Lightning strike dispersion for composite aircraft structures

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10450087-B2
Application number	US-201916418255-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 21, 2019
Priority date	Jun 17, 2016
Publication date	Oct 22, 2019
Grant date	Oct 22, 2019

Abstract

A lightning strike dispersion structure may include a composite component having an outboard surface, wherein the composite component is electrically nonconductive. The lightning strike dispersion structure may include a metal sheet coupled to and extending across a minority portion of the outboard surface of the composite component, wherein the metal sheet is electrically conductive. The lightning strike dispersion structure may also include a metal stud coupled to and in electrical contact with the metal sheet, the metal stud extending completely through the composite component, wherein the metal stud is electrically conductive.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of manufacturing a packboard, the method comprising:
coupling a head of a metal stud that is electrically conductive to a metal sheet that is electrically conductive such that the metal stud is in electrical contact with the metal sheet and the head of the metal stud is substantially flush with a first surface of the metal sheet;
laying plies of electrically nonconductive material across a second surface, opposite the first surface, of the metal sheet, wherein laying the plies comprises:
molding the plies to shape a packboard housing form having an inboard surface and an outboard surface, the second surface of the metal sheet extending across a minority portion of the outboard surface of the packboard housing form; and
extending the metal stud completely through the plies;

coupling a metal mesh that is electrically conductive across the first surface of the metal sheet and across a majority portion of the outboard surface of the packboard housing form, wherein the metal mesh is in electrical contact with the first surface of the metal sheet; and
curing the plies to set the packboard housing form.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein coupling the head of the metal stud to the metal sheet occurs before laying the plies and before curing the plies.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein a longitudinal axis of the metal stud is maintained perpendicular to the plies while laying the plies.

Assignees

• Goodrich Corp

Inventors

• Schmidt Ryan

Classifications

• B32B2262/103

  Metal fibres · CPC title

• B29C70/885

  with incorporated metallic wires, nets, films or plates (as lost heating elements B29C35/0272, B29C61/0625) · CPC title

• B32B2571/00

  Protective equipment · CPC title

• B64D25/14

  Inflatable escape chutes · CPC title

• B32B2605/18

  Aircraft · CPC title