Claims
- 1. A pressure bonding system for applying pressure onto at least one tile of a workpiece having an edge and a length, the system comprising:
upper and lower gripper members each having first and second gripper ends, the second gripper ends being connected to each other, the first gripper ends being movable relative to each other to receive the workpiece therebetween; and an upper pressure applicator assembly slidably engaged to the upper gripper member, the upper pressure applicator assembly being slidable along the upper gripper member between the first and second gripper ends along the length of the workpiece placed between the upper and lower gripper members with the edge thereof being adjacent the second gripper ends to apply pressure to the tile(s) upon relative movement of the first gripper ends towards the workpiece to a position adjacent the tile(s).
- 2. The system of claim 1 wherein the upper and lower gripper members are fabricated from a metallic material.
- 3. The system of claim 2 wherein the metallic material is aluminum.
- 4. The system of claim 1 wherein the workpiece has a thickness, the first gripper ends being movable away from each other to provide an opening generally greater than the thickness of the workpiece between the upper and lower gripper members.
- 5. The system of claim 1 further comprising a gripper member retaining mechanism operatively engaged to the upper and lower gripper members to maintain the gripper members in pressure bearing relation to the tile(s).
- 6. The system of claim 5 wherein the gripper member retaining mechanism is a manually tightenable clamp.
- 7. The system of claim 5 wherein the upper and lower gripper members each have an outward gripper surface wherein the gripper member retaining mechanism is extended therebetween.
- 8. The system of claim 1 wherein the upper gripper member comprises first and second elongated upper arms and the lower gripper member comprises first and second elongated lower arms.
- 9. The system of claim 8 wherein the upper arms each have an upper flange portion and the lower arms each have a lower flange portion collectively formed adjacent the second gripper ends, the flange portions of the first upper and lower arms generally extending toward and engaged to each other, the flange portions of the second upper and lower arms generally extending toward and engaged to each other.
- 10. The system of claim 9 wherein the upper flange portions each have an upper aperture and the lower flange portions each have a lower aperture, the lower flange portions being disposed between the upper flange portions in a manner as to align the lower apertures with the upper apertures.
- 11. The system of claim 10 further comprising a pivot pin inserted through the upper and lower apertures and secured therewithin to provide a hinged connection thereat.
- 12. The system of claim 1 further comprising a heating element for providing heat to the tile(s) while being pressurized, the heating element being disposed between the upper pressure applicator assembly and the tile(s).
- 13. The system of claim 12 wherein the heating element is a heat blanket.
- 14. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one tile is at least one ceramic tile.
- 15. The system of claim 1 wherein the workpiece is an aerodynamic structure.
- 16. The system of claim 15 wherein the aerodynamic structure is a wing of an aircraft.
- 17. The system of claim 1 wherein the upper gripper member comprises an inward gripper surface and the upper pressure applicator assembly comprises a first upper surface, the first upper surface being disposed adjacent the inward gripper surface and being slidable relative thereto.
- 18. The system of claim 17 wherein the first upper surface comprises an upper connection bracket and the upper gripper member comprises an exterior side gripper surface defining a channel substantially between the first and second gripper ends, the upper connection bracket being slidably engaged to the channel.
- 19. The system of claim 18 wherein the exterior side gripper surface of the upper gripper member has a series of gripper holes adjacent the channel and the upper connection bracket has a series of upper connection holes, the gripper holes and the upper connection holes being alignable with each other wherein a pin is inserted collectively therethrough to prevent the upper connection bracket from sliding along the channel of the upper gripper member.
- 20. The system of claim 1 wherein the upper pressure applicator assembly comprises a second upper surface having an upper pressure applicator for applying pressure to the tile(s).
- 21. The system of claim 20 wherein the second upper surface defines an upper recess, the upper pressure applicator being disposed within the upper recess.
- 22. The system of claim 20 wherein the upper pressure applicator is a rubber pad.
- 23. The system of claim 20 wherein the upper pressure applicator is an inflatable/deflatable bladder for applying variable pressure to the tile(s).
- 24. The system of claim 1 wherein the lower gripper member comprises a lower pressure applicator assembly slidably engaged thereto for counteracting the pressure applied by the upper pressure applicator assembly.
- 25. The system of claim 24 wherein the lower gripper member comprises an inward gripper surface and the lower pressure applicator assembly comprises a first lower surface, the first lower surface being disposed adjacent the inward gripper surface and being slidable relative thereto.
- 26. The system of claim 25 wherein the first lower surface comprises a lower connection bracket and the lower gripper member comprises an exterior side gripper surface defining a channel substantially between the first and second gripper ends, the lower connection bracket being slidably engaged to the channel.
- 27. The system of claim 26 wherein the exterior side gripper surface of the lower gripper member has a series of gripper holes adjacent the channel and the lower connection bracket has a series of lower connection holes, the gripper holes and the lower connection holes being alignable with each other wherein a pin is inserted collectively therethrough to prevent the lower connection bracket from sliding along the channel of the lower gripper member.
- 28. The system of claim 24 wherein the lower pressure applicator assembly comprises a second lower surface having a lower pressure applicator for applying pressure to the tile(s).
- 29. The system of claim 28 wherein the second lower surface defines a lower recess, the lower pressure applicator being disposed within the lower recess.
- 30. The system of claim 28 wherein the lower pressure applicator is a rubber pad.
- 31. The system of claim 28 wherein the lower pressure applicator is an inflatable/deflatable bladder for applying variable counteracting pressure.
- 32. The system of claim 24 wherein the upper and lower pressure applicator assemblies are platens each having a generally rectangular configuration.
- 33. A method of bonding at least one ceramic tile onto an aerodynamic structure having an edge and a length with a pressure bonding system, the system including upper and lower gripper members each having a second gripper end movably connected to each other, the method comprising the steps of:
a) placing the aerodynamic structure having the ceramic tile(s) thereon between the upper and lower gripper members with the edge thereof being adjacent the movably connected second gripper ends; b) laying a heating element over the ceramic tile(s) for applying heat thereto; c) sliding an upper pressure applicator assembly relative to the second gripper ends to the ceramic tile(s) along the length of the aerodynamic structure; d) sliding a lower pressure applicator assembly relative to the second gripper ends along the length of the aerodynamic structure to dispose the ceramic tile(s) between the upper and lower applicator assemblies; e) moving first ends of the upper and lower gripper members to a position adjacent the aerodynamic structure; f) applying pressure to the ceramic tile(s) with the upper pressure applicator assembly; and g) counteracting the applied pressure with the lower pressure applicator assembly.
- 34. The method of claim 33 wherein step a) comprises:
1) moving the first gripper ends of the upper and lower gripper members away from each other to form an opening generally greater than the thickness of the aerodynamic structure; and 2) inserting the aerodynamic structure through the opening formed by the first gripper ends.
- 35. The method of claim 33 wherein the heating element in step b) is a heat blanket.
- 36. The method of claim 33 wherein step c) comprises:
1) sliding the upper pressure applicator assembly between the first and second ends of the upper gripper member towards the ceramic tile(s); and 2) stationing the upper pressure applicator assembly when positioned generally above the ceramic tile(s).
- 37. The method of claim 33 wherein step d) comprises:
1) sliding the lower pressure applicator assembly between the first and second ends of the lower gripper member towards the ceramic tile(s); and 2) stationing the lower pressure applicator assembly when the ceramic tile(s) is disposed between the upper and lower applicator assemblies.
- 38. The method of claim 33 wherein steps f) and g) comprise:
1) defining an upper pressure applicator of the upper pressure applicator assembly and a lower pressure applicator of the lower pressure applicator assembly; 2) applying pressure to the ceramic tile(s) with the upper pressure applicator; and 3) counteracting the applied pressure with the lower pressure applicator.
- 39. The method of 38 wherein the upper and lower pressure applicators are inflatable/deflatable bladders for applying variable pressure and counteracting pressure.
STATEMENT RE: FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT
[0001] This invention was made with Government support under contract F33657-87C-2000 awarded by the United States Government. The Government has certain rights in this invention.