Method for providing spacers

Abstract

A method for providing spacers on a construction component to be adhered involves applying a planar formation, including passages, on the construction component to be adhered, and inserting a setting liquid in the passages of the planar formation, so that the liquid forms spacer on the construction component to be adhered after setting and peeling off the planar formation. The spacer ensures a predetermined minimum bondline when adhering the construction component.

Claims

1. A method for providing spacers on a construction component to be adhered, the method comprising: placing a planar formation on the construction component to be adhered, wherein the planar formation comprises passages, wherein the planar formation comprises fibers, wherein the fibers are fluoropolymer fibers; and introducing a curable liquid into the passages of the planar formation so that the liquid forms spacers on the construction component to be adhered after curing and peeling off of the planar formation, the spacers ensuring a predetermined bond gap thickness.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising peeling off the planar formation.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the planar formation is a film, a woven fabric, a weft-knitted fabric, or a warp-knitted fabric.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the spacers ensure a minimum bond gap thickness.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the spacers form a raised structure on the construction component to be adhered.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the passages in the planar formation are variable with respect to the shape, height, size, or distribution.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the passages are in a shape of a circle, oval, or cross, or angular, linear, or star-shaped in cross-section.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the passages are incorporated into the planar formation during the production of the planar formation, or introduced into the planar formation during a stamping process.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

(1) Exemplary embodiments of the invention will be elaborated below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(2) FIG. 1 shows a plan view of a planar formation in the form of a film, in a schematic representation;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a cross-section through a construction component on which a planar formation has been applied, in a schematic representation;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a tool and a construction component with a planar formation in a schematic representation; and

(5) FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the construction component to be adhered, with spacers, in a schematic representation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(6) FIG. 1 shows, in a schematic representation, a plan view of a planar formation 2 in the form of a film. By way of example, various forms of passages 3 or holes are illustrated, e.g., circular, oval, cross-shaped, star-shaped, or linear. The passages 3 have different sizes.

(7) The planar formation 2 having the passages 3 is applied onto a construction component 1 to be adhered (see FIG. 2). The passages 3 are filled with a curable liquid 4 and the planar formation 2 is then pulled away from the construction component 1. The liquid 4, having solidified in the passages 3, is left alone on the construction component 1 in the form of pins, for example. When the construction component 1 is adhered to another construction component, these pins form spacers 5 (see FIG. 4) that ensure a predetermined bond gap thickness or that a predetermined minimum bond gap thickness is observed even in the event of local over-compression.

(8) The passages 3 or subsequent spacers 5 may be uniform or vary over the surface of the planar formation 2 in terms of shape, height, size, density, and/or distribution. That is, different shapes and sizes of passages 3 may be arranged on the same planar formation 2. The density or manner of distribution thereof can vary or be uniform over the surface of the planar formation 2.

(9) The thickness of the planar formation 2 can be between 0.001 and 10 mm, preferably between 0.01 and 1 mm, more preferably between 0.1 and 0.3 mm.

(10) The planar formation 2 can be a film, a woven fabric, a knitted fabric, a warp-knitted fabric, or the like. The planar formation 2 can comprise fibers, preferably polymer fibers, and more preferably fluoropolymer fibers.

(11) The diameter or cross-section of one passage 3 or hole may be between 0.1 and 5 mm, preferably between 0.2 and 3 mm, more preferably between 1 and 2 mm.

(12) The curable liquid can be an epoxy resin, a plastic, or the like.

(13) The construction components 1 to be adhered are preferably composed of fiber composite materials, plastic materials, or the like.

(14) FIG. 2 shows, in a schematic representation, a cross-section through the construction component 1 on which a planar formation 2 has been applied. The planar formation 2 comprises passages 3 or holes. The passages 3 are non-uniformly distributed across the planar formation 2. The passages 3 vary in size or width.

(15) The passages 3 are filled with a curable liquid 4 which usually sits flush with the planar formation 2, but here (for illustrative purposes) extends beyond the planar formation 2 and covers it.

(16) The passages 3 can be incorporated into the planar formation 2 during the production of the planar formation 2, i.e., they can be released or woven, weft-knitted, or warp-knitted during the weaving, weft-knitting, warp-knitting, or the like. The passages 3 can also be punched, drilled, or injected, e.g. encapsulated by means of a laser, or the like, or they can simply be released when the planar formation 2 is being produced.

(17) If the construction component 1 is be adhered to another construction component (not shown), then the other construction component can also have been provided in the same manner with the spacers 5. The spacers 5 can be aligned to one another or offset from one another during the adhesion.

(18) The method according to the invention can be used in the adhering of construction components 1 in manufacturing, installation, maintenance, repair, and the like.

(19) FIG. 3 shows, in a schematic representation, a tool 6 which defines a contour of the construction component 1 to be adhered. Though illustrated as straight here, the tool can also be curved or have some other shape. For example, the tool 6 can be molded from worn-out damage in a component of an aircraft. The construction component 1 to be adhered is applied onto the tool 6, e.g., in the form of a laminate with the planar formation 2, e.g., in the form of a release sheet, as well as the passages 3, thus transferring the contour thereof. The curable liquid 4 is poured into and solidified in the passages 3. The construction component 1 to be adhered having the planar formation 2 and the cured liquid 4 is removed from the tool 6, the planar formation 2 is pulled away, and the construction component 1 having the spacers 5 formed in this way from the cured liquid 4 (see FIG. 4) are adhered in place of the worn-out damage in the aircraft component.

(20) Preferably, the planar formation 2 having the curable or already cured liquid 4 may remain on the first construction component 1 until immediately before the adhesion to the second construction component or until immediately before a surface treatment, thus acting as a protective film, for example.

(21) FIG. 4 shows, in a schematic representation, the construction component 1 to be adhered, with spacers 5. Here, the spacers 5 have the form of knobs, are circular in shape, and are distributed uniformly in rows across the construction component. The knobs can ensure a predetermined bond gap thickness or minimum bond gap thickness.

(22) Additionally, it should also be noted that the verb comprising does not preclude any other elements or steps, and that the use of the singular indefinite article or the number one does not preclude being a plurality. Furthermore, it should be noted that features or steps that have been described with reference to one of the above embodiments can also be used in combination other features or steps of other embodiments described above. Reference symbols in the claims shall not to be regarded as limiting.

(23) The foregoing disclosure has been set forth merely to illustrate the invention and is not intended to be limiting. Since modifications of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit and substance of the invention may occur to persons skilled in the art, the invention should be construed to include everything within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof.