Abstract: A sandwich structure including a core having opposing top and bottom surfaces, a plurality of discrete pins disposed through the core and extending beyond the top and bottom surfaces of the core, a face sheet on the top core surface, and a face sheet on the bottom core surface. The ends of each pin are bent over and lie between the respective core surfaces and the face sheets to secure the face sheets to the core, improve the strength of the core, and to provide a physical connection between the two face sheets. Also disclosed is a reinforced core for a sandwich structure which does not yet have the face sheets assembled to it. Also disclosed is a method of making such a reinforced core and completed sandwich structures including such a core.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 20, 1998
Date of Patent:
September 18, 2001
Assignee:
Aztex, Inc.
Inventors:
Edward Kunkel, Eric Blaney, Constance Magee, David Rich
Abstract: A method of making a perforated laminate wherein a pliable perforation device having plurality of holes and plurality of perforation pins in the holes is assembled on a laminate; the pins are driven through the uncured laminate to perforate the laminate; the laminate is then staged or cured with pins in place; and the pins are then removed from the cured laminate and pushed back into the perforation device for reuse thereof.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 3, 1999
Date of Patent:
February 20, 2001
Assignee:
Aztex, Inc.
Inventors:
Eric Blaney, Thomas M. Fusco, Glenn A. Freitas, David Rich
Abstract: An ultrasonic fastening system wherein an ultrasonic transducer is used to insert a plurality of fasteners supported by a compressible member into two components to be joined or a single composite part to be reinforced.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 26, 1996
Date of Patent:
September 1, 1998
Assignee:
Aztex, Inc.
Inventors:
Joseph S. Boyce, Glenn A. Freitas, Constance L. Magee, Thomas M. Fusco, John J. Harris, Edward Kunkel