US4056878A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of fixing a sandwich panel to a support
Assignee: Novartis AG
•
Filing: 1976-12-29
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Granted: 1977-11-08
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Expires: 1996-12-29
Abstract
Abstract Sandwich panels, especially load-bearing panels such as aircraft floors, are fixed to support members by means of ferrules having an aperture sufficient to allow the passage of the shank, but not the head, of a bolt, by a method in which The ferrule is inserted into a hole extending the thickness of the panel so that the body of the ferrule lies within the sandwich panel and the flange contacts a skin of the panel, The flange is bonded to the skin which it contacts, usually by means of a thermosetting or thermoplastic adhesive, The panel is placed against the support member in the desired location with the face of the panel carrying the flange of the ferrule in contact with the support member, and The bolt is passed through the ferrule and screwed to the support member. This method allows shorter bolts to be used than was previously possible, resulting in a saving in weight.
Inventors
- 👤 George Edward Woodley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 13:41
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16B; F16B5/00; F16B5/01; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S411/00; Y10S411/955; Y10S411/965; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49826; Y10T29/49947; Y10T29/49963; Y10T29/49966; Y10T29/49968
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
233 words
A method of fixing a sandwich panel having two spaced opposed skins and a core joining said skins to a support member, comprising: inserting into a hole in one skin of said panel a cylindrical body portion of a ferrule having a hollow cylindrical body portion with an exterior flange on one end thereof and a seat within said cylindrical body portion at the same end as said exterior flange and said seat having an aperture therein of a size sufficient to pass the shank of a fastening element having a shank with a head thereon, the inserting of said ferrule being continued until said flange is against the outside of said one skin; bonding said flange to the outside of said one skin; placing the sandwich panel against the support member in the desired position with the skin of the panel having the flange of the ferrule bonded thereto against the support member; and passing the shank of a headed fastening element having a shank with a head thereon through said aperture in said seat from inside said cylindrical body portion and into said support member until said head is against said seat and securing said shank to said support member; whereby there can be used a fastening element which has a shank which is only long enough to extend through said seat and to the desired depth into said support member.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
233 words
A method of fixing a sandwich panel having two spaced opposed skins and a core joining said skins to a support member, comprising: inserting into a hole in one skin of said panel a cylindrical body portion of a ferrule having a hollow cylindrical body portion with an exterior flange on one end thereof and a seat within said cylindrical body portion at the same end as said exterior flange and said seat having an aperture therein of a size sufficient to pass the shank of a fastening element having a shank with a head thereon, the inserting of said ferrule being continued until said flange is against the outside of said one skin; bonding said flange to the outside of said one skin; placing the sandwich panel against the support member in the desired position with the skin of the panel having the flange of the ferrule bonded thereto against the support member; and passing the shank of a headed fastening element having a shank with a head thereon through said aperture in said seat from inside said cylindrical body portion and into said support member until said head is against said seat and securing said shank to said support member; whereby there can be used a fastening element which has a shank which is only long enough to extend through said seat and to the desired depth into said support member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
67 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 in which the step of passing the shank through the aperture in said seat from inside the cylindrical body portion comprises passing the fastening element shank first into the cylindrical body portion through a hole in the other skin of said panel member which is aligned with said cylindrical body portion, and subsequently plugging said hole in the other skin.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1 in which the ferrule is of metal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 3 in which the ferrule is of aluminum alloy.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 in which the flange of the ferrule is bonded to the skin of the sandwich panel by means of a thermosetting adhesive.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1, in which the flange of the ferrule is bonded to the skin of the sandwich panel by means of a thermoplastic adhesive.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1, in which the sandwich panel is an aircraft floor panel and the support is an airframe member.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-11-07 | 1981-05-09 | 1981-11-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-11-07 | 1985-05-09 | 1985-11-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-11-07 | 1989-05-09 | 1989-11-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |