Stock material or miscellaneous articles – Structurally defined web or sheet – Honeycomb-like
Patent
1983-05-27
1985-12-10
Epstein, Henry F.
Stock material or miscellaneous articles
Structurally defined web or sheet
Honeycomb-like
52806, 428408, 428421, 428920, B32B 312
Patent
active
045579610
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to composite structural panels fabricated of lightweight, fireproof materials; and, more particularly, to improved lightweight, fire-retardant structural panels of the type used as floor and/or bulkhead panels in, for example, aircraft, ships, submarines and the like wherein the materials employed must meet extremely stringent, and often conflicting, requisites in terms of strength, lightness in weight, ability to resist heat and/or fire, reduction of smoke and toxic fumes generated when subjected to fire, and improved sound deadening characteristics. For example, a field where the present invention finds particularly advantageous use is in the fabrication of floor and/or bulkhead panels for commercial aircraft--panels that are required to be as light as possible and as strong as possible while, at the same time, being capable of meeting and exceeding those standards which are established by regulatory agencies in terms of fire resistance and reduced emission of smoke and/or toxic fumes such, for example, as those fire standards developed, promulgated, and from time to time revised by the FAA and which are more commonly known as regulation "FAR 25"--standards which are constantly being upgraded and made even more rigorous in terms of those structures that will be approved for use in future commercial aircraft, particularly those to be made and introduced into commercial fleets in and/or shortly after 1984/1985.
2. Background Art
The present invention arose specifically in connection with the commercial aircraft industry and is intended to meet and exceed minimum fire resistance standards as established by the FAA--standards which are presently being revised and modified for proposed adoption during or shortly after 1984/1985. At the same time, however, the invention intimately involves other design considerations and constraints which are typically involved in the aircraft industry such, for example, as maximized strength at minimum weight for the particular materials employed, economy, durability, and ability to reduce and minimize noise levels in those regions of the aircraft where noise problems are normally encountered--for example, in the regions where airfoils, power propulsion plants and the like are attached to the aircraft fuselage, in the region of the wheel wells, etc. Thus, the materials employed and the specific constructional details disclosed for panels made in accordance with the present invention provide a synergistic result in terms of reduced weight and cost, reduced propensity to emit smoke and/or toxic fumes, increased strength and durability, increased fire resistance and/or fire retardance characteristics, increased heat and/or sound insulation, and increased versatility in terms of usage in specific environments where the strength required for any given panel may vary from region to region.
As is well known, today's commerical aircraft are subjected to very stringent requirements in terms of ability to withstand fire and to emit minimum quantities of smoke and/or other toxic fumes--standards established by the FAA under code regulation "FAR 25". However, this regulatory standard is continuously undergoing review and revision to improve the safety characteristics of the aircraft; and, at the present time, changes have been proposed for adoption in or shortly after 1984/1985 which will impart even greater and more stringent requirements with regard to design factors having a bearing on fire resistance and safety. The invention is particularly concerned with providing composite panels suitable for use as floor and/or bulkhead panels which will not only meet and exceed the proposed modified standards; but, in addition, which will enhance the strength and durability of the panels, decrease the weight thereof, increase the sound and/or heat insulating characteristics of the panels and, in general, achieve all of the design requirements on an economical basis.
In conventional aircraft available today, i
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Epstein Henry F.
The Boeing Company
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