Patent ID: 11865656
Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
Field: Machine tools (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC B | IPC B

Claim 0:
1. A method for repairing a crack in a structure comprising:
mounting a manifold to the structure around the crack, wherein
the structure has a nonplanar surface contour that surrounds the crack,
the manifold has a base portion, a cover portion, and a plug,
the base portion has a grip surface configured to conform to the nonplanar surface contour of the structure that surrounds the crack, the base portion defines a channel, and the channel is in fluid communication with the crack while the base portion is mounted to the structure,
the cover portion is connected to the base portion and covers the channel, the cover portion has an injection port and a vent port that are in fluid communication with the channel, and the injection port is configured to transfer a bonding material alternatively into the channel and out of the channel, and
the plug is configured to alternatively close and open the vent port;

filling the channel in the manifold with the bonding material to direct the bonding material into the crack; and
draining the bonding material from the manifold through the injection port after the bonding material has filled the crack.