Foreign object damage elimination system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11142344-B2
Application number	US-201916454589-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 27, 2019
Priority date	Jul 22, 2014
Publication date	Oct 12, 2021
Grant date	Oct 12, 2021

Abstract

An assembly configured to prevent damage to an object during manufacture thereof is provided including a first housing having a substantially hollow interior. An exposed first planar surface of the first housing includes an inlet port and a plurality of small openings formed about the periphery. The inlet port, the hollow interior, and the plurality of small openings form a fluid flow path through the assembly. A second housing similar in size and shape to the first housing, has an exposed second planar surface. An intermediate layer is arranged between the first housing and the second housing. A cross-section of the intermediate layer is configured to change shape in response to a compression force applied thereto by the first housing and the second housing to form a seal separating an exterior portion of the objection exposed to the plurality of small openings from an interior surface of the object.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An assembly configured to prevent damage to an object during manufacture of the object, comprising:
a first housing having a substantially hollow interior and an exposed first planar surface, an inlet port being formed in the first planar surface, and a plurality of openings being formed about a periphery of the first planar surface, such that the inlet port, the hollow interior, and the plurality of openings form a flow path for a fluid through the assembly;
a second housing having an exposed second planar surface;
an intermediate layer arranged between the first housing and the second housing, a cross-section of the intermediate layer being configured to change shape in response to a compression force applied thereto by the first housing and the second housing to form a seal separating an exterior portion of the object exposed to the plurality of openings from an interior surface of the object.

2. The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the flow path is configured to counter a flow of debris into the interior surface of the object.

3. The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the inlet port is connected to a pump operably coupled to a fluid supply.

4. The assembly according to claim 3 , wherein the fluid supply includes one of air or coolant.

5. The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of openings are equidistantly spaced about the periphery of the first planar surface.

6. The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein a portion of the plurality of openings have a diameter larger than a remainder of the plurality of openings.

7. The assembly according to claim 6 , wherein the portion of openings are located adjacent to the inlet port and have a diameter larger than the remainder of the plurality of openings.

8. The assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one fastener extending through and being configured to affix the first housing, the intermediate layer, and the second housing to one another.

9. The assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising a compression fastener extending through the first housing, the intermediate layer, and the second housing, a first nut coupled to the compression fastener being arranged adjacent the first planar surface, and a second nut connected to the compression fastener being arranged adjacent to the second planar surface.

10. The assembly according to claim 9 , wherein the compression force applied to the intermediate layer by the first housing and the second housing is controlled by adjusting one of the first nut or the second nut.

Assignees

• Sikorsky Aircraft Corp

Inventors

• Caywood David W
• Ameti Pellumb
• Tabone Michael
• Northrop Kneil

Classifications

• B64C27/473 Primary

  Constructional features · CPC title

• B64C2027/4733

  Rotor blades substantially made from particular materials · CPC title

• B64F5/40 Primary

  Maintaining or repairing aircraft · CPC title

• B64C27/467

  Aerodynamic features · CPC title

• B64F5/30

  Cleaning aircraft · CPC title