US 11,865,656 B2
In situ crack repair in structures
Michael J. Deluca, Norristown, PA (US); Matthew H. Cawthorne, Wayne, PA (US); and Howard T. Rolleston, Glen Mills, PA (US)
Assigned to The Boeing Company, Chicago, IL (US)
Filed by The Boeing Company, Chicago, IL (US)
Filed on Feb. 22, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/677,036.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/211,818, filed on Jun. 17, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0402081 A1, Dec. 22, 2022
Int. Cl. B23P 6/04 (2006.01); B29C 73/04 (2006.01); B23K 20/00 (2006.01)
CPC B23P 6/04 (2013.01) [B23K 20/002 (2013.01); B29C 73/04 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for repairing a crack in a structure comprising:
mounting a manifold to the structure around the crack, wherein
the structure has a nonplanar surface contour that surrounds the crack,
the manifold has a base portion, a cover portion, and a plug,
the base portion has a grip surface configured to conform to the nonplanar surface contour of the structure that surrounds the crack, the base portion defines a channel, and the channel is in fluid communication with the crack while the base portion is mounted to the structure,
the cover portion is connected to the base portion and covers the channel, the cover portion has an injection port and a vent port that are in fluid communication with the channel, and the injection port is configured to transfer a bonding material alternatively into the channel and out of the channel, and
the plug is configured to alternatively close and open the vent port;
filling the channel in the manifold with the bonding material to direct the bonding material into the crack; and
draining the bonding material from the manifold through the injection port after the bonding material has filled the crack.