Acoustic Panel Channel Diffusion Welding

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing acoustic treatment panels for aircraft nacelles face inefficiencies due to large perforations from superposing sheets and complex-shaped ducts, which hinder acoustic treatment and frost defrosting performance, and require lengthy installation processes for channel strips.

Innovation Solution

A method involving raising the temperature of the honeycomb structure's walls and injecting a pressurized gas into channels to expand and weld the channel walls against the honeycomb structure's ends, ensuring a continuous diffusion weld and simplified assembly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If two sheets are superposed and perforated to form channels, then the assembly mode is simplified, but the perforations have relatively large length which impacts acoustic treatment efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly modeVSAvoidacoustic treatment efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention divides the channel-forming structure into separate components: individual strips delimiting channels are detached from each other, allowing independent positioning and sealing to the acoustically resistive layer. This segmentation enables precise control of perforation length and positioning, resolving the contradiction between simplified assembly and acoustic treatment efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Manufacturing precision

If strips of material are used to form channels individually, then acoustic treatment efficiency is maintained, but the installation process becomes relatively long to achieve

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveacoustic treatment efficiencyVSAvoidinstallation time

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies sealing means at the edges of strips before the final assembly operation. By pre-positioning the sealing means and preparing the strips in advance, the actual installation process is accelerated while maintaining the precision benefits of individual strip placement for acoustic treatment efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If ducts of honeycomb structure have complex shapes, then they can accommodate channel configurations, but it is relatively difficult to weld the ends of ducts with non-flat surfaces

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvechannel configurationVSAvoidwelding difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention introduces sealing means as an intermediary element between the complex-shaped ducts and channel walls. This sealing means facilitates the connection process by providing a standardized sealing interface that accommodates the complex geometries while simplifying the welding operation, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and manufacturing ease.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This method enhances acoustic treatment efficiency, reduces frost accumulation, and simplifies the assembly process by achieving a strong, leak-proof seal between the honeycomb structure and the acoustic panel, improving both acoustic and frost treatment performance.

Implementation Method 1

injecting a pressurized gas into the channel in order to expand the wall of the channel

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure: Pressure Increase

Implementation Method 2

raising the temperature of the wall and of the ends of the cells of the alveolar structure

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal expansion: Thermal Expansion

Implementation Method 3

obtain a weld by continuous diffusion between the ends of the walls of the cells of the honeycomb structure and the wall of the channel

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDiffusion welding: Diffusion Welding

Data Source

PatentEP2537754B1Method for producing an acoustic treatment panel including channels adjacent to a cellular structure

Publication Date: 2015.06.10 AIRBUS OPERATIONS (SAS)

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Figure 3A~3D
Figure 4A~5B

AI summary

The object of the invention is a method for making a panel for acoustic treatment comprising an acoustically resistive layer (24), at least one honeycomb structure (26) and a reflective layer (28), as well as at least one channel delimited at least in part by a wall (32) intersecting with at least one wall of a cell of the honeycomb structure (26), characterized in that it consists of raising the temperature of the wall (32) and of the ends of the cells of the honeycomb structure (26) and of injecting a gas under pressure into the channel (30) in order to expand the wall (32) of the channel in order to press it against the ends of the cells of the honeycomb structure (26) so as to obtain a continuous diffusion weld between the ends of the walls of the cells of the honeycomb structure (26) and the wall (32) of the channel (30).