Self pumping and priming adhesive joint system
A tube form assembly includes an inner member and an outer member. Each of the inner and outer members has an offset which creates a cavity therebetween. During assembly of the tube form assembly, an adhesive is located in the cavity and squeezed out and through the adjacent bond lines between the inner member and outer member. The pressurization and flow of adhesive outward from the cavity facilitates removal of air bubbles, as well as prevents the introduction of air bubbles into the bond line.
1. A tube form assembly, comprising:
an attachment member configured to couple to a structure exhibiting oscillatory motion;
an elastomer member coupled to an outer surface of the attachment member;
an inner member coupled to the elastomer member;
an outer member for translatingly receiving at least a portion of the inner member;
an inner offset adjoining an outer surface of the inner member, the inner offset including an arcuate portion thereof such that a cross-section of the arcuate portion of the inner offset taken along a longitudinal axis of the tube form assembly is curved,
wherein the arcuate portion and the outer surface of the inner member meet at a non-arcuate corner portion of the inner member;
an outer offset located in an inner surface of the outer member, the outer offset being arcuate such that a cross-section of the outer offset taken along the longitudinal axis of the tube form assembly is curved;
a cavity formed between the inner offset and the outer offset; and
an adhesive located between the inner member and the outer member;
wherein assembly of the inner member and the outer member causes a portion of the adhesive to be squeezed away from the cavity.
2. The tube form assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the volume of the cavity is configured to contain an amount of adhesive.
3. The tube form assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a seal located at an end portion between the inner member and the outer member, the seal being configured to force the adhesive to be squeezed away from the seal.
4. The tube form assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the inner member and the outer member are cylindrically shaped.
5. The tube form assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the tube form assembly is configured for use as a gearbox pylon mounting link for an aircraft.
6. The tube form assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the elastomer member has a spring rate for treating an oscillatory motion.
7. A method for assembling a tube form assembly, the method comprising:
providing an attachment member configured to couple to a structure exhibiting oscillatory motion;
providing an elastomer member coupled to an outer surface of the attachment member;
providing an inner member coupled to the elastomer member and an outer member, the inner member and the outer member having contours which create a cavity therebetween, wherein the cavity is formed by a first offset in the inner member and a second offset in the outer member, the first offset including an arcuate portion thereof such that a cross-section of the first offset taken along a longitudinal axis of the tube form assembly is curved, and the second offset being arcuate such that a cross-section of the second offset taken along a longitudinal axis of the tube form assembly is curved, wherein the arcuate portion of the first offset and an outer surface of the inner member meet at a non-arcuate corner portion of the inner member;
applying an adhesive in the cavity; and
pressing the inner member and the outer member together so that a volume of the cavity decreases, thereby squeezing a portion of the adhesive towards one or more extremities of the tube form assembly.
8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the adhesive is a paste adhesive.
9. The method according to claim 7 , further comprising:
removing excess adhesive.
10. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the pressing of the inner member and the outer member also includes restricting the outer member and the inner member in a radial direction.
11. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the pressing of the inner member and the outer member together includes translating the inner member relative to the outer member along a central axis of the tube form assembly.
12. The method according to claim 7 , further comprising:
curing the adhesive.
13. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the pressing of the inner member and the outer member together so that the volume of the cavity decreases includes expelling air bubbles in the adhesive by a resulting increase in pressure in the cavity.
14. The method according to claim 7 , further comprising configuring the tube form assembly for use as a link for an aircraft.
15. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the cavity is located at a uniform radius from a central axis of the tube form assembly.