Bonding method

• Main Authors: Osiyemi, Stephen O, Thompson, Ewan F, Hicklin, Mark J
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 06.11.2018
• Subjects: AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING; AIR INTAKES FOR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS; BLASTING; COMBUSTION ENGINES; CONTROLLING FUEL SUPPLY IN AIR-BREATHING JET-PROPULSION PLANTS; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; GAS-TURBINE PLANTS; HEATING; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS; INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULARARTICLES; LIGHTING; MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; NON-POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, e.g. STEAMTURBINES; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDEDFOR; SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; STEAM ENGINES; TRANSPORTING; WEAPONS; WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE, IN GENERAL

A method is provided of bonding a first component to a second component. The method includes: locating the first component against the second component to form an interface between the components, a curable adhesive being provided at the interface; locating a pressurizable, fluid-filled bladder against the first component such that the first component is sandwiched between the second component and the bladder; locating a backing member against the bladder such that the bladder is sandwiched between the backing member and the first component; pressurizing the bladder such that a consolidating pressure is exerted by the bladder on the first component to conform the first component to the second component; and curing the adhesive while the first component is conformed to the second component by the consolidating pressure.