Induction-softened thermoplastic shims

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10274005-B2
Application number	US-201615268983-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 19, 2016
Priority date	Sep 19, 2016
Publication date	Apr 30, 2019
Grant date	Apr 30, 2019

Abstract

A shim assembly includes a shim material configured to be positioned between a first component and a second component. A wire is in contact with the shim material. The wire is configured to heat the shim material to above a predetermined temperature, and the shim material becomes moldable above the predetermined temperature such that the shim material is able to conform to the first component and the second component.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for assembling a first component and a second component, comprising:
embedding a wire at least partially within a shim material;
placing the shim material at least partially between the first and second components;
inserting a first coupling device into aligned holes formed in the first component, the second component, and the shim material;
mechanically coupling the first and second components together using the first coupling device; and
inducing an electrical current in the wire, wherein the electrical current causes the wire to heat the shim material to above a predetermined temperature, wherein the shim material becomes moldable above the predetermined temperature such that the shim material is able to conform to the first component and the second component while the first and second components are mechanically coupled together.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the electrical current is induced using an induction coil.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the induction coil is positioned on an opposing side of the first component or the second component from the shim material.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the induction coil is positioned between the first and second components.

5. The method of claim 2 , wherein the induction coil is coupled to or integral with the wire.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising torquing the first coupling device to an initial level before inducing the electrical current.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising torquing the first coupling device to a final level after the shim material exceeds the predetermined temperature.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the first coupling device is torqued to the final level when the shim material is above the predetermined temperature.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the first coupling device is torqued to the final level after the shim material cools to below the predetermined temperature.

10. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
removing the first coupling device after the shim material exceeds the predetermined temperature; and
inserting and torquing a second coupling device to a final level that is greater than the initial level.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Koch William J
• Matsen Marc R

Classifications

• F16B43/00 Primary

  Washers or equivalent devices; Other devices for supporting bolt-heads or nuts (circlips F16B21/18; {for indicating tensile load F16B31/02; forming a whole with the bolt or nut F16B33/00; locking bolts or nuts by means of a fixed plate or ring, or washer-like resilient plates F16B39/10, F16B39/24}) · CPC title

• F16B11/006

  by gluing (gluing of plastics material B29C65/48) · CPC title

• F16B5/02

  by means of fastening members using screw-thread ({F16B5/0004 takes precedence}; construction of screw-threaded connections F16B25/00 - F16B39/00) · CPC title

• H05B6/02

  Induction heating · CPC title

• F16B5/04

  by means of riveting (rivets F16B19/04) · CPC title