ROHR, INC.

An apparatus is provided for an aircraft which includes an aircraft component. The aircraft component includes a first plate section, a second plate section and an elastic expansion section laterally between the first plate section and the second plate section. The elastic expansion section is configured to elastically deform to increase a lateral width between the first plate section and the second plate section. The aircraft component is formed from at least an elastomeric matrix and a fiber layer at least partially embedded within the elastomeric matrix. A bead is formed in the fiber layer laterally between a first portion of the fiber layer and a second portion of the fiber layer. The first portion of the fiber layer is disposed in the first plate section. The second portion of the fiber layer is disposed in the second plate section. The bead is disposed in the elastic expansion section.

An assembly is provided for induction welding. This assembly utilizes a plurality of heat shields (e.g., mica heat shields) that are aligned/disposed in end-to-end relation, with each such heat shield having a recess. An induction welding coil may be disposed within a heat shield recess during induction welding operations and is movable along a welding path while proceeding along the recesses of the various heat shields. This welding path may be axially extending or may be curved. The induction welding assembly may be used to induction weld a stiffener to a curved skin or shell, for instance where a base of the recess for each heat shield is curved such that the induction welding coil may be moved along a curved welding path and while maintaining a constant spacing between the induction welding coil and the recess base of the various heat shields.

A door assembly for an aircraft includes a door, a door handle, a door hinge, a support assembly, and a lifting assembly. The door handle is rotatable between an unlatched position and a latched position. The support assembly rotatably mounts the door hinge to the door. The lifting assembly includes a latch cam, a lift track, and a latch idler. The latch cam is mounted to the door handle. The latch cam is rotatable with the door handle about the door handle rotational axis. The latch cam forms an eccentric roller path extending about the door handle rotational axis. The latch idler includes a first roller and a second roller. The first roller is disposed on a lift track of the support assembly and configured to roll along the lift track. The second roller is disposed within the eccentric roller path. The latch idler is mounted to the door. The latch idler is configured to lift the door as the door handle rotates from the latched position to the unlatched position.

A repair method is provided during which a thermoplastic patch is arranged on a thermoplastic aerospace component. The thermoplastic patch contacts the thermoplastic aerospace component. The thermoplastic patch is horizontal ultrasonic welded to the thermoplastic aerospace component using an ultrasonic horn.

A lock system is provided including a blade, a blade stop, a blade actuating member, a sensor, a controller and an electric motor. The blade is retracted past where the blade stop contacts an end of the blade actuating member when the blade is fractured and translated in the direction of a retracted unlocked position from an extended locked position. The sensor can send a signal to the controller based on the position of the blade. The controller can determine when the signal from the sensor indicates that the blade has retracted past the point where the blade stop contacts the end of the blade actuating member.

A preform is provided. The preform includes first fabric layers that include a first set of commingled fibers and a second set of commingled fibers. The preform includes a second fabric layer positioned between the first fabric layers. The second fabric layer includes a third set of commingled fibers and a fourth set of commingled fibers. The first set of commingled fibers includes a lower percentage of the at least one of first carbon fibers or first fusible fibers than the third set of commingled fibers, The first set of commingled fibers include a higher percentage of first fugitive fibers than the third set of commingled fibers. The first fugitive fibers and the third fugitive fibers are pyrolyzed from the first fabric layers and the second fabric layer.

A fiber-reinforced thermoplastic hollow structure is provided that includes a shell and a mating component. The shell includes a first flange, a second flange, and sidewalls. The shell includes a fiber-reinforced thermoplastic material. The mating component is coupled to the first flange and the second flange and includes a first internal surface. The first internal surface and internal surfaces of the sidewalls defining a cavity. The first flange and the mating component defining a first weld seam, the first weld seam being between 20% and 80% of a lateral length of the first flange.

A variable area nozzle assembly includes a fixed nozzle structure, a translating sleeve, a plurality of nozzle segments, and a plurality of segment hoop locking assemblies. The translating sleeve is movably mounted to the fixed nozzle structure. The translating sleeve is translatable along the nozzle axis within the fixed nozzle structure between and to a first axial position and a second axial position. The plurality of nozzle segments form a variable area nozzle extending circumferentially about the nozzle axis. Each nozzle segment of the plurality of nozzle segments is pivotably mounted to the translating sleeve. The plurality of nozzle segments includes a first nozzle segment and a second nozzle segment. The plurality of segment hoop locking assemblies include a first segment hoop locking assembly. The first segment hoop locking assembly includes a hoop crank. With the translating sleeve in the first axial position or the second axial position, the hoop crank restricts circumferential movement of the first nozzle segment relative to the second nozzle segment.

A door assembly for an aircraft includes a door, a door hinge, and a support assembly rotatably mounting the door hinge to the door. The support assembly includes a forearm and at least one link. The forearm is rotatably mounted to the door hinge along a first rotational axis. The forearm extends along the first rotational axis between and to an upper end and a lower end. The at least one link extends between and to an inner end and an outer end. The at least one link is rotatably mounted to the forearm at the inner end. The at least one link is rotatable relative to the forearm about a second rotational axis. The at least one link is rotatably mounted to the door at the outer end. The at least one link is rotatable about the second rotational axis between and to a lowered position of the door and a raised position of the door.

A method of repairing a thermoplastic composite material is disclosed herein. The method includes placing the thermoplastic composite material on a supporting anvil, placing an energy transmission material on top of the thermoplastic composite material, and applying an ultrasonic welder to the thermoplastic composite material to consolidate and repair the thermoplastic composite material. Another method of repairing a thermoplastic composite material is disclosed herein. The method includes placing an energy transmission material on a supporting anvil, placing the thermoplastic composite material on top of the energy transmission material, and applying an ultrasonic welder to the energy transmission material to consolidate and repair the thermoplastic composite material.