Method for repairing a composite part

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11077628-B2
Application number	US-201916566580-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 10, 2019
Priority date	Aug 30, 2017
Publication date	Aug 3, 2021
Grant date	Aug 3, 2021

Abstract

A method for repairing damage to a composite part includes creating an aperture through the composite part and preparing the surfaces surrounding the aperture on both sides of the part; inserting a plurality of resin impregnated fibers through the aperture and spreading the end portions of the plurality of fibers radially against the prepared surfaces on both sides of the part; and maintaining contact of the plurality of fibers with the prepared surfaces while the resin cures.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A composite panel, comprising:
a body comprising a woven fiber and a resin, the body having a first surface and an opposite second surface, the body defining an aperture extending from the first surface to the second surface; and
a plurality of fibers extending through the aperture and having first end portions secured to the first surface, second end portions secured to the second surface;
wherein the aperture is filled with the plurality of fibers and a new resin;
wherein the plurality of fibers comprises a portion of a braided tube.

2. The composite panel of claim 1 , wherein the first end portions of the plurality of fibers are spread radially from the aperture onto the first surface, and the second end portions of the plurality of fibers are spread radially from the aperture onto the second surface.

3. The composite panel of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of fibers comprise carbon, glass, aramid, polyethylene, quartz, ceramic, or boron fibers.

4. The composite panel of claim 3 , wherein a ratio of fiber to resin within the aperture is between 30% fiber to 70% resin and 45% fiber to 55% resin.

5. The composite panel of claim 4 , further including a hole extending through at least a portion of the plurality of fibers and having a fastener extending through the hole.

6. An aircraft, comprising:
a fuselage;
a system configured to generate lift; and
a composite panel, comprising:
a body comprising a woven fiber and a resin, the body having a first surface and an opposite second surface, the body defining an aperture extending from the first surface to the second surface; and
a plurality of fibers extending through the aperture and having first end portions secured to the first surface, second end portions secured to the second surface;
wherein the aperture is filled with the plurality of fibers and a new resin; and
wherein the plurality of fibers comprises a portion of a braided tube.

7. The aircraft of claim 6 , wherein a ratio of fiber to resin within the aperture is between 30% fiber to 70% resin and 45% fiber to 55% resin.

8. The aircraft of claim 7 , wherein the composite panel further includes a hole extending through at least a portion of the plurality of fibers and having a fastener extending through the hole.

9. A composite panel, comprising:
a body comprising a woven fiber and a resin, the body having a first surface and an opposite second surface, the body defining an aperture extending from the first surface to the second surface; and
a plurality of fibers extending through the aperture and having first end portions secured to the first surface, second end portions secured to the second surface;
wherein the aperture is filled with the plurality of fibers and a new resin;
further comprising a hole extending through at least a portion of the plurality of fibers and having a fastener extending through the hole.

Assignees

• Bell Textron Inc
• Textron Innovations Inc

Inventors

• Whitworth Denver Ray
• Cribb Vance Newton

Classifications

• B29C70/30 Primary

  Shaping by lay-up, i.e. applying fibres, tape or broadsheet on a mould, former or core; Shaping by spray-up, i.e. spraying of fibres on a mould, former or core · CPC title

• Y10T428/20

  Patched hole or depression · CPC title

• B29C70/085

  the structure being deformed in a three dimensional configuration (B29C53/805 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B29L2031/3076

  Aircrafts (blades, propellers B29L2031/08) · CPC title

• B64F5/40

  Maintaining or repairing aircraft · CPC title