US 12,447,692 B2
System and method for joining high-performance thermoplastic components
Laurent Dubreuil, Pibrac (FR)
Assigned to AIRBUS ATLANTIC, Rochefort (FR)
Appl. No. 18/255,430
Filed by AIRBUS ATLANTIC, Rochefort (FR)
PCT Filed Dec. 9, 2021, PCT No. PCT/EP2021/084926
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jun. 1, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/122881, PCT Pub. Date Jun. 16, 2022.
Claims priority of application No. 2013043 (FR), filed on Dec. 11, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2024/0025127 A1, Jan. 25, 2024
Int. Cl. B29C 65/34 (2006.01); B29C 65/00 (2006.01); B29C 65/48 (2006.01); B29C 65/50 (2006.01); B29C 65/78 (2006.01); B29K 105/16 (2006.01); B29K 709/08 (2006.01); B29L 31/30 (2006.01)
CPC B29C 65/3468 (2013.01) [B29C 65/3444 (2013.01); B29C 65/3492 (2013.01); B29C 65/4815 (2013.01); B29C 65/5014 (2013.01); B29C 65/5057 (2013.01); B29C 65/7814 (2013.01); B29C 66/1122 (2013.01); B29C 66/131 (2013.01); B29C 66/345 (2013.01); B29C 66/4722 (2013.01); B29C 66/474 (2013.01); B29C 66/524 (2013.01); B29C 66/721 (2013.01); B29C 66/73921 (2013.01); B29C 66/919 (2013.01); B29C 66/929 (2013.01); B29C 66/7212 (2013.01); B29C 66/73141 (2013.01); B29K 2105/167 (2013.01); B29K 2709/08 (2013.01); B29K 2995/0007 (2013.01); B29L 2031/3076 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A device for joining a first component to a second component by welding a common welding zone to form a welding zone with a welded area once the components are joined, each component to be welded being made of a composite material comprising reinforcement fibers impregnated in a thermoplastic matrix and a flat inner surface to be welded, the flat inner surfaces of the first and second components to be welded being positioned opposite each other, the device for joining being configured to be at least partially integrated into the welded area, the device for joining comprising:
at least one electrically conductive resistive heating film, the heating film having a first flat face and a second flat face opposite the first flat face, the heating film comprising:
a central connection portion configured to be mounted according to the common welding zone between the flat inner surfaces of the first and second components, and
two electrical connection lateral portions configured to be mounted outside of the common welding zone and electrically connected to a source of current so as to enable a rise in a temperature of the central portion to an operating temperature,
at least one first electrical insulation member positioned in contact with the first flat face of the heating film opposite the central connection portion and configured to be positioned opposite the flat inner surface of the first component to be welded,
at least one second electrical insulation member positioned in contact with the second flat face of the heating film opposite the central connection portion and configured to be positioned opposite the flat inner surface of the second component to be welded,
the at least one first electrical insulation member and the at least one second electrical insulation member being allowed to heat transfer and prohibit electric current flow between the heating film and each of the first and second components to be welded, and
an assembly formed by the heating film and the at least one first electrical insulation member and the at least one second electrical insulation member having a thickness of between 0.1 mm and 0.5 mm, and wherein the heating film being a graphene film.