Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
  • B29C66/01—General aspects dealing with the joint area or with the area to be joined
  • B29C66/02—Preparation of the material, in the area to be joined, prior to joining or welding
  • B29C66/024—Thermal pre-treatments
  • B29C66/0242—Heating, or preheating, e.g. drying
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C65/00—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor
  • B29C65/56—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor using mechanical means or mechanical connections, e.g. form-fits
  • B29C65/562—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor using mechanical means or mechanical connections, e.g. form-fits using extra joining elements, i.e. which are not integral with the parts to be joined
  • B29C65/564—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor using mechanical means or mechanical connections, e.g. form-fits using extra joining elements, i.e. which are not integral with the parts to be joined hidden in the joint, e.g. dowels or Z-pins
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
  • B29C66/01—General aspects dealing with the joint area or with the area to be joined
  • B29C66/02—Preparation of the material, in the area to be joined, prior to joining or welding
  • B29C66/022—Mechanical pre-treatments, e.g. reshaping
  • B29C66/0224—Mechanical pre-treatments, e.g. reshaping with removal of material
  • B29C66/02241—Cutting, e.g. by using waterjets, or sawing
  • B29C66/02242—Perforating or boring
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
  • B29C66/01—General aspects dealing with the joint area or with the area to be joined
  • B29C66/05—Particular design of joint configurations
  • B29C66/10—Particular design of joint configurations particular design of the joint cross-sections
  • B29C66/11—Joint cross-sections comprising a single joint-segment, i.e. one of the parts to be joined comprising a single joint-segment in the joint cross-section
  • B29C66/112—Single lapped joints
  • B29C66/1122—Single lap to lap joints, i.e. overlap joints
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
  • B29C66/01—General aspects dealing with the joint area or with the area to be joined
  • B29C66/05—Particular design of joint configurations
  • B29C66/20—Particular design of joint configurations particular design of the joint lines, e.g. of the weld lines
  • B29C66/21—Particular design of joint configurations particular design of the joint lines, e.g. of the weld lines said joint lines being formed by a single dot or dash or by several dots or dashes, i.e. spot joining or spot welding
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
  • B29C66/70—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material
  • B29C66/72—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material characterised by the structure of the material of the parts to be joined
  • B29C66/721—Fibre-reinforced materials
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
  • B29C66/70—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material
  • B29C66/72—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material characterised by the structure of the material of the parts to be joined
  • B29C66/721—Fibre-reinforced materials
  • B29C66/7214—Fibre-reinforced materials characterised by the length of the fibres
  • B29C66/72141—Fibres of continuous length
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
  • B29C66/70—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material
  • B29C66/73—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material characterised by the intensive physical properties of the material of the parts to be joined, by the optical properties of the material of the parts to be joined, by the extensive physical properties of the parts to be joined, by the state of the material of the parts to be joined or by the material of the parts to be joined being a thermoplastic or a thermoset
  • B29C66/739—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material characterised by the intensive physical properties of the material of the parts to be joined, by the optical properties of the material of the parts to be joined, by the extensive physical properties of the parts to be joined, by the state of the material of the parts to be joined or by the material of the parts to be joined being a thermoplastic or a thermoset characterised by the material of the parts to be joined being a thermoplastic or a thermoset
  • B29C66/7392—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material characterised by the intensive physical properties of the material of the parts to be joined, by the optical properties of the material of the parts to be joined, by the extensive physical properties of the parts to be joined, by the state of the material of the parts to be joined or by the material of the parts to be joined being a thermoplastic or a thermoset characterised by the material of the parts to be joined being a thermoplastic or a thermoset characterised by the material of at least one of the parts being a thermoplastic
  • B29C66/73921—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material characterised by the intensive physical properties of the material of the parts to be joined, by the optical properties of the material of the parts to be joined, by the extensive physical properties of the parts to be joined, by the state of the material of the parts to be joined or by the material of the parts to be joined being a thermoplastic or a thermoset characterised by the material of the parts to be joined being a thermoplastic or a thermoset characterised by the material of at least one of the parts being a thermoplastic characterised by the materials of both parts being thermoplastics
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
  • B29C66/80—General aspects of machine operations or constructions and parts thereof
  • B29C66/83—General aspects of machine operations or constructions and parts thereof characterised by the movement of the joining or pressing tools
  • B29C66/832—Reciprocating joining or pressing tools
  • B29C66/8322—Joining or pressing tools reciprocating along one axis
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
  • B29C66/80—General aspects of machine operations or constructions and parts thereof
  • B29C66/83—General aspects of machine operations or constructions and parts thereof characterised by the movement of the joining or pressing tools
  • B29C66/836—Moving relative to and tangentially to the parts to be joined, e.g. transversely to the displacement of the parts to be joined, e.g. using a X-Y table
  • B29C66/8362—Rollers, cylinders or drums moving relative to and tangentially to the parts to be joined
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C35/00—Heating, cooling or curing, e.g. crosslinking or vulcanising; Apparatus therefor
  • B29C35/02—Heating or curing, e.g. crosslinking or vulcanizing during moulding, e.g. in a mould
  • B29C35/04—Heating or curing, e.g. crosslinking or vulcanizing during moulding, e.g. in a mould using liquids, gas or steam
  • B29C35/045—Heating or curing, e.g. crosslinking or vulcanizing during moulding, e.g. in a mould using liquids, gas or steam using gas or flames
  • B29C2035/046—Heating or curing, e.g. crosslinking or vulcanizing during moulding, e.g. in a mould using liquids, gas or steam using gas or flames dried air
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C35/00—Heating, cooling or curing, e.g. crosslinking or vulcanising; Apparatus therefor
  • B29C35/02—Heating or curing, e.g. crosslinking or vulcanizing during moulding, e.g. in a mould
  • B29C35/08—Heating or curing, e.g. crosslinking or vulcanizing during moulding, e.g. in a mould by wave energy or particle radiation
  • B29C35/0805—Heating or curing, e.g. crosslinking or vulcanizing during moulding, e.g. in a mould by wave energy or particle radiation using electromagnetic radiation
  • B29C2035/0822—Heating or curing, e.g. crosslinking or vulcanizing during moulding, e.g. in a mould by wave energy or particle radiation using electromagnetic radiation using IR radiation
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
  • B29C66/70—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material
  • B29C66/71—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material characterised by the composition of the plastics material of the parts to be joined
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
  • B29C66/70—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material
  • B29C66/72—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material characterised by the structure of the material of the parts to be joined
  • B29C66/721—Fibre-reinforced materials
  • B29C66/7212—Fibre-reinforced materials characterised by the composition of the fibres
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
  • B29C66/70—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material
  • B29C66/73—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material characterised by the intensive physical properties of the material of the parts to be joined, by the optical properties of the material of the parts to be joined, by the extensive physical properties of the parts to be joined, by the state of the material of the parts to be joined or by the material of the parts to be joined being a thermoplastic or a thermoset
  • B29C66/731—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material characterised by the intensive physical properties of the material of the parts to be joined, by the optical properties of the material of the parts to be joined, by the extensive physical properties of the parts to be joined, by the state of the material of the parts to be joined or by the material of the parts to be joined being a thermoplastic or a thermoset characterised by the intensive physical properties of the material of the parts to be joined
  • B29C66/7315—Mechanical properties
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29K—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR MOULDS, REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS
  • B29K2101/00—Use of unspecified macromolecular compounds as moulding material
  • B29K2101/12—Thermoplastic materials
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29K—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR MOULDS, REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS
  • B29K2105/00—Condition, form or state of moulded material or of the material to be shaped
  • B29K2105/06—Condition, form or state of moulded material or of the material to be shaped containing reinforcements, fillers or inserts
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29K—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR MOULDS, REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS
  • B29K2995/00—Properties of moulding materials, reinforcements, fillers, preformed parts or moulds
  • B29K2995/0037—Other properties
  • B29K2995/0089—Impact strength or toughness

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a method of assembling thermoplastic composite parts and a device for implementing such a method.
• Such parts can be used in particular in aeronautics, it can be fuselage panels or box structures.
• thermoplastic composites have properties, especially mechanical and chemical, excellent for a minimum mass. They also have a high rigidity and can have excellent mechanical strength at high temperatures.
• thermoplastic composites consist of long fiber reinforcements embedded in a thermoplastic resin matrix.
• thermoplastic matrices have many advantages in particular because they show a very good impact behavior compared to thermosetting matrices. They are also very insensitive to moisture recovery.
• thermoplastic technologies are expensive technologies because of their high temperature manufacture and the cost of materials used.
• thermoplastic composite parts It would be highly advantageous to manufacture structures comprising thermoplastic composite parts at low costs.
• thermoplastic composite parts which are based on the welding principle.
• the two parts overlap at the assembly and the overlap area forms a weld joint.
• ultrasonic assembly is known.
• the parts are superimposed and define an interface area.
• Ultrasound is applied, causing fusion between the two parts in a region of the interface area.
• the method proposes to thus achieve junction points forming a weld joint.
• Induction assembly is also known which consists in placing a metal mesh at the interface between the two parts.
• the wire mesh heats up under the effect of a magnetic field and transmits its heat to the two parts to be assembled which cause their fusion. This process is complicated by the fact that the solder joint is made electrically conductive due to the presence of the wire mesh.
• Laser assembly is known whose radiation passing through the transparent material causes heating and melting of the materials at the interface between the two parts. This technique can only be used if one of the parts to be assembled is transparent to the laser radiation.
• the object of the present invention is to propose a method of assembling at least two pieces of high performance thermoplastic composites which do not have the above limitations and difficulties.
• Another object of the invention is to provide a low cost assembly method.
• An object of the invention is to provide a simplified three-dimensional assembly method with parts of any size and geometry, whether plane or curved even with several curvatures. These pieces that are called preforms consist of folds assembled together but not consolidated.
• Another object of the invention is to propose an assembly method which leads to a bond having a satisfactory mechanical strength without having to resort to a metal reinforcement so as to avoid any problem of electromagnetic incompatibility and possible degradation caused by the lightning.
• the subject of the invention is a method of assembling at least two rigid preforms based on a thermoplastic composite material to form a three-dimensional structure, the two preforms being positioned relative to one another so that they have at least one overlapping area. According to the invention, it comprises the following successive steps:
• a working head and heating means assembly in a region of the superposition zone to make a junction point by placing a fixing member, said working head comprising a drilling head having a hollow body said piercing head being movable along an axis of displacement between an inactivated position where it is facing the region and an activated position where it pierces the two preforms,
• the method of the invention allows significant improvements over existing methods in particular during the implementation of the insertion of the fastener in the preforms requiring high positioning accuracy.
• the insertion of the fastener into the preforms is guided by the piercing head that remains at least partially in the preforms, thus making it possible to precisely control the positioning of the fastener relative to the hole of drilling previously created by the piercing head.
• the fact of locally heating the region intended to receive the fixing member makes it possible to facilitate the drilling operation and the insertion of the fixing member, in particular it is possible to use thinner drilling heads. .
• the diameter of the piercing head will be greater than 0.5mm for example, it may therefore vary in this case from 1 mm to 3mm
• the pusher is positioned in the lower part of the piercing head so as to reinforce the end of the piercing head to improve its rigidity and resistance and to avoid a risk of rupture or damage. of the piercing head.
• the piercing head, the pusher and the fixing member are arranged so that the axes of the piercing head, the pusher and the fixing member coincide with the axis of displacement of the piercing head. at the time of drilling.
• the axis of displacement coincides with the normal in the center of the region being pierced.
• the piercing head is excited by an ultrasonic source when said head pierces both preforms to generate local heating on the wall of the piercing hole.
• the fastener may be of metal material according to the specifications of the assembly.
• it can be made of Titanium to assemble boxed elements.
• This fixing member may also be made of thermosetting or thermoplastic composite material.
• this fastener is made of thermosetting composite material, it was subjected to a partial thermal firing having the effect of partially polymerizing the thermosetting resin on the one hand until a stage where said body has acquired sufficient dimensional stability to ensure its manipulation and secondly limited to a stage where the material constituting said member has thermoplastic properties.
• the two preforms are held fixed on their periphery on a specific rigid tool for framing the preforms to be assembled.
• One of the preforms may be a panel or a profile.
• the invention also relates to an assembly device for implementing the method as defined above.
• said working head comprising a piercing head having a hollow body, said head being movable along an axis of movement between an inactivated position where it is facing the region to be pierced from the superposition zone and an activated position where it comes to drill the two preforms, a fastener and a pusher in position d support on said fixing member being adapted to be housed in said hollow body, said pusher being movable along said axis of displacement in the hollow body to make penetrate the fastener in the preforms through said hollow body;
• This support means can be achieved by one or more rollers.
• the concept of downstream is defined according to the direction of movement of the working head.
• Figure 1 shows an assembly device of at least two preforms according to the invention
• FIG. 2 schematically illustrates the principle of the different steps constituting the method of the invention.
• FIGS. 1 and 2 An example of a method for assembling two rigid thermoplastic preforms to form a 3D structure according to the invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.
• one of the preforms is a panel 1 and the other is a section 2 having a section substantially T or omega.
• Other types of preforms are of course conceivable.
• the panel that is represented here is plane, it could be curved
• These preforms 1, 2 are rigid, they are made of thermoplastic material and are preferably laminated. To enhance their rigidity, they can be reinforced with fibers.
• the reinforcing fibers may be carbon, for example glass.
• thermoplastic material can be used for example PEI type resins (polyetherimide), PEEK (polyether-ketone), PEKK (polyetherketoneketone), PPS (polyphenylsulfone), PA (polyamide) and all the resins derived (mixtures).
• the two preforms are held in position on a framing tool 14 by their periphery and are brought into contact perpendicularly to each other.
• the assembly will be done by inserting fasteners 102 between the two preforms in the superposition area using an assembly device.
• This device comprises a working head 100 coupled to a heating means 4 placed upstream relative to the working head.
• the concept of upstream is defined with respect to the direction of movement of the working head which is shown in Figure 1 by an arrow.
• the working head and the heating means are positioned facing one of the two preforms in the superposition zone.
• the heating means is activated so as to heat up locally and upstream the positioning zone of the fixing member.
• the resin on the surface of one of the preforms is then softened, making the area less resistant to facilitate drilling and insertion of the fastener.
• This heating means can be for example an IR strip or an Air Torch which has the function of softening.
• the working head 100 comprises a piercing head 101 having a pointed end for piercing the preforms, this piercing head having a hollow body in which a fixing member 102 and a pusher 103 are positioned.
• the piercing head 101 is movable along an axis of displacement 8 between an inactivated position where it is opposite the region to be pierced from the superposition zone and an activated position where it pierces the two preforms.
• the pusher is movable along the same axis 8 to bear against the upper end of the fastener 102 to enter the preforms.
• Figure 1 there is shown the working head in an inactivated positon with the fixing member 102 and the pusher 103 housed in the hollow body, the pusher being in the bearing position on the fastener.
• the order of positioning of the assembly member 102 and the pusher 103 in the hollow body is a function of the different steps constituting the assembly method which are described above.
• the piercing head 101, the fixing member 102 and the pusher 103 are arranged so that their axes coincide with the axis of displacement 8.
• these axes are also coincident with the normal in the center of the region to be pierced. In other embodiments, these axes have an angle of inclination with respect to the normal.
• the working head 100 and the heating means 4 are respectively connected to displacement means 10, 9. These two moving means are independent. In this way, when the working head is positioned opposite the region of the superposition zone to perform the assembly operation, the heating means is moved to the next point to locally heat this region. It is quite possible to envisage another embodiment in which the heating means and the working head are controlled by a single moving means which sets the working head and the heating means in motion one after the other. .
• the displacement means may comprise, for example, a translational movement assembly which makes it possible to move the working head 100 and the heating means 4 along the three axes X, Y and Z and an articulation offering two possibilities of pivoting. along two axes perpendicular to each other and perpendicular to the axis Z.
• the joint makes it possible to adapt the positioning of this working head to the curvatures of the preforms to be assembled.
• the working head 100 can thus always be positioned perpendicularly to the preforms to be assembled, along a working axis corresponding to the axis of the fastener to be put in place.
• the heating means is steerable by means of displacement 9 so that the heating zone is closer to the piercing area and implantation of the fastener.
• FIG. 1 thus represents the heating means 4 in an inactivated position and a position in which it is oriented so that the beam of the source is directed towards the zone to be heated.
• the piercing head 101 is movable in translation along the working axis 8, between a retracted position, visible in FIG. 1, in which it is not in contact with the preform 1 and able to be moved towards the junction point. next to the surface of the preform and a working position, visible in Figure 2A in which it comes to drill the two preforms 1, 2.
• the pusher 103 is also movable in translation along the working axis 8 in the hollow body of the drilling head 101, between a retracted position to allow the fixing member 102 to be positioned in the hollow body and a working position where it exerts a bearing force on the upper end of the fastener to make it penetrate into the preforms by the hollow body of the piercing head.
• this pusher is moved towards the end of the piercing head 101 so that, as shown in FIG. 2A, during the piercing operation, the piercing head pierces the preforms 1, 2 with the pusher 103 in the low position.
• the drilling depth is preprogrammed. Once the drilling is done, the pusher is moved to its retracted position.
• a pneumatic supply system for example, then feeds the piercing head with fixing member 102 while leaving the piercing head in the preforms.
• the axis of the fastener is automatically merged with the working axis, making its positioning relative to the previously-made drilling hole more precise.
• the pusher is placed back into the hollow body of the piercing head and is placed in a bearing position against the fixing member so as to make it penetrate into the preforms. through the hollow body 13 ( Figure 2B).
• the insertion of the fixing member 102 is guided by the internal wall of the piercing head 101, in practice without contact. or with limited contact during movement of said fastener with the preform material, improving the accuracy of insertion.
• the piercing head 101 is withdrawn while continuing to hold said fixing member in position relative to the preforms with the aid of the pusher 103.
• the withdrawal movement of the drilling head does not cause the displacement of the fixing member 102 ( Figure 2C).
• Tests can be advantageously conducted to check and develop the drilling conditions, in particular temperature and dimensions of the softened area of the preforms, leading to a correct connection of the fastener with the preforms.
• Figure 2D illustrates the fixing member in position in the two preforms occupying the entire thickness of the two preforms without opening. It is also possible to envisage the case where the organ passes completely through one of the preforms and partially through the second preform.
• the pusher When the piercing head is completely removed, the pusher is retracted into the interior of the hollow body so that the working head is no longer in contact with the surface of one of the preforms and the working head and the heating medium at the next junction point in the overlay area.
• the steps described above are repeated so as to form at least one line of junction points between the two preforms 1, 2 to to assemble.
• the displacement of the assembly may be rectilinear or curvilinear on the surface of the preform which is facing the assembly.
• a programming system can be provided that programs the assembly sequence in terms of junction lines on the profile of one of the preforms to be assembled, coordinates of the fasteners on each line and insertion angle of the fasteners.
• the working head with an ultrasonic source to communicate a vibration energy to the piercing head during drilling.
• the vibration energy of this source is converted into thermal energy in the thermoplastic material, in particular a local heating on the wall of the drilling hole 13 to ensure a better binding effect between the fixing member 102 and the two preforms 1 , 2.
• the fixing member 102 is made of metallic material.
• this fixing member 102 is made of thermoplastic composite material compatible with the thermoplastic resin of the preforms to be assembled.
• This member may also be of thermosetting composite material, when the glass transition temperature of the fastener is compatible with the thermoplastic melting temperature.
• the material constituting the fixing member is chosen as a function of the thermoplastic matrix of the two preforms. Moreover, the lengths and diameter of the members are determined according to the geometries of preforms to be assembled.
• the method further comprises a final step in which the two preforms 1, 2 are subjected to a final consolidation in order to consolidate the assembly between the two preforms 1, 2.
• a support means 5 disposed downstream of the working head 100.
• the support means 5 presses the two preforms downstream of the area of the overlap area facing the working head, and holds them in position while the softened resin around the junction point that has just been created, is solidifying as it cools.
• the movable support means 5 can be made by one or more rollers 6, 7. To move this roller assembly, a moving means January 1 is provided, and it can be synchronized with that of the working head.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Thermal Sciences (AREA)
• Processing And Handling Of Plastics And Other Materials For Molding In General (AREA)

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• 2010
  • 2010-04-30 FR FR1053365A patent/FR2959442B1/fr active Active
• 2011
  • 2011-04-28 WO PCT/FR2011/050973 patent/WO2011135267A1/fr active Application Filing
  • 2011-04-28 EP EP11723529A patent/EP2563566A1/de not_active Withdrawn

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