer, and/or wherein the plastic film layer contains a material that attenuates or absorbs UV light or ionizing radiation.

3. The quick-repair patch according to claim 1, wherein the layer structure comprises: a reinforcing layer, which contains reinforcing fibers and is on the plastic film layer; and/or a camouflage layer, which contains a material that attenuates radar radiation, or absorbs radar radiation; and/or an electrostatic-discharge-protection layer, which contains an electrically conductive material; a radiation-protection layer, which contains a material that attenuates, or absorbs, UV light or ionizing radiation; and/or a connecting layer, which is between the plastic film layer and the lightning-protection layer and materially bonds them to one another.

4. The quick-repair patch according to claim 3, wherein the reinforcing layer, the camouflage layer, the discharge-protection layer and/or the radiation protection layer are combined in a common functional layer; and/or wherein the reinforcing layer, the camouflage layer, the discharge-protection layer, the radiation protection layer and/or the functional layer are on the side of the plastic film layer that faces away from the lightning-protection layer.

5. The quick-repair patch according to claim 1, wherein the layer structure is formed in one of sequences of: plastic film layer, lightning-protection layer, fastening layer; or plastic film layer, connecting layer, lightning-protection layer, fastening layer; or reinforcing layer or camouflage layer or discharge-protection layer or radiation-protection layer, plastic film layer, lightning-protection layer, fastening layer; or reinforcing layer or camouflage layer or discharge-protection layer or radiation-protection layer, plastic film layer, connecting layer, lightning-protection layer, fastening layer; or functional layer, plastic film layer, lightning-protection layer, fastening layer; or functional layer, plastic film layer, connecting layer, lightning-protection layer, fastening layer.

6. The quick-repair patch according to claim 1, wherein the layer structure consists only of the layers recited.

7. The quick-repair patch according to claim 1, wherein the quick-repair patch comprises an information tag or device, or specifically a QR code and/or an RFID tag, by which specifications relating to the quick-repair patch and/or to the quick repair carried out by the quick-repair patch can be stored or retrieved.

8. A patch strip comprising a plurality of quick-repair patches according to claim 1, wherein the quick-repair patches are individually separably connected to one another at an edge region.

9. The patch strip according to claim 8, wherein the edge region is perforated for a purpose of separation.

10. The patch strip according to claim 8, wherein the patch strip is in a form of a roll.

11. A repair arrangement, which comprises a component or an aircraft component, and a quick-repair patch according to claim 1, wherein the component has a covering layer and lightning-strike surface protection located therebeneath and also local and structurally mechanically irrelevant damage, wherein the quick-repair patch covers the damage and is materially bonded to the component by the fastening layer, wherein the plastic film layer is materially bonded to the covering layer and faces away from the damage, wherein the electrically conductive lightning-protection layer is arranged between the plastic film layer and the lightning-strike surface protection.

12. An aircraft comprising a quick-repair patch according to claim 1, wherein the component is selected from the group consisting of lift aids, flaps, leading-edge slats, control surfaces, elevators, rudders, ailerons, fuselage parts, rotor blades, wing surfaces, engine nacelles, and horizontal tail units and/or vertical tail units.

13. A quick-repair method for renovating local and structurally mechanically irrelevant damage to a component or an aircraft component, which contains a covering layer and lightning-strike surface protection located therebeneath, wherein the method comprises: producing connecting surfaces on the component for a quick-repair patch and optionally exposing the lightning-strike surface protection; positioning a quick-repair patch according to claim 1 on the damage; and fastening the quick-repair patch to the connecting surfaces by pressing it on, as a result of which the plastic film layer is materially bonded to the covering layer and the lightning-protection layer is preferably brought into electrically conductive contact with the lightning-strike surface protection.

14. The quick-repair method according to claim 9, wherein producing the connecting surfaces and/or exposing the lightning-strike surface protection comprises grinding.

15. A method of using a quick-repair patch according claim 1 for repairing local and structurally mechanically irrelevant damage to an aircraft component.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0056] Example embodiments will be explained in more detail with reference to the appended schematic drawings, in which:

[0057] FIG. 1 shows an example embodiment of an aircraft;

[0058] FIG. 2 shows an example embodiment of a quick-repair patch;

[0059] FIG. 3 shows a top view of a quick-repair patch;

[0060] FIG. 4 shows an example embodiment of a repair arrangement having a quick-repair patch from FIG. 2; and

[0061] FIG. 5 shows an example embodiment of a patch strip.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0062] Reference is first of all made to FIG. 1, which shows an aircraft 10. In a manner known per se, the aircraft 10 comprises a fuselage 12 on which a pair of wings 14 are arranged. A vertical tail unit 16 and a horizontal tail unit 18 are arranged on the rear end of the fuselage 12. Each wing 14 comprises wing surfaces 20 and lift aids 22. The wing 14, the vertical tail unit 16 and the horizontal tail unit 18 additionally have control surfaces 24.

[0063] The abovementioned components 26 (FIG. 4 for example) may have local and structurally mechanically irrelevant damage 28 caused by a lightning strike, for example. The component 26 comprises a main body 30. The main body 30 may be formed from metal or a fiber-reinforced plastic. The component 26 also comprises lightning-strike surface protection 32. The lightning-strike surface protection 32 may also be formed by the main body 30 itself. In addition, the component 26 comprises a covering layer 34, which is arranged on the lightning-strike surface protection 32.

[0064] FIG. 2 through FIG. 4 schematically show a quick-repair patch 36, which can be used to repair the damage 28 in a repair arrangement 37 (FIG. 4). The quick-repair patch has a thickness of approximately 0.1 mm to 0.2 mm.

[0065] The quick-repair patch 36 comprises a layer structure 38. The layer structure 38 has a plastic film layer 40. The plastic film layer 40 is preferably formed from a polyurethane film. The plastic film layer 40 may be dyed. The plastic film layer 40 is rectangular in the present case. The plastic film layer 40 may, however, also have other shapes, for example a circular shape, elliptical shape or square shape.

[0066] The layer structure 38 comprises an electrically conductive lightning-protection layer 42 arranged on one face of the plastic film layer 40. The lightning-protection layer 42 contains an electrically conductive material of metal or graphene. The lightning-protection layer 42 may accordingly contain expanded metal, perforated metal foil and the like. The lightning-protection layer 42 has an elliptical shape in the present case. The lightning-protection layer 42 may, however, also have other shapes, for example a circular shape, rectangular shape or square shape. The lightning-protection layer 42 has a smaller surface area than the plastic film layer 40. When viewed from the top (FIG. 3), the plastic film layer 40 has a peripheral region 44, which is arranged between the contour of the plastic film layer 40 and of the lightning-protection layer 42.

[0067] Arranged between the plastic film layer 40 and the lightning-protection layer 42 in the thickness direction is a thin connecting layer 46, which materially bonds the two layers to one another.

[0068] The layer structure 38 also comprises a fastening layer 48 arranged on the plastic film layer 40. The fastening layer 48 contains an adhesive, in order to materially bond the quick-repair patch 36 to the component 26. In a variant, the fastening layer 48 may be materially bonded to the component 26 by welding. The fastening layer 48 is preferably applied to or arranged on only the peripheral region 44. The fastening layer 48 may additionally also be applied to the lightning-protection layer 42. The adhesive is preferably conductive in the region of the lightning-protection layer 42. As an alternative, a region of the lightning-protection layer 42 is exposed, in order to allow electrical contact between the lightning-protection layer 42 and the lightning-strike surface protection 32.

[0069] The layer structure 38 may additionally have a functional layer 50. The functional layer 50 is arranged on that face of the plastic film layer 40 that faces away from the lightning-protection layer 42.

[0070] The functional layer 50 may have a reinforcing layer 52, which contains reinforcing fibers. Glass fibers or Kevlar are/is used as reinforcing fibers.

[0071] The functional layer 50 may have a camouflage layer 54, which contains a radar-absorbing or radar-attenuating additive or additives.

[0072] The functional layer 50 may contain an electrostatic-discharge-protection layer 56, which contains conductive material.

[0073] The functional layer 50 is preferably in the form of an individual layer in which the reinforcing layer 52, the camouflage layer 54 and the discharge-protection layer 56 are integrated.

[0074] As an alternative, the functions of the reinforcing layer 52, the camouflage layer 54 or the discharge-protection layer 56 may be realized in the plastic film layer in any desired combination.

[0075] The quick-repair patch 36 may also have an information tag or device 58, by which specifications relating to the quick-repair patch 36 and/or the quick repair carried out therewith can be stored or retrieved. Included in the specifications are the type and production date of the quick-repair patch 36, the repair date, the repair location and any further information, in particular technical information, that is relevant for the quick-repair patch 36 or the repair as such. The information tag or device 58 may be a QR code or an RFID tag, for example. The QR code and the RFID tag may each serve as a reference for the corresponding specifications, which are stored in a computer system or computer network. The RFID tag may also be designed such that it contains the specifications directly.

[0076] A quick repair will be explained in more detail below with reference to FIG. 4. The damage 28 is first of all machined, e.g. by grinding, to afford a smooth, clean, dry and grease-free connecting surface 60 for the quick-repair patch 36.

[0077] Then, an appropriate quick-repair patch 36 is selected and placed over the damage 28 in such a way that the damage is completely covered. Subsequently, the quick-repair patch 36 is pressed onto the component 26. In the process, the plastic film layer 40, in particular the peripheral region 44, is pressed against the covering layer 34 and materially bonded thereto by way of the fastening layer 48. Furthermore, the lightning-protection layer 42 is pressed against the lightning-strike surface protection 32, resulting in electrical contact. If it is also the case that the lightning-protection layer 42 is coated with adhesive, then the lightning-protection layer 42 is also materially bonded to the lightning-strike surface protection 32.

[0078] Reference is made below to FIG. 5, which shows a form of administration of quick-repair patches 36 in the form of a patch strip 62. In this context, a plurality of quick-repair patches 36 are connected to one another at a separable edge region 64, for example by a perforation. The patch strip 62 may be wound up in a roll. The desired quick-repair patch 36 is separated from the patch strip 62 prior to use.

[0079] In order to improve quick repairs of local and structurally mechanically irrelevant damage (28) to aircraft components (26), a quick-repair patch (36) is proposed. The quick-repair patch (36) has a layer structure (38) with a plastic film (40), to which lightning protection (42) is applied, and an adhesive layer (48), which is arranged at least on the plastic film (40). The quick-repair patch (36) may be adhesively bonded to the damage (28) such that the lightning protection (42) is in electrical contact with the lightning protection of the component (26). The quick-repair patch (36) may have a QR code or an RFID tag, by way of which specifications relating to the quick-repair patch (36) or to the quick repair (36) can be stored or retrieved.

[0080] While at least one example embodiment of the present invention(s) is disclosed herein, it should be understood that modifications, substitutions and alternatives may be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art and can be made without departing from the scope of this disclosure. This disclosure is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the example embodiment(s). In addition, in this disclosure, the terms “comprise” or “comprising” do not exclude other elements or steps, the terms “a”, “an” or “one” do not exclude a plural number, and the term “or” means either or both. Furthermore, characteristics or steps which have been described may also be used in combination with other characteristics or steps and in any order unless the disclosure or context suggests otherwise. This disclosure hereby incorporates by reference the complete disclosure of any patent or application from which it claims benefit or priority.

LIST OF REFERENCE DESIGNATIONS

[0081] 10 Aircraft [0082] 12 Fuselage [0083] 14 Wing [0084] 16 Vertical tail unit [0085] 18 Horizontal tail unit [0086] 20 Wing surface [0087] 22 Lift aid [0088] 24 Control surface [0089] 26 Component [0090] 28 Damage [0091] 30 Main body [0092] 32 Lightning-strike surface protection [0093] 34 Covering layer [0094] 36 Quick-repair patch [0095] 37 Repair arrangement [0096] 38 Layer structure [0097] 40 Plastic film layer [0098] 42 Lightning-protection layer [0099] 44 Peripheral region [0100] 46 Connecting layer [0101] 48 Fastening layer [0102] 50 Functional layer [0103] 54 Camouflage layer [0104] 56 Discharge-protection layer [0105] 58 Information tag or device [0106] 60 Connecting surface [0107] 62 Patch strip [0108] 64 Edge region