Structural joint

Abstract

Abstract A method and apparatus for forming a structural joint connecting adjacent panel members. The invention is especially adapted to use with plastic materials, particularly methyl mathacrylates. The joined panel members may be within a common plane or may lie in planes oriented at angles with respect to each other. Adjacent edges of the members being joined are machined to provide adjacent surfaces defining a mold which is filled with a liquid form of the same material comprising the panels being connected by the joint. Panel edge surfaces which are machined to define the mold into which the bonding material is injected are formed by converging edge surfaces aligned at a relatively steep angle across the bottom of the mold space defined by the edge surfaces to permit ready access for injection of the bonding material. The adjacent panel edge surfaces defining the central and outer portions of the mold space are substantially parallel to each other to provide a minimum volume of the required bonding material. The panels being joined are rigidly supported together at the desired angle so that the bonding material may be introduced into the mold space defined by the machined panel edge surfaces. The liquid bonding material including a catalyst is injected with a hypodermic needle in one or more stages as required depending upon the volume of the material to be introduced. When the material is properly set and cured, the corner formed by the molded joint is cleaned and machined along the outer connecting surfaces providing a joint which is almost visually undetectable so that at most angles the panels appear to be integral.

Inventors

• 👤 Wilson M Jones

Bibliographic Details