Radome bonding tool and bonding method thereof

Abstract

The present invention discloses a radome bonding tool, wherein a bonding platform is mounted on a base, a positioning member is arranged on a working surface of the bonding platform to position a metal ring, a lifting device is arranged below the bonding platform, and the lifting device includes a top column, which is lifted upward and penetrates the bonding platform and supports the radome placed upright above the metal ring, and a fastening device is mounted on the bonding platform, located around the radome and pressed against the radome. At the same time, a method for bonding the radome using the bonding tool is disclosed. The bonding is performed with the radome upright, and the bonding effect between the radome and the metal ring is excellent. After the product is formed, there is no adhesive flowing on the inner wall of the radome, and the reduction of the use of adhesive brings about cost control optimization; the bonding process shortens the curing cycle, which is conducive to mass production; the use of the bonding tool reduces manual contact with the radome, reduces human risks, reduces labor costs, and improves the level of mechanization.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to an assembly tool for a radome and an assembly method thereof, in particular to an assembly tool for a radome made of ceramic wave-transmitting materials and an assembly method thereof. Background Art

[0002] With the development of aviation manufacturing industry, more and more radomes are being developed and applied. Among them, the radome made of quartz ceramic material connects the cabin section and the radome through a metal ring. The main connection methods are bonding (that is, the metal ring and the radome are bonded together using adhesive) and mechanical connection.

[0003] The existing bonding technology basically fixes the radome upside down through a contoured tool, and then bonds the metal ring to the inner wall of the radome through the adhesive curing at room temperature. Since the radome is inverted, this method will cause the adhesive to flow on the inner wall of the radome during curing, polluting the inner wall surface of the radome and affecting the appearance of the product. In addition, the inverted radome is unstable during production, with the risk of bumping and is difficult to control. The adhesive is fluid during curing, and the bonding gap is not filled, which cannot guarantee the bonding effect. It may cause certain cavities and other defects between the metal ring and the inner wall of the radome, resulting in poor bonding effect. The adhesive curing time and production cycle are long. Summary of the invention

[0004] Purpose of the invention: In view of the above-mentioned problems, the purpose of the present invention is to provide a bonding tool for an antenna cover, which can achieve good bonding between the metal ring and the antenna cover without inverting the antenna cover. Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a bonding method for the antenna cover using such a bonding tool.

[0005] Technical solution: A radome bonding tool, including a base, a bonding platform, a fastening device, a lifting device, and a positioning piece. The bonding platform is installed on the base, and the positioning piece is arranged on the working surface of the bonding platform to position the metal ring. The lifting device is arranged below the bonding platform. The lifting device includes a top column, and the top column lifts upward and passes through the bonding platform and supports the radome placed upright above the metal ring. The fastening device is installed on the bonding platform, located around the radome and pressed against the radome.

[0006] Furthermore, the fastening device includes a bolt and a pressure plate, wherein the bolt is passed through the pressure plate, and the lower end of the bolt is threadedly connected to the working surface of the bonding platform, and the bolt head on the bolt is located above the pressure plate. One end of the pressure plate is pressed against the antenna cover with an inclined surface to form an accompanying assembly structure. The height of the pressure plate is changed by adjusting the height of the bolt up and down, and the antenna cover cooperates with the inclined surface of the pressure plate, and the bolt head is pressed on the pressure plate, so that the pressure plate is pressed against the outer wall surface of the antenna cover to be compacted.

[0007] Furthermore, the lifting device also includes a vacuum pump, a pneumatic switch, a cylinder, and an oil-water separator. The pneumatic switch is respectively connected to the two oil-water separators and one cylinder with an air pipeline, and one of the oil-water separators is connected to the vacuum pump, the top column is connected to the cylinder, and the cylinder drives the top column to lift.

[0008] Furthermore, the lifting device also includes a screw rod and a turntable. The screw rod is inserted through the base. The top column is connected to the upper end of the screw rod. The turntable is connected to the lower end of the screw rod. The screw rod drives the top column to lift.

[0009] Furthermore, the lifting device also includes a load-balancing plate, the top column is installed on the load-balancing plate, and the load-balancing plate is driven to lift the top column.

[0010] Furthermore, the top column supports the bottom surface of the antenna cover to stably support the antenna cover while avoiding interference with the metal ring.

[0011] A bonding method of the above-mentioned antenna cover bonding tool is characterized by comprising the following steps:

[0012] S10: Preheating metal ring and antenna cover;

[0013] S20: Level the base, install the bonding platform on the base, and position the metal ring on the working surface of the bonding platform through the positioning piece;

[0014] S30: Paste the release cloth on the bottom surface of the radome with a height of 0.05 to 0.15 mm;

[0015] S40: Apply adhesive on the inner wall of the radome and the outer wall of the metal ring with a thickness of 0.3 to 0.5 mm;

[0016] S50: The upright radome is aligned and positioned above the metal ring, and the lifting device is operated to drive the top column to be lifted upward and penetrated through the working surface of the bonding platform, and the support acts on the bottom of the radome, and then the top column is driven downward to reset, and the inner wall of the radome covers the outer wall of the metal ring, and then the fastening device is adjusted to press against the outer wall of the radome to make the bottom of the radome contact with the working surface of the bonding platform, and compact the radome;

[0017] S60: removing the bonding platform from the base, and curing the bonding platform and the entirety thereon;

[0018] S70: After the curing is completed, the bonding platform is installed on the base, the fastening device is adjusted to release the pressure, the positioning piece is released, the lifting device is operated, the top column is driven to lift the support upward to act on the bottom of the antenna cover, and the antenna cover and the metal ring are demoulded from the bonding platform;

[0019] S80: Remove the release cloth from the bottom of the radome.

[0020] Furthermore, the compaction is carried out to ensure that the gap between the bottom of the antenna cover and the working surface of the bonding platform is no more than 0.02 mm.

[0021] Furthermore, the preheating temperature is 40-60°C, and the preheating time is 2-4 hours; the curing temperature is 80-100°C, and the curing time is 5-6 hours.

[0022] Beneficial effects: Compared with the prior art, the advantages of the present invention are: the bonding is carried out with the radome upright, and the bonding effect between the radome and the metal ring is excellent. After the product is formed, there is no adhesive flowing on the inner wall of the radome, and the reduction in the use of adhesive brings about cost control optimization; the bonding process shortens the curing cycle and is conducive to mass production; the use of bonding tooling reduces manual contact with the radome, reduces human risks, reduces labor costs, and improves the level of mechanization. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] Figure 1 It is one of the schematic diagrams of the bonding tooling structure;

[0024] Figure 2 This is the second schematic diagram of the bonding tooling structure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] The present invention will be further described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. These embodiments are only used to illustrate the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

[0026] A radome bonding tool, as shown in the attached Figure 1 As shown, it includes a base 1, a bonding platform 2, a fastening device 3, a lifting device 4, and a positioning member 5.

[0027] The bonding platform 2 is detachably mounted on the base 1. The upper surface of the bonding platform 2 is a working surface 21, and the positioning member 5 is arranged on the working surface 21 to position the metal ring 6. The positioning member may include a pin or a screw, and the structural features of the metal ring such as the hollow part cooperate with the pin or the screw to achieve the function of positioning and fixing the positioning member.

[0028] The lifting device 4 is arranged below the bonding platform 2, and mainly includes a top column 41 and a driving mechanism for making it move vertically. A through hole 22 for the top column 41 to pass through is provided on the working surface 21. The setting position of the top column is based on the alignment of the upright radome above the metal ring, opposite to the bottom surface of the radome, and staggered with the bonding gap between the radome and the metal ring. The top column is lifted upward through the through hole by the driving mechanism, and the upper end of the top column extends above the working surface to support the bottom surface of the upright radome 7 above the metal ring 6. A group of top columns can be provided to support the radome in a balanced manner. A group of top columns are all installed on the load-balancing plate 48, and the load-balancing plate drives a group of top columns to move synchronously vertically through the driving mechanism.

[0029] As attached Figure 1 As shown, one of the drive mechanism structures also includes a vacuum pump 42, a pneumatic switch 43, a cylinder 44, and an oil-water separator 45. The three interfaces of the pneumatic switch 43 are respectively connected to two oil-water separators 45 and one cylinder 44 by air pipelines. One of the two oil-water separators is for air intake and the other is for air outlet. The oil-water separator for air intake is also connected to the vacuum pump 42. The load plate 48 is connected to the cylinder 44. The cylinder drives the load plate to drive the top column to move vertically. The drive mechanism can be attached to the base 1 for installation.

[0030] As attached Figure 2 As shown, the second driving mechanism structure also includes a screw rod 46 and a turntable 47. The screw rod 46 is penetrated through the base 1. The upper end of the screw rod 46 is connected to the load-balancing plate 48 located between the base 1 and the bonding platform 2. The turntable 47 is connected to the lower end of the screw rod 46. The turntable rotates to achieve the purpose of the screw rod driving the load-balancing plate to drive the top column to move vertically.

[0031] The fastening device 3 is installed on the bonding platform 2, and includes a bolt 31 and a pressure plate 32. Corresponding to the position of the antenna cover above the bonding platform, the antenna cover 7 is arranged around the bolt 31 and is threadedly connected to the working surface 21 for installation. A plurality of bolts 31 can be evenly distributed. One end of the pressure plate 32 is connected to the bolt 31 by a through hole. The bolt head on the bolt 31 is located above the pressure plate 32. The other end of the pressure plate 32 faces the outer wall of the antenna cover 7 and is pressed against the antenna cover with an inclined surface to form an accompanying assembly structure. The height of the bolt is adjusted up and down to change the height of the pressure plate. The antenna cover cooperates with the inclined surface of the pressure plate, and the bolt head is pressed on the pressure plate, so that the pressure plate is pressed against the outer wall of the antenna cover to be compacted.

[0032] A bonding method of the above-mentioned antenna cover bonding tool specifically includes the following steps:

[0033] S10: Preheat the metal ring and the antenna cover in an oven, set the preheating temperature to 40-60° C., and the preheating time to 2-4 hours to reduce the subsequent curing time.

[0034] S20: Level the base plane, install the bonding platform on the base, and position the metal ring on the working surface of the bonding platform through the positioning piece.

[0035] S30: Paste a release cloth 8 on the bottom surface of the radome with a height of 0.05-0.15 mm to ensure that after the radome and the metal ring are bonded, the metal ring protrudes from the bottom surface of the radome, leaving a connection position for the metal ring to connect with the cabin section.

[0036] S40: Apply adhesive to the area corresponding to the bonding position on the inner wall of the antenna cover, and apply adhesive to the outer wall of the metal ring, with a thickness of 0.3 to 0.5 mm.

[0037] S50: The lifting device works, driving the top column to lift upward and penetrate through the working surface of the bonding platform until the upper end of the top column extends above the working surface, and the radome located above the metal ring and centered is placed on the top column. The top column supports the bottom surface of the radome, and then drives the top column to reset downward. The inner wall of the radome covers the outer wall of the metal ring, and then adjusts the fastening device so that its pressure plate presses against the outer wall of the radome and applies uniform pressure, so that the bottom of the radome contacts the working surface of the bonding platform, compacts the radome, and bonds the radome to the internal metal ring. Use a feeler gauge to measure the gap between the bottom surface of the release cloth and the working surface of the bonding platform, with a compaction standard of no more than 0.02mm.

[0038] S60: The bonding platform is removed from the base, and the bonding platform and the entirety thereon are cured at a curing temperature of 80 to 100° C. for a curing time of 5 to 6 hours.

[0039] S70: After curing is completed, the bonding platform is installed on the base, the fastening device is adjusted to release the pressure on the antenna cover, the positioning piece is adjusted to release the connection between the metal ring and the bonding platform, and the lifting device is operated to drive the top column to lift the support upward to act on the bottom surface of the antenna cover, and further push the antenna cover upward to demould the antenna cover and the metal ring as a whole from the bonding platform.

[0040] S80: Remove the release cloth from the bottom of the radome.

[0041] After testing: the bonding effect between the antenna cover and the metal ring is excellent, and there is no glue overflow on the inner wall of the antenna cover, and the bottom of the metal ring slightly protrudes from the bottom surface of the antenna cover.

Claims

1. A method for bonding a radome bonding tool, characterized in that The following steps are involved: S10: Preheating metal ring and antenna cover; S20: Level the base, install the bonding platform on the base, and position the metal ring on the working surface of the bonding platform through the positioning piece; S30: Paste the release cloth on the bottom surface of the radome with a height of 0.05 to 0.15 mm; S40: Apply adhesive on the inner wall of the radome and the outer wall of the metal ring with a thickness of 0.3 to 0.5 mm; S50: The upright radome is aligned and positioned above the metal ring, and the lifting device is operated to drive the top column to be lifted upward and penetrated through the working surface of the bonding platform, and the support acts on the bottom of the radome, and then the top column is driven downward to reset, and the inner wall of the radome covers the outer wall of the metal ring, and then the fastening device is adjusted to press against the outer wall of the radome to make the bottom of the radome contact with the working surface of the bonding platform, and compact the radome; S60: removing the bonding platform from the base, and curing the bonding platform and the entirety thereon; S70: After the curing is completed, the bonding platform is installed on the base, the fastening device is adjusted to release the pressure, the positioning piece is released, the lifting device is operated, the top column is driven to lift the support upward to act on the bottom of the antenna cover, and the antenna cover and the metal ring are demoulded from the bonding platform; S80: Remove the release cloth from the bottom of the radome; The radome bonding tool comprises a base (1), a bonding platform (2), a fastening device (3), a lifting device (4), and a positioning member (5), wherein the bonding platform (2) is mounted on the base (1), the positioning member (5) is arranged on a working surface of the bonding platform (2) to position the metal ring, the lifting device (4) is arranged below the bonding platform (2), the lifting device (4) comprises a top column (41), the top column (41) is lifted upward and penetrates the bonding platform (2) and supports the radome placed upright above the metal ring, and the fastening device (3) is mounted on the bonding platform (2), is located around the radome and presses against the radome.

2. The bonding method of the radome bonding tool according to claim 1, characterized in that: The fastening device (3) comprises a bolt (31) and a pressure plate (32), wherein the bolt (31) is inserted through the pressure plate (32), the lower end of the bolt (31) is threadedly connected to the working surface of the bonding platform (2), the bolt head on the bolt (31) is located above the pressure plate (32), and one end of the pressure plate (32) is pressed against the antenna cover by an inclined surface.

3. The bonding method of the radome bonding tool according to claim 1, characterized in that: The lifting device (4) further includes a vacuum pump (42), a pneumatic switch (43), a cylinder (44), and an oil-water separator (45). The pneumatic switch (43) is respectively connected to two of the oil-water separators (45) and one of the cylinders (44) by air pipelines, and one of the oil-water separators (45) is connected to the vacuum pump (42). The top column (41) is connected to the cylinder (44), and the cylinder (44) drives the top column (41) to lift.

4. The bonding method of the radome bonding tool according to claim 1, characterized in that: The lifting device (4) further comprises a screw rod (46) and a rotating disk (47); the screw rod (46) is passed through the base (1); the top column (41) is connected to the upper end of the screw rod (46); the rotating disk (47) is connected to the lower end of the screw rod (46); and the screw rod (46) drives the top column (41) to lift.

5. The bonding method of the radome bonding tool according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that: The lifting device (4) further comprises a load-balancing plate (48), the top column (41) being mounted on the load-balancing plate (48), and the load-balancing plate (48) being driven to lift the top column (41).

6. The bonding method of the radome bonding tool according to claim 1, characterized in that: The top column (41) supports the bottom surface of the antenna cover.

7. The bonding method of the radome bonding tool according to claim 1, characterized in that: The standard for compacting the radome is that the gap between the bottom of the radome and the working surface of the bonding platform is no greater than 0.02 mm.

8. The bonding method of the radome bonding tool according to claim 1, characterized in that: The preheating temperature is 40-60°C, and the preheating time is 2-4 hours; the curing temperature is 80-100°C, and the curing time is 5-6 hours.

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