A DUCT COVER FOR DIRECTING A FLUID THERETHROUGH AND A METHODFOR MAKING THE SAME

摘要

A duct cover (12) for use with a duct (4) within a vehicle, the duct cover (12) operative for directing a fluid flow. The duct cover being further operative for minimizing the entrance of foreign object debris into the duct (4). The duct cover (12) has a flow directing honeycomb portion (16) for conducting the passing fluid flow in a preferred direction. The flow directing honeycomb (16) comprises an array of continuous, polygon shaped open cells (20) which are biased with respect to the initial fluid flow direction. The periphery (17) of the flow directing honeycomb (12) is rigidized to stiffen the same for minimizing the displacements thereof. The rigidity is provided by a framing member comprising upper and lower skin structures (28, 29) affixed to a core material (30). The framing member is preferably adhesively bonded to the flow directing honeycomb (16) by means of a foaming adhesive (36) and a barrier member (38). The barrier member (38) is operative for minimizing the expansion of the foaming adhesive (36) into the open cells (20) of the honeycomb (16). In order to improve the low observability characteristics of the structure, the cells (20) of the flow directing honeycomb (16) are preferably coated with a radar absorbent material, such as carbon, which acts to minimize the amount of electromagnetic energy that is reflected therefrom.