Canopy Rail Bonding Gaps Set by Blind-Hole Spacers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional methods for bonding an aircraft canopy to a canopy rail are time-consuming and result in discontinuous forces, with bonding agents requiring a minimum gap for effective adhesion, which can complicate the process.
Innovation Solution
A method and system utilizing spacers with stems and perpendicular top portions positioned in blind holes of the rail, allowing the structural component to rest on these spacers, creating defined gaps for bonding agent injection to ensure a uniform bond between the structural component and the rail.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a bonding agent is used to bond the canopy to the canopy rail, then the assembly time is reduced and continuous forces are applied, but a minimum gap is required between the canopy and the rail surfaces which complicates the bonding process
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces spacers as intermediary elements positioned between the canopy and the rail. These spacers have stems that fit into blind holes in the rail and top portions that contact the canopy, creating the necessary gaps for bonding agent flow. This intermediary structure simplifies the bonding process by automatically establishing the required gap geometry without complex positioning procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The spacers are pre-positioned in the blind holes of the rail before the bonding process begins. This preliminary action establishes the gap geometry in advance, allowing the bonding agent to be applied uniformly without requiring complex real-time adjustments during the bonding operation.
2Strength
If nuts, bolts, and sealers are drilled into the canopy and rail, then the canopy is securely attached, but the process is time consuming and results in discontinuous forces applied to the canopy assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical fastening system (nuts, bolts, and sealers requiring drilling and assembly) with a bonding agent system. The spacers facilitate this substitution by creating the necessary geometry for bonding agent application, eliminating the need for multiple mechanical components and drilling operations while maintaining attachment strength through continuous bonding.
3Ease of manufacture
If multiple drilled holes are made for nuts and bolts, then the canopy can be attached to the rail, but the process becomes complex and time consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex multi-step drilling and fastening process, replacing it with a simplified spacer-based bonding system. The spacers pre-establish the necessary geometry, allowing the bonding agent to be applied in a single operation rather than requiring multiple drilling, fastening, and sealing steps.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a method for bonding a structural component to a rail. The method includes (a) positioning a bonding agent in a plurality of blind holes defined in a bottom surface of the rail, (b) positioning a spacer in each of the plurality of blind holes, (c) positioning the structural component into the channel such that the structural component rests on each spacer, wherein a first gap is defined between the structural component and the bottom surface of the rail, a second gap is defined between the structural component and a first sidewall of the rail, and a third gap is defined between the structural component and a second sidewall of the rail, and (d) injecting the bonding agent into the channel such that each of the first gap, the second gap, and the third gap includes the bonding agent.