HOUSING FOR AIRCRAFT MOUNTED COMPONENTS
A traffic collision avoidance system (TCAS) device is provided. The device includes a radome having an antenna. A chassis is bonded to said radome about a periphery by a skirt layer. A housing is adhesively bonded to the radome, the skirt layer and the chassis. The housing has a substantially flat bottom portion with a wall extended about a periphery, the wall forming a lap joint with the chassis and radome.
1 . A traffic collision avoidance system (TCAS) device comprising:
a radome having an antenna;
a chassis bonded to said radome about a periphery by a skirt layer; and
a housing adhesively bonded to the radome, the skirt layer and the chassis, the housing having a substantially flat bottom portion with a wall extended about a periphery to define an interior portion, the wall forming a lap joint with the chassis and radome.
2 . The TCAS device of claim 1 wherein the housing is formed from a first layer and a second layer, each of the first layer and second layer made from a pre-impregnated E-glass composite.
3 . The TCAS device of claim 2 wherein the first layer includes a first end and a second end, the first end having a first plurality of darts, the second end having second plurality of darts.
4 . The TCAS device of claim 3 wherein the second layer includes a third end and a fourth end, the third end having a third plurality of darts and the fourth end having a fourth plurality of darts, the third plurality of darts being positioned in a non-overlapping arrangement with the first plurality of darts and the fourth plurality of darts being positioned in a non-overlapping arrangement with the second plurality of darts.
5 . The TCAS of claim 1 wherein the housing, the adhesive layer and the radome are made from materials having substantially the same coefficient of thermal expansion.
6 . A housing for a device that is mounted to an exterior of an aircraft, the device having a chassis and a radome, the housing comprising:
a first layer having substantially planar first surface, the first layer having a first side, a second side opposite the first side, a first end arranged between the first side and the second side, and a second end opposite the first end;
a second layer adjacent the first layer, the second layer having a substantially planar second surface, the second layer having a third side and a fourth side opposite, a third end arranged between the third side and the fourth side, and a fourth end opposite the third end;
wherein the first side, second side, third side, fourth side, first end, second end third end and fourth end form a wall extending about a periphery of the device, the wall forming a lap-joint about the chassis and radome.
7 . The housing of claim 6 wherein the first end includes a first plurality of darts and the second end includes a second plurality of darts.
8 . The housing of claim 7 wherein the third end includes a third plurality of darts and the fourth end includes a fourth plurality of darts.
9 . The housing of claim 8 wherein the first plurality of darts and the third plurality of darts are positioned adjacent each other in a non-overlapping arrangement.
10 . The housing of claim 9 wherein the second plurality of darts and the fourth plurality of darts are positioned adjacent each other in a non-overlapping arrangement.
11 . The housing of claim 6 wherein the first layer and the second layer are formed from pre-impregnated E-glass composite material.