US 12,134,235 B2
Systems and methods for joining a first structure and a second structure with vacuum dispersion process
Joseph L. Hafenrichter, Arlington, VA (US); and Gary E. Georgeson, Arlington, VA (US)
Assigned to The Boeing Company, Arlington, VA (US)
Filed by The Boeing Company, Arlington, VA (US)
Filed on May 23, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/321,874.
Application 18/321,874 is a division of application No. 17/502,263, filed on Oct. 15, 2021, granted, now 11,697,250.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/126,625, filed on Dec. 17, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0294367 A1, Sep. 21, 2023
Int. Cl. B29C 65/48 (2006.01); B29C 65/14 (2006.01); B29C 65/50 (2006.01); B29C 65/54 (2006.01); B29L 31/30 (2006.01)
CPC B29C 65/544 (2013.01) [B29C 65/1448 (2013.01); B29C 65/4835 (2013.01); B29C 65/5057 (2013.01); B29L 2031/3085 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for joining a first structure and a second structure, the system comprising:
one or more fixtures forming a bond cavity between a first structure and a second structure via positioning of the first structure relative to the second structure;
a semi-permeable breather material positioned at one or more exits of the bond cavity;
a vacuum bag positioned around the bond cavity and the semi-permeable breather material;
a vacuum port coupled to the vacuum bag for evacuating the bond cavity and forcing adhesive into the bond cavity via an adhesive port while the bond cavity is evacuated;
perforated adhesive tape positioned over the semi-permeable breather material to allow vacuum through and to block flow of the adhesive; and
one or more heaters for curing the adhesive to bond the first structure to the second structure.