METHOD AND DEVICE FOR REPAIRING COMPONENTS

Abstract

A method for repairing a component which contains fiber-reinforced plastics material. For curing a deformable material introduced into and/or applied to a repair point of the component, the material is heated by irradiation with light from a light-emitting device. The disclosure herein further relates to a light-emitting device for heating a material that is deformable at least in part, in a method according to the disclosure herein, and to a repair device which comprises a light-emitting device.

Claims

1. A method for repairing a component which contains fiber-reinforced plastics material, the method comprising: introducing and/or applying material that is deformable at least one in part into and/or to a repair point of the component; and heating the deformable material, wherein the heating comprises irradiating the deformable material with light from a light-emitting device.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the light-emitting device comprises at least one inorganic light-emitting diode and/or at least one organic light-emitting diode and/or at least one radiator as a light source.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the light-emitting device comprises at least one planar organic light-emitting diode and/or at least one mat, film, membrane, double membrane and/or at least one braid made of fibers, wires and/or cords, which can have a plurality of light sources.

4. The method according to claim 1, comprising positioning the light-emitting device, wherein, during positioning, the light-emitting device is placed on and/or adhered to the material that is deformable at least in part, fixed thereto by suction cups and/or magnets, and/or suctioned off the material by the creation of a vacuum and/or by electrostatic charging.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the light-emitting device is arranged at a spacing of a maximum of 15 cm or a maximum of 5 cm, preferably a maximum or 2 cm, more preferably at a spacing of 0 cm-1 cm, from the material that is deformable at least in part, and/or is integrated in a manufacturing setup for a fiber-composite component.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein, when irradiating the deformable material, the light-emitting device is connected to a stationary energy source or to a mobile power supply unit, and/or wherein the light-emitting device comprises at least one fitted solar cell, at least one fitted accumulator, at least one inserted battery and/or at least one fitted capacitor.

7. The method according claim 1, comprising controlling the light-emitting device by at least one external and/or internal controller.

8. The method according to claim 1, comprising measuring a temperature at the repair point and/or at the light-emitting device.

9. The method according to claim 8, comprising storing at least one measured temperature together with at least one associated control parameter of the light-emitting device.

10. A light-emitting device for use in a method for repairing a component which contains fiber-reinforced plastics material, the method comprising: introducing and/or applying material that is deformable at least one in part into and/or to a repair point of the component; and heating the deformable material, wherein the heating comprises irradiating the deformable material with light from a light-emitting device.

11. The light-emitting device according to claim 10, comprising at least one fixing element for fixing the light-emitting device to a repair point of a component, and/or which has a device for measuring temperature at the repair point and/or at the light-emitting device.

12. The light-emitting device according to claim 10, comprising as an energy source at least one fitted solar cell, at least one fitted accumulator, at least one inserted battery and/or at least one fitted capacitor.

13. A repair device for repairing a component which contains fiber-reinforced plastics material, the repair device comprising a light-emitting device according to claim 10.

14. The repair device according to claim 13, which is integrated in a manufacturing setup for a fiber-composite component and/or which is a portable hand-held device.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] In the drawing:

[0033] FIG. 1 shows a repair device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure when in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] By way of example, FIG. 1 shows a repair device 100 for repairing a component 200 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The component 200 comprises a milled-out repair point 210 which is infiltrated with fibers 211 and a non-cured, i.e. deformable, plastics material 212.

[0035] The repair device 100 comprises a light-emitting device 110 which is positioned on the repair point 210. The light-emitting device 110 comprises a mat 111 having a rectangular base and having a plurality of light sources 112a, 112b, of which only some are provided with reference signs in the drawing for reasons of clarity. In the example shown, the light sources, which can be inorganic light-emitting diodes for example, are arranged on the mat in a grid which extents substantially across the entire base of the mat.

[0036] The mat comprises, in addition, adhesive surfaces 114 for releasably fixing the mat on the component 200, and planar temperature sensors 113 each comprising a plurality of measuring surfaces. The temperature sensors can for example be designed to detect the heat reflected by the component 200, in particular by the repair point 210, at regular time intervals and/or in response to user input.

[0037] The light-emitting device 110 is connected to a single power supply unit 121 which can comprise for example at least one battery, at least one accumulator and/or at least one capacitor.

[0038] In the embodiment shown, the power supply unit 121 is integrated in a housing of a control device 120 comprising an operating unit 122 to which the light-emitting device is also connected. As a whole, the repair device 100 is thus an independently operable unit, preferably a portable hand-held device.

[0039] Values detected by the temperature sensors 113 can be transmitted to the control device 120. In the embodiment shown, the control device comprises a display 123 on which the measured temperatures can be displayed.

[0040] When the light-emitting device 110 is suitably positioned (as indicated by the arrows), in the example shown in the drawing some of the light sources (specifically the light sources 112a arranged in the three middle rows) are arranged on the repair point 210, whereas the light sources 112b in the outer rows are arranged beside the repair point 210. The latter light sources are therefore preferably not switched on, which is shown in the drawing by shading, whereas the middle light sources 112a are illuminated, and irradiate and thereby heat the repair point, in particular the deformable plastics material 212 therein, which leads to intentional curing of the plastics material 212.

[0041] Light sources 112a, 112b to be switched on or off can preferably be selected via the operating unit 122 of the control device 120; in addition, the operating unit 122 can allow at least one control parameter of the individual light sources to be individually set in a manual or automated manner (e.g. on the basis of the temperatures measured). In particular, a power of the light sources, for example, can be controlled on the basis of a local intensity of the defect to be repaired. In the embodiment shown in the drawing, for example, a higher power is preferably set for the light sources 112a which are arranged along the middle transverse axis and which are positioned over the deepest point of the defect, than for the remaining light sources 112a.

[0042] While at least one exemplary 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 exemplary embodiment(s). In addition, in this disclosure, the terms comprise or comprising do not exclude other elements or steps, the terms a 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.