The Boeing Company

Gary D Benham

John Christopher Wilde

Xiaoxi Wang

Jason W Drexler

Glenn A Geithman

Babak Sayyadi

Aaron Coon

Michael J Badgley

Duncan P Mackinnon

Emily Przybelinski

Robert T Yankis

Methods and apparatus to couple a decorative layer to a core layer of a panel via a barrier layer are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a decorative layer coupled to a panel. The panel has a core layer. The example apparatus includes a barrier layer disposed between the core layer and the decorative layer. The barrier layer is to impede at least one of gas or vapor from escaping from the core layer to the decorative layer to deter the at least one of gas or vapor from exerting a pressure on the decorative layer to deter a portion of the decorative layer from separating from the panel.

Panels having barrier layers and related methods

Methods and apparatus to couple a decorative layer to a panel via a high-bond adhesive layer are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a panel, a high-bond adhesive layer fixed to the panel, a liner fixed to the high-bond adhesive layer that is fixed to the panel, and a first decorative layer removably coupled to the liner that is fixed to the high-bond adhesive layer via a second adhesive layer. The high-bond adhesive layer is to impede at least one of gas or vapor from escaping the panel to deter the at least one of gas or vapor from exerting a pressure on the first decorative layer to deter a portion of the first decorative layer from separating from the panel.

Methods and apparatus to couple a decorative layer to a panel via a high-bond adhesive layer

A high-quality, fire-resistant, decorative finish for panels made of composite material, such as aircraft interior panels. Starting with a flat or complex contoured panel, a flame-retardant filler primer is applied to the panel surface. This filler primer is then sanded to a very smooth solid surface. In a separate process, a polymeric film is printed with a desired pattern or image. The polymeric film is then bonded to the primed panel surface using an adhesive. The non-printed side of the polymeric film is bonded to the panel. A thin highly durable polymeric coating (clear or tinted) is then applied to the exposed printed side.

High-quality flame-retardant decorative finish for interior panels

An apparatus for adhering coupons together for adhesive shear testing may include a first member, a second member, at least one alignment device, and at least one separation device. The first member may have at least one first member cavity for holding at least one first member coupon. The second member may have at least one second member cavity for holding an overlapping area of at least one second member coupon adjacent to and separate from the at least one first member coupon. The overlapping area of the at least one second member coupon may be adhered to the at least one first member coupon. The at least one alignment device may control a size of the overlapping area. The at least one separation device may control a separation distance between the overlapping area of the at least one second member coupon and the at least one first member coupon.

Apparatus and method for fabricating shear test coupons

A fiber optic cable extends into the housing of an induction heater and has a sensing end positioned to confront a part being heated. Infrared radiation from the part is transmitted by the cable to a transducer. The transducer converts the infrared energy into an electrical signal that is used by a control circuit to control the heating operation. The control circuit has an internal electronic timer that is used in normal operation and to detect certain failure conditions. In normal operation, electromagnetic pulses are provided to the heater at a predetermined power level until the part reaches a predetermined temperature. Then the control circuit adjusts the power level to hold the part at the temperature for a brief holding period. The timer is used by the control circuit to detect failure to reach a desired temperature after a maximum delay and to detect dropping of the temperature below a minimum level during the holding period. The control circuit also detects overheating of the workpiece. The control circuit adjusts and terminates the power level through a silicon controlled rectifier which receives a pulse train from the control circuit.

Growing community of inventors

Snohomish, WA, United States of America

Gary D Benham