General Electric Company

Philip Robert Griggs

Larry Dean Cline

Chen-Yu J Chou

In combination, a gas turbine engine component having a centerline and a partial flange for connecting the component to the gas turbine engine extending only partially around the centerline and terminating in spaced apart ends of the flange, and a support element releasably attachable to the flange and extending between the ends of the flange for bridging the ends of the flange to prevent the ends from puncturing a vacuum bag when installed around the flange and to prevent the vacuum bag from distorting the component.

Method and apparatus for vacuum bagging a component having a partial flange

A method for repairing a discrete damaged portion of an article surface, for example of a laminated composite material, includes applying an uncured repair material at the damaged portion and then subjecting the repair material and the discrete damaged portion to a vacuum to remove air entrapped in the repair material and the discrete damaged portion. One form of the invention uses a vacuum tool comprising an outer wall including an opening there through having a peripheral edge shaped to conform generally with a portion of the article surface about the damaged portion, and gas evacuation means. The tool is combined with a releasable gas seal generally shaped to interface between the peripheral edge and the article surface and release from the article surface.

Method and apparatus for repairing a discrete damaged portion of an article surface

A method for repairing a discrete damaged part of a strip bonded to an article surface includes applying a first removable masking member along and adjacent the damaged part of the strip and separated from the strip by a gap of at least 0.005&Prime;, and applying a second removable masking member to the outer surface of the strip. A repair adhesive, which can be cured at a curing temperature less than a higher temperature which can result in damage to properties of the article or a surface coating, is applied at and beneath an edge of the damaged part of the strip. Then the repair adhesive is cured at the curing temperature. Apparatus for bonding a strip to an end portion of the article includes a body having a channel there through defined, in part, by spaced apart support surfaces for article surfaces and positioned relative one to the other at a relative spatial position substantially coinciding with the relative spatial position of the article surfaces. The support surfaces include surface profiles substantially reproducing surface profiles of the article surfaces.

Apparatus for bonding a strip to an article surface

A method for repairing a discrete damaged part of a strip bonded to an article surface includes applying a first removable masking member along and adjacent the damaged part of the strip and separated from the strip by a gap of at least 0.005', and applying a second removable masking member to the outer surface of the strip. A repair adhesive, which can be cured at a curing temperature less than a higher temperature which can result in damage to properties of the article or a surface coating, is applied at and beneath an edge of the damaged part of the strip. Then the repair adhesive is cured at the curing temperature. Apparatus for bonding a strip to an end portion of the article includes a body having a channel there through defined, in part, by spaced apart support surfaces for article surfaces and positioned relative one to the other at a relative spatial position substantially coinciding with the relative spatial position of the article surfaces. The support surfaces include surface profiles substantially reproducing surface profiles of the article surfaces.

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Cincinnati, OH, United States of America

Philip Robert Griggs