Coupling Components to One Another Utilizing Electromagnetic Energy

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016151965-A1
Application number	US-201414557404-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 1, 2014
Priority date	Dec 1, 2014
Publication date	Jun 2, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method of coupling components utilizing electromagnetic energy is disclosed. The method can include obtaining a first component having a first coupling portion, and obtaining a second component having a second coupling portion configured to interface with the first coupling portion. The method can also include disposing a hot melt adhesive on at least one of the first and second coupling portions, and disposing a susceptor proximate the hot melt adhesive. The method can further include mating the first and second coupling portions. In addition, the method can include applying electromagnetic energy to the susceptor. The susceptor can convert the electromagnetic energy to heat, which melts the hot melt adhesive into contact with the first and second coupling portions to couple the first and second components to one another upon solidification of the hot melt adhesive.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method of coupling components utilizing electromagnetic energy, comprising:
obtaining a first component having a first coupling portion; obtaining a second component having a second coupling portion configured to interface with the first coupling portion; disposing a hot melt adhesive on at least one of the first and second coupling portions; disposing a susceptor proximate the hot melt adhesive; mating the first and second coupling portions; and applying electromagnetic energy to the susceptor, wherein the susceptor converts the electromagnetic energy to heat, which melts the hot melt adhesive into contact with the first and second coupling portions to couple the first and second components to one another upon solidification of the hot melt adhesive.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first coupling portion comprises an opening and the second coupling portion comprises a protrusion.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the opening and the protrusion are tapered to generate axial compression between the first and second coupling portions.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the opening and the protrusion are configured as conical sections.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the susceptor comprises a ring configuration, a coil configuration, a mesh configuration, a solid configuration, a patterned array configuration, or combinations thereof.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the susceptor is made of stainless steel, aluminum, molybdenum, niobium, silicon carbide, graphite, or combinations thereof.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein electromagnetic energy is applied by an inductor.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the susceptor is disposed proximate the hot melt adhesive prior to disposing the hot melt adhesive on at least one of the first and second coupling portions.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the susceptor is disposed between layers of the hot melt adhesive.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first coupling portion and the second coupling portion are formed of a polymeric material.

11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the components form at least a portion of an unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) or a missile.

12 . A component assembly, comprising:
a first component having a first coupling portion; a second component having a second coupling portion configured to interface with the first coupling portion for coupling the first and second components to one another; a hot melt adhesive disposed between the first and second coupling portions; and a susceptor proximate the hot melt adhesive, wherein the susceptor converts electromagnetic energy to heat, which melts the hot melt adhesive into contact with the first and second coupling portions to couple the first and second components to one another upon solidification of the hot melt adhesive.

13 . The assembly of claim 12 , wherein the first coupling portion comprises an opening and the second coupling portion comprises a protrusion.

14 . The assembly of claim 13 , wherein the opening and the protrusion are tapered.

15 . The assembly of claim 14 , wherein the opening and the protrusion are configured as conical sections.

16 . The assembly of claim 12 , wherein the susceptor comprises a ring configuration, a coil configuration, a mesh configuration, a solid configuration, a patterned array configuration, or combinations thereof.

17 . The assembly of claim 12 , wherein the susceptor is made of stainless steel, aluminum, molybdenum, niobium, silicon carbide, graphite, or combinations thereof.

18 . The assembly of claim 12 , at least one of the first coupling portion and the second coupling portion are formed of a polymeric material.

19 . The assembly of claim 12 , wherein the component assembly forms at least a portion of an unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) or a missile.

20 . A component prepared for coupling with another component utilizing electromagnetic energy, comprising:
a coupling portion configured to interface with a coupling portion of another component for coupling the components to one another; a hot melt adhesive disposed about the coupling portion; and a susceptor proximate the hot melt adhesive, wherein the susceptor is configured to convert electromagnetic energy to heat to melt the hot melt adhesive into contact with the coupling portions to couple the components to one another upon solidification of the hot melt adhesive.

21 . The component of claim 20 , wherein the coupling portion comprises an opening or a protrusion.

22 . The component of claim 20 , wherein the opening or the protrusion is configured as a conical section.

23 . The component of claim 20 , wherein the susceptor comprises a ring configuration, a coil configuration, a mesh configuration, a solid configuration, a patterned array configuration, or combinations thereof.

24 . The component of claim 20 , wherein the component forms at least a portion of an unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) or a missile.

Assignees

• Raytheon Co

Inventors

• Carlsten Curtis B
• Item Erik F

Classifications

• B29C65/3632

  comprising several wires, e.g. in the form of several independent windings (B29C65/364 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B29C66/543

  joining more than two hollow-preforms to form said hollow articles · CPC title

• B29L2031/3076

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

• B29L2031/3097

  Cosmonautical vehicles; Rockets · CPC title

• B29C65/5021

  being multi-layered · CPC title