Stabilising the honeycomb core for sandwich components

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9475266-B2
Application number	US-201214232638-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 10, 2012
Priority date	Jul 14, 2011
Publication date	Oct 25, 2016
Grant date	Oct 25, 2016

Abstract

A method for stabilizing a honeycomb core for a sandwich-type structural component includes configuring the honeycomb core. A hardenable adhesive layer is applied to at least one exterior surface of the honeycomb core. A semi-permeable membrane is positioned on the at least one exterior surface. The membrane is gas-permeable and liquid-impermeable. Air in the honeycomb core is drawn off through the semi-permeable membrane. The adhesive layer is hardened.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for stabilising a honeycomb core for a sandwich-type structural component, comprising:
a) configuring the honeycomb core;
b) applying a hardenable adhesive layer to at least one exterior surface of the honeycomb core;
b′) applying a tear-off fabric to the adhesive layer;
c) positioning a semi-permeable membrane on the at least one exterior surface on the tear-off fabric, the membrane being gas-permeable and liquid-impermeable;
c′) positioning a draw-off layer on the semi-permeable membrane;
d) drawing off air in the honeycomb core through the semi-permeable membrane; and
e) hardening the adhesive layer.

2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising arranging an air-permeable separating film between the membrane and the tear-off fabric.

3. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising arranging an air-impermeable cover on the draw-off layer.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the adhesive layer is applied continuously and is perforated before the hardening in step e).

5. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising perforating the adhesive layer before the application in step b).

6. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the adhesive layer is perforated by a needle roller.

7. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the air is drawn off through holes of the perforations before the adhesive layer is hardened, the adhesive layer initially becoming liquid during the hardening in step e) and the holes closing again when the adhesive layer hardens.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the adhesive layer has at least one adhesive film layer having a carrier structure, the carrier structure having a sealed structure which is not completely closed such that the adhesive layer is held together by surface tension effects of the adhesive film when the adhesive film liquefies during the hardening in step e) so as to minimise a tendency towards a formation of holes in the layer.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the adhesive layer has at least one adhesive film which is film-like at ambient temperature and is temporarily liquid only after being heated.

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the following steps are provided after the hardening in step e):
removing the tear-off fabric;
arranging a covering layer on at least one side of the honeycomb core stabilised with the adhesive layer; and
joining the covering layer to the honeycomb core in a laminating operation.

11. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the laminating operation comprises hardening of a matrix material, the matrix material initially becoming liquid during hardening and the adhesive layer preventing the matrix material from becoming introduced into the honeycomb cores.

12. A device for stabilising a honeycomb core for a sandwich-type structural component, comprising:
a receiving device for receiving a workpiece;
a vacuum device for producing a negative pressure;
a honeycomb core having a hardenable adhesive layer applied on at least one side disposed as the workpiece in the receiving device;
a tear-off fabric disposed on the adhesive layer;
a semi-permeable membrane which is gas-permeable and liquid-impermeable disposed on the honeycomb core on the tear-off fabric; and
a draw-off layer disposed on the semi-permeable membrane,
wherein the vacuum device is configured to draw off air in the honeycomb core at least partially through the semi-permeable membrane.

13. A stabilized core layer for a sandwich-type structural component having:
a honeycomb core having a large number of honeycomb-like cells which are separated from each other by partition walls, the partition walls extending in a thickness direction of the honeycomb core;
at least one adhesive layer applied to front faces of the partition walls, the adhesive layer having at least one hardened adhesive film layer closing the honeycomb-like cells on at least one side in a manner that reduces introduction of resin in a subsequent laminating operation with a resin-impregnated covering layer, the adhesive layer having openings having a maximum diameter of 0.1 mm;
a tear-off fabric disposed on the adhesive layer;
a semi-permeable membrane which is gas-permeable and liquid-impermeable disposed on the tear-off fabric; and
a draw-off layer disposed on the semi-permeable membrane.

14. A method for stabilising a honeycomb core for a sandwich-type structural component, comprising:
a) configuring the honeycomb core;
b) applying a hardenable adhesive layer to at least one exterior surface of the honeycomb core;
b′) applying a tear-off fabric to the adhesive layer;
c) positioning a semi-permeable membrane on the at least one exterior surface, the membrane being gas-permeable and liquid-impermeable and being positioned on the tear-off fabric;
d) drawing off air in the honeycomb core through the semi-permeable membrane; and
e) hardening the adhesive layer.

15. The method according to claim 14 , further comprising arranging an air-permeable separating film between the membrane and the tear-off fabric.

16. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the following steps are provided after the hardening in step e):
removing the tear-off fabric;
arranging a covering layer on at least one side of the honeycomb core stabilised with the adhesive layer; and
joining the covering layer to the honeycomb core in a laminating operation.

17. The method according to claim 16 , wherein the laminating operation comprises hardening of a matrix material, the matrix material initially becoming liquid during hardening and the adhesive layer preventing the matrix material from becoming introduced into the honeycomb cores.

18. A method for stabilising a honeycomb core for a sandwich-type structural component, comprising:
a) configuring the honeycomb core;
b) applying a hardenable adhesive layer to at least one exterior surface of the honeycomb core;
c) positioning a semi-permeable membrane on the at least one exterior surface, the membrane being gas-permeable and liquid-impermeable;
d) drawing off air in the honeycomb core through the semi-permeable membrane; and
e) hardening the adhesive layer,
wherein the at least one layer of adhesive film is applied continuously and is perforated before the hardening in step e), and
wherein the air is drawn off through holes of the perforations before the adhesive layer is hardened, the adhesive layer initially becoming liquid during the hardening in step e) and the holes closing again when the adhesive layer hardens.

19. A method for stabilising a honeycomb core for a sandwich-type structural component, comprising:
a) configuring the honeycomb core;
b) applying a hardenable adhesive layer to at least one exterior surface of the honeycomb core;
c) positioning a semi-permeable membrane on the at least one exterior surface, the membrane being gas-permeable and liquid-impermeable;
d) drawing off air in the honeycomb core through the semi-permeable membrane; and
e) hardening the adhesive layer,
wherein the adhesive layer has at least one adhesive film layer having a carrier structure, the carrier structure having a sealed structure which is not completely closed such that the adhesive layer is held together by surface tension effects of the adhesive film when the adhesive film liquefies during the hardening in step e) so as to minimise a tendency towards a formation of holes in the layer.

Assignees

• Kuntz Julian
• Klenner Juergen
• Trost Ralf
• Micheler Joseph
• Premium Aerotec Gmbh

Inventors

• Kuntz Julian
• Klenner Juergen
• Trost Ralf
• Micheler Joseph

Classifications

• B32B37/04 Primary

  characterised by the partial melting of at least one layer · CPC title

• B32B3/12 Primary

  characterised by a layer of regularly- arranged cells, e.g. a honeycomb structure · CPC title