当前申请(专利权)人地址：
Pegasus House, Aerospace Avenue, Filton, BRISTOL, BS34 7PA, United Kingdom
摘要：
There is provided a method for joining a first component 10 and a second component 20. The method comprises forming a first bond between the first component and the second component by providing a plurality of projections 12b on the first component and embedding the plurality of projections in the second component; creating a fastener hole which passes through the first component and the second component and which encompasses at least one of the projections; and forming a second bond between the first component and the second component by installing a fastener 32 in the fastener hole. The fastener hole may encompass the first array of one or more projections, such that the first array of one or more projections is entirely removed by the creation of the fastener hole. A component for joining to a further component, the component comprising multiple arrays of one or more projections, wherein each array of one or more projections extends from a predefined region of an interface surface of the component, and wherein the shape and location of each predefined region corresponds to the shape and location of a fastener hole intended to be created to join the component to the further component. A subcomponent (40a, fig 5) for joining a first component to a second component, the subcomponent comprising a shaft having a head at one end and at least one projection extending from the other end.
权利要求：
CLAIMS:
1. A method for joining a first component and a second component, the method comprising:
forming a first bond between the first component and the second component by providing a plurality of projections on the first component and embedding the plurality of projections in the second component;
creating a fastener hole which passes through the first component and the second component and which encompasses at least one of the projections; and
forming a second bond between the first component and the second component by installing a fastener in the fastener hole.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of projections comprises a first array of one or more projections provided on a first region of the first component and a second array of one or more projections provided on a second region of the first component.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the location of each of the first region and the second region corresponds to an intended fastener location for fastening the first component to the second component.
4. The method of claim 2 or claim 3, wherein each of the first region and the second region is circular, and wherein the diameter of the first region is less than or equal to the diameter of a first fastener hole intended to be created at the location of the first region and the diameter of the second region is less than or equal to the diameter of a second fastener hole intended to be created at the location of the second region.
5. The method of any of claims 2 to 4, wherein the fastener hole encompasses the first array of one or more projections, such that the first array of one or more projections is entirely removed by the creation of the fastener hole.
6. The method of any preceding claim, further comprising creating a further fastener hole which passes through the first component and the second component and which
encompasses at least some of the projections not encompassed by the fastener hole, wherein the second bond is formed additionally by installing a further fastener into the further fastener hole.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein the further fastener hole encompasses the second array of one or more projections, such that the second array of one or more projections is entirely removed by the creation of the further fastener hole.
8. The method of any preceding claim, wherein the fastener hole is a pilot hole having a diameter smaller than the diameter of a final fastener hole intended to be created at the same location as the pilot hole, and wherein the fastener is a temporary fastener.
9. The method of any preceding claim, wherein the second component comprises a composite material, and wherein embedding the plurality of projections into the second component comprises penetrating the plurality of projections into the second component in a pre-cured state of the second component, and subsequently curing the second component.
10. The method of any preceding claim, wherein the at least one projection encompassed by the fastener hole is comprised in a subcomponent, and wherein providing a plurality of projections on the first component comprises arranging the subcomponent on the first component.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein the fastener hole encompasses the subcomponent, such that the subcomponent is entirely removed by the creation of the fastener hole.
12. The method of claim 10 or claim 11, wherein the subcomponent comprises a head and a shaft, wherein the at least one projection is on an end of the shaft distal from the head, and wherein when the subcomponent is arranged on the first component the shaft extends through a hole in the first component such that the head is adjacent one side of the hole and the at least one projection extends from an opposite side of the hole.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein forming the first bond between the first component and the second component comprises:
arranging the second component adjacent to the hole in the first component; and
inserting the shaft of the subcomponent into the hole in the first component such that the at least one projection on the subcomponent penetrates the second component.
14. The method of any of claims 10 to 13, wherein the subcomponent comprises a different material to the first component.
15. The method of any of claims 10 to 14, wherein the subcomponent is formed by an additive manufacturing process and the first component is not formed by an additive manufacturing process.
16. The method of any preceding claim, wherein the plurality of projections is formed by an additive manufacturing process.
17. The method of any preceding claim, wherein the first and second components are aircraft components.
18. A component for joining to a further component, the component comprising multiple arrays of one or more projections, wherein each array of one or more projections extends from a predefined region of an interface surface of the component, and wherein the shape and location of each predefined region corresponds to the shape and location of a fastener hole intended to be created to join the component to the further component.
19. The component of claim 18, wherein each predefined region is configured to be encompassed by the corresponding fastener hole, such that the array of one or more projections on a given predefined region will be removed by the creation of the corresponding fastener hole.
20. The component of claim 18 or claim 19, wherein each array of one or more projections is comprised in a different subcomponent of the component, wherein either or
both of the material and the method of manufacture is different as between the component and the subcomponents.
21. The component of any of claims 18 to 20, wherein the component is a component of an aircraft wing.
22. The component of any of claims 18 to 21, wherein the component is the first component according to any of claims 1 to 17.
23. A subcomponent for joining a first component to a second component, the subcomponent comprising a shaft having a head at one end and at least one projection extending from the other end.
24. The subcomponent of claim 23, wherein the size and shape of the head is such that the head is encompassable by a fastener hole for a fastener intended to be used to join the first component to the second component.
25. The subcomponent of claim 23 or claim 24, wherein the subcomponent is formed by an additive manufacturing process.
26. The subcomponent of any of claims 23 to 25, wherein the subcomponent is a subcomponent according to any of claims 10 to 15 or 20.