The Boeing Company

Diane L Heidlebaugh

Kari L Stromsland

Daniel James Kovach

Arlene McKeeman Brown

Donald K Dabelstein

John A Ward

Patrice K Ackerman

Michael J Katzer

James K Bogard

Two composite laminates are joined together by a bondline having portions exposed to the ambient environment. The bondline contains scrim having an electrical conductivity and impedance matched to that of the laminates in order to mitigate effects of lightning strikes.

Composite structures having bondlines with matched electrical conductivity

Edge seals for composite structure fuel tanks are disclosed herein. One disclosed apparatus includes a seal covering an exposed edge of a carbon fiber reinforced composite fuel tank, where the seal comprises a layer of dielectric material to insulate carbon fibers at the exposed edge from fuel in the tank.

Edge seals for composite structure fuel tanks

The cut laminate edges of aircraft fuel tanks formed of carbon fiber reinforced polymers are sealed to prevent the exposure of carbon fibers to combustible fuel. The edge seal is produced from a prepreg form using a thermosetting resin matched to the characteristics of the resin used in the laminate. The prepreg form can be applied to the cut laminate edges either before or after the laminate is cured. The edge seal acts as a dielectric layer that both electrically insulates the cut laminate edges from the fuel and mechanically contains energetic particles produced at the edges due to lightning strikes or other sources of electrical charges.

An apparatus and method for current protection from lightning strikes is provided. An apparatus for current protection comprises an electrically conductive strip affixed to a surface, such as a structural panel, and electrically bonded to a system current return strip to conduct electricity between the electrically conductive strip and a current return location.

Method and system for lightning current conduction protection using foil bonded strips

A method and apparatus for testing arcing and/or sparking of a fastener installed in a carbon fiber composite (CFC) panel. The fasteners are installed in a test panel which is attached to a light-tight enclosure including a camera. Current is injected to the fasteners through current injection tabs attached to each of the fasteners from the outside of the enclosure. As the current level injected from a current source is varied, the camera records images of the manner in which electrical arcing and/or sparking occurs between the fastener and the test panel.

Growing community of inventors

Kenmore, WA, United States of America

Diane L Heidlebaugh