The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.

The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.

Date of Patent:
Jan. 14, 2025

Filed:

Feb. 01, 2022
Applicant:

Spirit Aerosystems, Inc., Wichita, KS (US);

Inventors:

Mark Wadsworth, Sedan, KS (US);

Kerrick Robert Dando, Wichita, KS (US);

Rahbar Nasserrafi, Andover, KS (US);

Assignee:

Spirit AeroSystems, Inc., Wichita, KS (US);

Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
B29C 65/20 (2006.01); B29C 65/00 (2006.01); B29C 65/30 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
B29C 65/2053 (2013.01); B29C 65/30 (2013.01); B29C 66/43 (2013.01); B29C 66/721 (2013.01); B29C 66/91231 (2013.01);
Abstract

A system and method for welding thermoplastic components by positioning and moving a heated plate between the components to melt their respective faying surfaces, and as the plate moves, pressing the components together so that the melted faying surfaces bond together as they cool and re-solidify, thereby creating a composite structure. The plate has a heated portion which is positioned between and heated to melt a portion of the first and second faying surfaces. A manipulator mechanism moves the plate along an interface from between the portion to between a series of subsequent portions of the first and second faying surfaces, thereby welding the thermoplastic components along the entire interface to create the composite structure. An injection device may also move behind the plate and reciprocally inject a polymer between the first and second faying surfaces to provide toughness and crack arresting properties.


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