METHOD FOR PRODUCING A LOAD-BEARING ELEMENT FOR TRANSPORTATION, AND A LOAD-BEARING ELEMENT PRODUCED ACCORDINGLY

Abstract

A method for producing a supporting element for a transportation device or vehicle, having steps of providing a flat base chord made of a first material having a first surface and a second surface, applying at least one layer of at least one second material to the first surface using a friction-based application or welding method, and machining the at least one layer of the second material to produce a desired profile cross section of the supporting element, wherein the first material and the second material are different metallic materials.

Claims

1. A method for producing a supporting element for a transportation device or vehicle, comprising: providing a flat base chord made of a first material having a first surface and a second surface; applying at least one layer of at least one second material to the first surface using a friction-based application method; and machining the at least one layer of the second material to produce a desired profile cross section of the supporting element; wherein the first material and the second material are different metallic materials.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising joining an additional component to the at least one layer of the second material.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the additional component is produced from the second material.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising machining of the second surface to produce a depression extending along the base chord.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein a profile height of the profile cross section of the supporting element is not constant along a main direction of extent of the base chord.

6. The method of claim 1: wherein the profile cross section of the supporting element has at least one lower chord opposite the base chord; and wherein at least one web extends between the base chord and the at least one lower chord.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the base chord comprises titanium.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one layer of the second material comprises aluminum.

9. A supporting element for a transportation device or vehicle, comprising: a flat base chord made of a first material having a first surface and a second surface; and at least one layer of at least one second material, which is applied to the first surface using a friction-based application method and is machined such that the supporting element has a desired profile cross section; wherein the first material and the second material are different metallic materials.

10. The supporting element of claim 9, wherein a profile height of the profile cross section of the supporting element is not constant along a main direction of extent of the base chord.

11. The supporting element of claim 9: wherein the profile cross section of the supporting element has at least one lower chord opposite the base chord; and wherein at least one web extends between the base chord and the at least one lower chord.

12. The supporting element of claim 9, wherein the second surface has a depression extending along the base chord to receive connecting elements.

13. The supporting element of claim 12, wherein an additional component is connected materially to the at least one layer of the second material and is produced from the second material, and is compatible therewith or comprises the material.

14. The supporting element of claim 9, wherein the supporting element is selected from a group of supporting elements consisting of a floor rail, a crossmember, a longitudinal member, a longeron, a stringer, and a frame.

15. An aircraft having an aircraft fuselage with a structure formed therein, wherein the structure has at least one supporting element of claim 9.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] Further features, advantages and possible applications of the disclosure herein will be found in the following description of the example embodiments and the figures. In this context, all the features described and/or illustrated graphically form the subject matter of the disclosure herein in themselves and in any desired combination, irrespective of their combination in the individual claims or the dependency references thereof. In the figures, the same reference signs are furthermore used for identical or similar objects.

[0030] FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a suitable tool for arranging a layer of the second material.

[0031] FIGS. 2A and 2B show an arrangement of layers of the second material (FIG. 2A) and a final contour after machining (FIG. 2B).

[0032] FIGS. 3A and 3B show a supporting element in a three-dimensional representation.

[0033] FIG. 4 shows an aircraft.

[0034] FIG. 5 shows a method according to the disclosure herein in a schematic, block-based illustration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0035] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a tool 2 for application by friction stirring, which applies to a flat base chord 4, which is made of a first material, a layer 6 of a different second material 8. The base chord 4 can consist of or comprise titanium, for example. It rests on a support (not shown), with the result that a first surface 10 for applying the second material 8 is directed toward the tool 2, and a second surface 12 rests on the support. The tool 2 is rotated about an axis of rotation 14 and pressed along the axis onto the first surface 10, with the result that the second material 8 heats up under the action of pressure and friction and is pressed into the first surface 10. This gives rise to the schematically illustrated layer 6.

[0036] It is evident that several layers 6 may also be applied one on top of the other and next to one another to the first surface 10. In this way, virtually any desired built-up thicknesses and contours could be created. If the base chord 4 is made of titanium and the second material 8 is aluminum, a high-strength joint between the layer 6 and the base chord 4 can be achieved by the tool 2. Further layers 6 or components of the same second material 8 or of a compatible material can be applied to the layer 6.

[0037] FIG. 2A illustrates the base chord 4, on which several layers 6 are arranged. These initially still have inaccurate profile contours 16, explained by comparatively blurred edges of the layers 6. A final contour 18 is illustrated in dashed lines, which represents a subsequent profile geometry and is machined out of the arrangement of layers 6 by milling, grinding or other cutting methods.

[0038] The final contour 18 is illustrated again separately in FIG. 2B. Here, webs 20 and flanges 22 are arranged which supplement the base chord 4 to form a complete supporting element with a desired second moment of area and required connection surfaces. It is conceivable here for the base chord 4 also to have a depression 24 which extends into and through the second surface 12. By way of example, the depression 24 has undercuts 26, which can be used for the attachment and clamping of connecting means.

[0039] In addition to the layered structure due to the application of several layers 6, it would also be conceivable, in addition to at least one layer 6, to apply one or more separate components 28 to the base chord 4. For this purpose, for example, a single layer 6 of the second material could be sufficient to attach components 28 consisting of or comprising a compatible material thereto by conventional joining methods that involve material bonding. It would be possible, for example, to attach a plurality of webs 28 as components, which are furthermore supplemented by a lower chord 30 on a side of the webs 28 which is spaced apart from the base chord 4. The webs can be attached transversely to the base chord 4, e.g. perpendicularly thereto.

[0040] Since the method is very flexible, a completely variable profile cross section can be ensured, unlike in the case of pure extrusion. In FIGS. 3A and 3B, for example, this is expressed by a variable distance between the base chord 4 and the lower chord 30. The lower chord 30 has a flat shape which is curved transversely to its main direction of extent and is connected to the base chord 4 by webs 28 of different lengths. As a result, it is possible, in particular, to achieve a weight- and load-optimized configuration of a supporting element 32.

[0041] FIG. 4 furthermore shows an aircraft 34 having a fuselage 36, an interior 38 formed therein, and at least one supporting element in the interior 38.

[0042] For the sake of completeness, FIG. 5 illustrates a schematic sequence of a method according to the disclosure herein. A method 40 for producing a supporting element for a transportation device or vehicle has the steps of providing 42 a flat base chord made of a first material having a first surface and a second surface, applying 44 at least one layer of at least one second material to the first surface using a friction-based application or welding method, and machining 46 the at least one layer of the second material to produce a desired profile cross section of the supporting element. The method may further comprise joining 48 an additional component to the at least one layer of the second material. The method may further have the step of machining 50 the second surface to produce a depression extending along the base chord.

[0043] In addition, it should be noted that “having” does not exclude other elements or steps and “a” or “an” does not exclude a multiplicity. Furthermore, it should be noted that features which have been described with reference to one of the above example embodiments can also be used in combination with other features of other example embodiments described above. Reference signs in the claims are not to be regarded as a restriction.

[0044] While at least one example embodiment of the 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.

REFERENCE SIGNS

[0045] 2 tool

[0046] 4 base chord

[0047] 6 layer

[0048] 8 second material

[0049] 10 first surface

[0050] 12 second surface

[0051] 14 axis of rotation

[0052] 16 profile contour

[0053] 18 final contour

[0054] 20 web

[0055] 22 flange

[0056] 24 depression

[0057] 26 undercut

[0058] 28 web/component

[0059] 30 lower chord

[0060] 32 supporting element

[0061] 34 aircraft

[0062] 36 fuselage

[0063] 38 interior

[0064] 40 method

[0065] 42 providing base chord

[0066] 44 applying at least one layer

[0067] 46 machining

[0068] 48 joining

[0069] 50 machining (depression)