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.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 10, 2017
Filed:
Sep. 02, 2015
Eric G. Barnes, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA (US);
Sung S. Park, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA (US);
Pedro A. Gonzalez, El Sugundo, CA (US);
Anthony Tamayo, Hawthorne, CA (US);
Todd Lewis Szallay, Long Beach, CA (US);
Eric G. Barnes, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA (US);
Sung S. Park, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA (US);
Pedro A. Gonzalez, El Sugundo, CA (US);
Anthony Tamayo, Hawthorne, CA (US);
Todd Lewis Szallay, Long Beach, CA (US);
Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation, Falls Church, VA (US);
Abstract
A system is described for reinforcing a thermoplastic workpiece including a subject surface and an underlying workpiece body volume. At least one substantially linear Z-pin having proximal and distal pin ends longitudinally separated by a pin body is provided. The proximal pin end is in direct contact with the subject surface. An ultrasonic energy source applies ultrasonic energy to the Z-pin to ultrasonically heat the Z-pin and thus locally melt the workpiece material of the subject surface and/or the workpiece body to create a melted workpiece material. The proximal pin end and at least a portion of the pin body of the Z-pin are penetrated into the melted workpiece material to create an inserted Z-pin length. The inserted Z-pin length is maintained in the workpiece body volume by solidified melted workpiece material around the inserted Z-pin length to reinforce the workpiece. A method of reinforcing a workpiece is also provided.