Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation

Other

Thomas J Ambrose

Carl Andrew Reis

Nicholas T Castellucci

Chandrakant Himatlal Shah

Brian J Hill

Ernie G Ozawa

There is provided a pressure bonding system for applying pressure onto at least one tile of a workpiece. This system comprises upper and lower gripper members each having first and second gripper ends. The second gripper ends are connected to each other. The first gripper ends are movable relative to each other to receive the workpiece therebetween. Moreover, an upper pressure applicator assembly is slidably engaged to the upper gripper member. The upper pressure applicator assembly is slidable along the upper gripper member between the first and second ends along a length of the workpiece. The workpiece is placed between the upper and lower gripper members with an edge thereof being adjacent the second gripper ends. The upper pressure applicator applies pressure to the tile(s) upon relative movement of the first ends towards the workpiece to a position adjacent the tile(s).

Positive pressure hot bonder

Ultrasonic horn for insertion of z-direction composite rods

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a pressure applicator device for applying pressure to a repair patch of a repair surface. The pressure applicator device is provided with a generally annular suction member for providing suction attachment to the repair composite surface about the repair patch. The pressure applicator device is further provided with a cover member which is disposable above and across the suction member. The cover member is attached to the suction member. The pressure applicator device is further provided with a flexible pressure bladder formed of a generally fluid tight elastic material which is disposed beneath the cover member and interior to the suction member. The pressure bladder defines upper and lower chambers. The upper chamber is disposed between the cover member and the pressure bladder. The lower chamber is disposable between the pressure bladder and the repair surface. The pressure bladder is sized and configured to apply pressure to the repair patch upon fluid evacuation of the lower chamber.

Repair pressure applicator

A gap filler device applicable to a gap formed between side walls of adjacent panels comprises an elongated horizontal portion extending across the gap and a vertical portion extending into the gap. The vertical portion includes a pair of opposed, spaced apart, planar bearing surface members biased into frictional engagement with the side walls of the gap to resist removal of the gap filler device. The vertical portion has descending legs extending from opposed sides of the horizontal portion to a bight. Ascending legs extend from the bight to terminal ends. Slots are formed in the vertical portion and extend upwardly from the bight at spaced locations along the length of the legs. In one embodiment, a plurality of outwardly projecting spike members are formed on the bearing surface members for engagement with the side walls of the gap. In another embodiment, the adjacent panels define a gap with opposed overhangs and the terminal ends of the ascending legs are engageable with the overhangs when the vertical portion is inserted into the gap thereby preventing removal of the gap filler device from the gap. In another embodiment, the head member is of ceramic material and has a longitudinally extending slot therein and an elongated retainer member is engageably receivable in the longitudinal slot and the retainer member is fixed to the horizontal portion to thereby prevent its removal. In another embodiment relating to aircraft usage, the head member has opposed longitudinally extending edges contoured to minimize detection by radar.

Gap filler device

Growing community of inventors

Los Angeles, CA, United States of America

Thomas J Ambrose