Method for assembling biaxially oriented polyethylene terephthalate strips

Abstract

A method for assembling a first biaxially oriented polyethylene terephthalate (PET) strip and a second biaxially oriented polyethylene terephthalate (PET) strip for manufacturing an inflatable structure of a deployable kit for capturing space debris, the method comprising the steps of: a) arranging a stack of the first and second strips on a bearing face of an anvil, b) applying a sonotrode to compress said stack between a welding face of the sonotrode and the bearing face of the anvil, c) welding the two strips together by emitting ultrasound through the stack by the sonotrode. Figure 5 is shown for the abstract.

Claims

Claims

1. A method of assembling a first strip (12) of biaxially oriented polyethylene terephthalate and a second strip (14) of biaxially oriented polyethylene terephthalate for manufacturing an inflatable structure (1) of a deployable kit (100) for capturing space debris, the method comprising the steps of: a) arranging a stack of the first strip (12) and the second strip (14) on a bearing face (31) of an anvil (3), b) applying a sonotrode (4) to compress said stack between a welding face (41) of the sonotrode (4) and the bearing face (31) of the anvil (3), c) welding the first and second strips (12, 14) by emitting ultrasound through the stack by the sonotrode (14).

2. Method according to claim 1, in which the welding is carried out by carrying out a relative movement between the sonotrode (4) and the stack.

3. Method according to any one of claims 1 and 2, in which the first strip (12) and the second strip (14) are deformed simultaneously with welding so as to create a mechanical anchoring of the first strip (12) in the second strip (14).

4. A method according to any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the welding is carried out substantially without mechanical deformation of the first strip (12) and the second strip (14).

5. Method according to claim 4, comprising a step al) prior to step b) of arranging a filler material (8) between the first strip (12) and the second strip (14), said filler material (8) melting at least partially during welding.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein the filler material (8) is linear polyester, preferably polyethylene terephthalate and even more preferably biaxially oriented polyethylene terephthalate.

7. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the first strip (12) and the second strip (14) are portions of different biaxially oriented polyethylene terephthalate sheets.

8. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the first strip (12) and the second strip (14) are parts of the same sheet of biaxially oriented polyethylene terephthalate.

9. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the Ultrasound is emitted at a frequency between 25 kHz and 40 kHz.

10. A method of manufacturing an inflatable structure (1) of a deployable kit (100) for capturing space debris comprising the steps of: i) assembling a first strip (12) of biaxially oriented polyethylene terephthalate and a second strip (14) of biaxially oriented polyethylene terephthalate by implementing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 9 so as to form an assembly (7) of biaxially oriented polyethylene terephthalate, ii) winding the assembly (7) produced in step i) so as to cover a first edge (71) of the assembly (7) with a second edge (72) of the assembly (7) so as to form a tube, iii) assembling the first edge (71) and the second edge (72) by implementing the method according to one of claims 1 to 9.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the weld made in step i) is a shear weld and the weld made in step iii) is a peel or shear weld.

12. System (6) for implementing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 11, comprising: - an ultrasonic generator (5), - a sonotrode (4) adapted to emit the ultrasound generated by the generator (5) from a welding face (41), - an anvil (3) having a bearing face (31) arranged opposite the welding face (41) of the sonotrode (4).

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the anvil and the sonotrode take the form of rollers.

14. System (6) according to one of claims 12 or 13, in which the bearing face (31) of the anvil (3) and / or the welding face (41) of the sonotrode (4) have hollow zones and protruding zones.

15. System according to one of claims 12 or 13, in which the bearing face (31) of the anvil (3) and the welding face (41) of the sonotrode (41) are smooth.

16. Inflatable structure (1) of a deployable kit (100) for capturing space debris comprising a first strip (12) of biaxially oriented polyethylene terephthalate and a second strip (14) of biaxially oriented polyethylene terephthalate assembled by welding, characterized in that the inflatable structure (1) is capable of being inflated up to 2 x 106Pa (20 bars).

17. Inflatable structure (1) according to claim 16, characterized in that said welding is carried out by emitting ultrasound through a stack of said strips (12, 14).

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