Joining polymer workpieces to other components
US8250725B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 27, 2007 |
| Grant date | Aug 28, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 16, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T29/49993
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A shape memory polymer workpiece is attached to a second workpiece. A face of the SMP workpiece is placed against an attachment surface of the second workpiece. The second workpiece has an attachment hole(s). The SMP workpiece is activated (e.g., heated) to a softening temperature and a portion extruded into the attachment hole of the facing surface of the second workpiece. The SMP piece is held while still heated against the second workpiece, the material flowing as result of the shape memory effect to form an attachment. As the SMP material cools while still under load its modulus increases fixing the attachment geometry. Reheating the attached parts without pushing them together reverses the process.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.