US5518796A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Near-surface enhancement of honeycomb sandwich structures to improve durability using a foaming fiber-filled adhesive
Assignee: Hexcel Corp
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Filing: 1995-05-05
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Granted: 1996-05-21
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Expires: 2015-05-05
Abstract
Abstract A honeycomb sandwich panel modified by the controlled incursion of a foaming fiber-filled adhesive into the upper region of the honeycomb provides a panel having increased durability when the upper surface is subjected to localized compressive loads.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas K. Tsotsis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 14:48
CPC Classifications
B; B32; B32B; B32B3/00; B32B3/10; B32B3/12; B32B15/00; B32B15/04; B32B15/043; B32B15/08; B32B15/12; B32B15/20; B32B27/00; B32B27/06; B32B27/08; B32B27/10; B32B27/28; B32B27/281; B32B27/285; B32B27/286; B32B27/34; B32B27/36; B32B27/365; B32B27/38; B32B27/42; B32B7/00; B32B7/04; B32B7/12; E; E04; E04C; E04C2/00; E04C2/30; E04C2/34; E04C2/36; E04C2/365; B32B2305/00; B32B2305/02; B32B2305/024; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/24; Y10T428/24149; Y10T428/24157; Y10T428/24165
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
110 words
A modified honeycomb sandwich panel having upper surface enhancement for improved resistance to localized compressive loads which comprises a honeycomb core sheet having a multiplicity of cells, said cells directed traverse to said panel; a bottom skin adhered to the lower surface of the honeycomb with an adhesive; and a top skin adhered to the upper surface of the honeycomb core sheet with a foaming adhesive which partially penetrates into the upper region of the honeycomb core as the adhesive cures thus increasing the density of said core in said region and concomitantly enhancing the upper surface of the panel, said foaming adhesive being filled with chopped or milled fibers.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
110 words
A modified honeycomb sandwich panel having upper surface enhancement for improved resistance to localized compressive loads which comprises a honeycomb core sheet having a multiplicity of cells, said cells directed traverse to said panel; a bottom skin adhered to the lower surface of the honeycomb with an adhesive; and a top skin adhered to the upper surface of the honeycomb core sheet with a foaming adhesive which partially penetrates into the upper region of the honeycomb core as the adhesive cures thus increasing the density of said core in said region and concomitantly enhancing the upper surface of the panel, said foaming adhesive being filled with chopped or milled fibers.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
A panel according to claim 1 wherein the bottom skin is adhered to the lower surface of the honeycomb with a non-foaming adhesive which does not penetrate into the honeycomb structure.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
A panel according to claim 2 wherein the non-foaming adhesive is a thermoset resin.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
A panel according to claim 3 wherein the non-foaming adhesive is an epoxy resin, a phenolic resin or a polyimide resin.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
A panel according to claim 2 wherein the non-foaming adhesive is thermoplastic resin.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
A panel according to claim 1 wherein the honeycomb core sheets are selected from the group consisting of an inorganic paper, a formable plastic, a thermoplastic fiber paper and a metal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
A panel according to claim 6 wherein the honeycomb core sheets are selected from the group consisting of a thermoplastic fiber paper and aluminum.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
A panel according to claim 6 wherein the honeycomb core sheet is an aramid fiber paper.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
11 words
A panel according to claim 6 wherein the metal is aluminum.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
A panel according to claim 1 wherein the honeycomb core sheet has a mass density between 1 lb/ft 3 and 55 lb/ft 3 .
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
A panel according to claim 1 wherein the honeycomb core sheet has a mass density between 3 lb/ft 3 and 11.5 lb/ft 3 .
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
A panel according to claim 1 wherein the honeycomb core sheet has a mass density between 4 lb/ft 3 and 6 lb/ft 3 .
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
A panel according to claim 1 wherein the foaming adhesive is a thermoset resin.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
A panel according to claim 13 wherein the foaming adhesive is an epoxy resin, a phenolic resin or a polyimide resin.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
A panel according to claim 1 wherein the foaming adhesive is thermoplastic resin.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
A panel according to claim 1 wherein the foaming adhesive if filled with glass fibers.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
A panel according to claim 1 wherein the foaming adhesive is filled with carbon fibers.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
A panel according to claim 1 wherein the top skin and the bottom skin are composed of the same material.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
A panel according to claim 1 wherein the top skin and the bottom skin are composed of the same material and are a fiber reinforced resin.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
18 words
A panel according to claim 19 wherein the fiber reinforced resin is a glass- or graphite-reinforced thermoset resin.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
A panel according to claim 20 wherein the thermoset resin is an epoxy, phenolic, polyester or polyimide resin.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
A panel according to claim 19 wherein the fiber reinforced resin is a glass- or graphite-reinforced thermoplastic resin.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
24 words
A panel according to claim 22 wherein the thermoplastic resin is a polycarbonate, polyetherimide, polyetherketone, polysulfone, polyester, poly(arylene sulfide), polyamide or polyphenylene oxide resin.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
24 words
A panel according to claim 1 wherein the top skin and the bottom skin are composed of the same material and are a metal.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
11 words
A panel according to claim 24 wherein the metal is aluminum.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
19 words
A panel according to claim 1 wherein the top skin and the bottom skin are composed of different materials.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
14 words
A panel according to claim 26 wherein one of the skins is a metal.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
11 words
A panel according to claim 27 wherein the metal is aluminum.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
16 words
A panel according to claim 26 wherein one of the skins is a fiber reinforced resin.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
18 words
A panel according to claim 29 wherein the fiber reinforced resin is a glass- or graphite-reinforced thermoset resin.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
18 words
A panel according to claim 30 wherein the thermoset resin is an epoxy, phenolic, polyester or polyimide resin.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
18 words
A panel according to claim 29 wherein the fiber reinforced resin is a glass- or graphite-reinforced thermoplastic resin.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
24 words
A panel according to claim 32 wherein the thermoplastic resin is a polycarbonate, polyetherimide, polyetherketone, polysulfone, polyester, poly(arylene sulfide), polyamide or polyphenylene oxide resin.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
23 words
A panel according to claim 1 wherein the bottom skin is adhered to the lower surface of the honeycomb with a foaming adhesive.
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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) | 1999-05-21 | 1999-11-20 | 2000-05-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-05-21 | 2003-11-20 | 2004-05-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-05-21 | 2007-11-20 | 2008-05-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |