Fairing bond fixture

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10981673-B2
Application number	US-201615282176-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 30, 2016
Priority date	Sep 30, 2016
Publication date	Apr 20, 2021
Grant date	Apr 20, 2021

Abstract

A bond fixture includes a support structure and a first assembly coupled to the support structure. The first assembly includes a frame defining a chamber and a first pressure pad and second pressure pad coupled to the frame opposite one another and positioned within the chamber. The second pressure pad is movable to control a pressure applied by the first pressure pad and the second pressure pad.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A bond fixture for use with a rotor blade comprising:
a support structure including a brace, the support structure mountable to a surface of a blade cuff of the rotor blade via one or more fasteners, wherein an opening formed in the support structure is positionable in alignment with a lug opening formed in the blade cuff, and the one or more fasteners are extendable through both the opening and the lug opening;
a first assembly coupled to the support structure via the brace, the first assembly being oriented at an angle to the support structure, the first assembly including:
a first frame including a first portion arranged within a first plane and a second portion arranged within a second plane offset from the first plane, wherein a first end of the first frame is arranged within a different plane than a second end of the first frame,
a first chamber defined between the first portion and the second portion, wherein a distance between the first portion and the second portion is uniform along a length of the first frame; and
a first pressure pad and a second pressure pad coupled to the first frame opposite one another and positioned within the first chamber, wherein the second pressure pad is movable to control a pressure applied by the first pressure pad and the second pressure pad; and

a second assembly coupled to the support structure via the brace, the second assembly including:
a second frame having a first portion arranged within a third plane and a second portion arranged within a fourth plane offset from the third plane; and
a second chamber defined between the first portion and the second portion of the second frame, wherein a distance between the first portion of the second frame and the second portion of the second frame decreases along a length of the second frame between a first end and a second opposite end of the second frame.

2. The bond fixture according to claim 1 , wherein the first frame includes a first support plate and a second support plate coupled by at least one connecting member.

3. The bond fixture according to claim 2 , wherein the first pressure pad is fixedly mounted to the first support plate and the second pressure pad is movably coupled to the second support plate.

4. The bond fixture according to claim 3 , wherein the second pressure pad is movably coupled to the second support plate via at least one fastener.

5. The bond fixture according to claim 4 , wherein the at least one fastener is rotatable to adjust a position of the second pressure pad relative to the second support plate.

6. The bond fixture according to claim 4 , wherein the first assembly is configured to apply pressure to a first fairing.

7. The bond fixture according to claim 1 , wherein the second assembly further includes a first pressure pad and a second pressure pad coupled to the second frame opposite one another and positioned within the second chamber, wherein the second pressure pad is movable to control a pressure applied by the first pressure pad and the second pressure pad of the second assembly.

8. The bond fixture according to claim 7 , wherein the second frame of the second assembly includes a first support plate and a second support plate coupled by at least one connecting member.

9. The bond fixture according to claim 8 , wherein the first pressure pad of the second assembly is fixedly mounted to the first support plate of the second assembly and the second pressure pad of the second assembly is movably coupled to the second support plate of the second assembly.

10. The bond fixture according to claim 9 , wherein the second pressure pad of the second assembly is movably coupled to the second support plate of the second assembly via at least one fastener.

11. The bond fixture according to claim 10 , wherein the first assembly is configured to apply a pressure to a first fairing and the second assembly is configured to apply pressure to a second fairing simultaneously.

12. The bond fixture according to claim 7 , wherein the first assembly is mounted to a first portion of the support structure and the second assembly is mounted to a second portion of the support structure such that the first assembly and the second assembly are arranged at an angle to one another.

13. The bond fixture according to claim 1 , wherein the second assembly further includes a first pressure pad and a second pressure pad coupled to the second frame opposite one another and positioned within the second chamber.

14. The bond fixture according to claim 13 , wherein the second frame includes a first support plate and a second support plate coupled by at least one connecting member.

15. The bond fixture according to claim 14 , wherein the first pressure pad of the second assembly is fixedly mounted to the first support plate and the second pressure pad of the second assembly is movably coupled to the second support plate.

Assignees

• Sikorsky Aircraft Corp

Inventors

• Littlejohn David
• Lofstrom Sven Roy
• Smith Scott Oren

Classifications

• B64C27/46 Primary

  Blades · CPC title

• B64F5/40

  Maintaining or repairing aircraft · CPC title

• B64F5/10 Primary

  Manufacturing or assembling aircraft, e.g. jigs therefor · CPC title