Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
172 words
A method of fabricating a truss core sandwich panel of the type including first and second face sheets secured on opposite sides of a corrugated sheet, comprising the steps of: (a) welding said first face sheet to one side of said corrugated sheet; (b) positioning said second face sheet in contact with the other side of said corrugated sheet; (c) positioning a conductive mandrel between said first face sheet and said corrugated sheet, the height of said mandrel being less than the distance between said first face sheet and said corrugated sheet by a given amount; (d) applying a force to said first and second face sheets to deflect said first face sheet so that opposite sides of said mandrel are in contact with said first face sheet and said corrugated sheet, said given amount being such that said deflection of said first face sheet will not exceed the yield point of said first face sheet; (e) welding said second face sheet to said corrugated sheet; and (f) releasing said welding force.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
172 words
A method of fabricating a truss core sandwich panel of the type including first and second face sheets secured on opposite sides of a corrugated sheet, comprising the steps of: (a) welding said first face sheet to one side of said corrugated sheet; (b) positioning said second face sheet in contact with the other side of said corrugated sheet; (c) positioning a conductive mandrel between said first face sheet and said corrugated sheet, the height of said mandrel being less than the distance between said first face sheet and said corrugated sheet by a given amount; (d) applying a force to said first and second face sheets to deflect said first face sheet so that opposite sides of said mandrel are in contact with said first face sheet and said corrugated sheet, said given amount being such that said deflection of said first face sheet will not exceed the yield point of said first face sheet; (e) welding said second face sheet to said corrugated sheet; and (f) releasing said welding force.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method of fabricating a truss core sandwich panel according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of: (g) changing the position of said mandrel relative to said first face sheet and said corrugated sheet; and (h) repeating steps (d), (e) and (f).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method of fabricating a truss core sandwich panel according to claim 2, wherein the length of said mandrel is significantly less than the length of the corrugations.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method of fabricating a truss core sandwich panel according to claim 3, wherein the mandrel is moved along the panel in the direction of a corrugation with said force periodically applied and released, to weld said second face sheet to said corrugated sheet.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method of fabricating a truss core sandwich panel according to claim 1, 2, 3, or 4, wherein said force is applied to said first and second face sheets by means of welding electrodes.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
196 words
A method of fabricating a truss core sandwich panel of the type including first and second face sheets secured on opposite sides of a corrugated sheet, comprising the steps of: (a) welding said first face sheet to one side of said corrugated sheet; (b) positioning said second face sheet in contact with the other side of said corrugated sheet; (c) positioning a conductive mandrel between said first face sheet and said corrugated sheet, the height of said mandrel being less than the distance between said first and second face sheets, less the thickness of said corrugated sheet, by a predetermined amount; (d) positioning said first and second face sheets between opposed welding electrodes, said mandrel being coplanar with said electrodes; (e) applying a welding force to said first and second face sheets by means of said electrodes, said force being sufficient to elastically deflect said first face sheet into contact with said mandrel and to bring said mandrel into contact with said corrugated sheet to permit electrical continuity between said electrodes; (f) passing current between said first and second electrodes to weld said second face sheet to said corrugated sheet; and (g) releasing said welding force.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
196 words
A method of fabricating a truss core sandwich panel of the type including first and second face sheets secured on opposite sides of a corrugated sheet, comprising the steps of: (a) welding said first face sheet to one side of said corrugated sheet; (b) positioning said second face sheet in contact with the other side of said corrugated sheet; (c) positioning a conductive mandrel between said first face sheet and said corrugated sheet, the height of said mandrel being less than the distance between said first and second face sheets, less the thickness of said corrugated sheet, by a predetermined amount; (d) positioning said first and second face sheets between opposed welding electrodes, said mandrel being coplanar with said electrodes; (e) applying a welding force to said first and second face sheets by means of said electrodes, said force being sufficient to elastically deflect said first face sheet into contact with said mandrel and to bring said mandrel into contact with said corrugated sheet to permit electrical continuity between said electrodes; (f) passing current between said first and second electrodes to weld said second face sheet to said corrugated sheet; and (g) releasing said welding force.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method of fabricating a truss core sandwich panel according to claim 6, further comprising the steps of: (h) changing the relative positions of said mandrel and said first face sheet and said corrugated sheet; and (i) repeating steps (e), (f), and (g).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method of fabricating a truss core sandwich panel according to claim 7, wherein the length of said mandrel is significantly less than the length of the corrugations.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method of fabricating a truss core sandwich panel according to claim 8, wherein the mandrel is moved along the panel in the direction of a corrugation with said welding force periodically applied and released, to weld said second face sheet to said corrugated sheet.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
172 words
A method of fabricating a truss core sandwich panel of the type including first and second face sheets secured on opposite sides of a corrugated sheet, comprising the steps of: (a) welding said first face sheet to one side of said corrugated sheet; (b) positioning said second face sheet in contact with the other side of said corrugated sheet; (c) calculating the allowable elastic deflection of said first face sheet which will not exceed the yield point thereof; (d) positioning a conductive mandrel between said first face sheet and said corrugated sheet, the height of said mandrel being less than the distance between said first face sheet and said corrugated sheet by said calculated amount of allowable deflection; (e) applying a welding force to said first and second face sheets to elastically deflect said first face sheet so that opposite sides of said mandrel are in contact with said first face sheet and said corrugated sheet; (f) welding said second face sheet to said corrugated sheet; and (g) releasing said welding force.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
172 words
A method of fabricating a truss core sandwich panel of the type including first and second face sheets secured on opposite sides of a corrugated sheet, comprising the steps of: (a) welding said first face sheet to one side of said corrugated sheet; (b) positioning said second face sheet in contact with the other side of said corrugated sheet; (c) calculating the allowable elastic deflection of said first face sheet which will not exceed the yield point thereof; (d) positioning a conductive mandrel between said first face sheet and said corrugated sheet, the height of said mandrel being less than the distance between said first face sheet and said corrugated sheet by said calculated amount of allowable deflection; (e) applying a welding force to said first and second face sheets to elastically deflect said first face sheet so that opposite sides of said mandrel are in contact with said first face sheet and said corrugated sheet; (f) welding said second face sheet to said corrugated sheet; and (g) releasing said welding force.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method of fabricating a truss core sandwich panel according to claim 10, further comprising the steps of: (h) moving said panel relative to said mandrel; and (i) repeating steps (e), (f) and (g).
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method of fabricating a truss core sandwich panel according to claim 11, wherein the length of said mandrel is significantly less than the length of the corrugations.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
54 words
A method of fabricating a truss core sandwich panel according to claim 12, wherein said mandrel is moved relative to said panel from one side of said panel to the other in the direction of a corrugation, with said force periodically applied and released, to weld said second face sheet to said corrugated sheet.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method of fabricating a truss core sandwich panel according to claim 10, 11, 12, or 13, wherein said force is applied to said first and second face sheets by means of welding electrodes.