Systems and Approaches for Assembling a Maritime Vehicle

Abstract

An approach for assembling a maritime vehicle includes forming a keel panel from a single sheet of metal, forming a first side panel from a single sheet of metal, forming a second side panel from a single sheet of metal, and forming a lip member. The first side panel and the second side panel are temporarily coupled with the lip member. The keel panel is secured with the first side panel and the second side panel using a cold joining process.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for assembling a maritime vehicle, the method comprising:
 forming a keel panel from a single sheet of metal;   forming a first side panel from a single sheet of metal;   forming a second side panel from a single sheet of metal;   forming a lip member;   temporarily coupling the first side panel and the second side panel with the lip member;   securing the keel panel with the first side panel and the second side panel using a cold joining process.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further including fixturing the first side panel and the second side panel with the lip member via a riveting process. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of securing the keel panel with the first and second side panels using a cold joining process comprises using an aluminum bonding process. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of heat treating at least a portion of at least one of the keel panel, the first side panel, or the second side panel. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising the step of coupling at least a portion of the keel panel with at least one of the first side panel or the second side panel via a spot welding process. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the keel panel, the first side panel, and the second side panel are formed from a single sheet of aluminum. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the keel panel, the first side panel, and the second side panel are each formed via a stamping process using a machine press. 
     
     
         8 . A method for assembling a maritime vehicle, the method comprising:
 providing a keel panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel, each of the keel panel, the first side panel, and the second side panel being constructed from a single sheet of metal;   temporarily coupling the first side panel and the second side panel with a lip member;   securing the keel panel with the first side panel and the second side panel using a cold joining process.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further including fixturing the first side panel and the second side panel with the lip member via a riveting process. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the step of securing the keel panel with the first and second side panels using a cold joining process comprises using an aluminum bonding process. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising the step of heat treating at least a portion of at least one of the keel panel, the first side panel, or the second side panel. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising the step of coupling at least a portion of the keel panel with at least one of the first side panel or the second side panel via a spot welding process. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the keel panel, the first side panel, and the second side panel are formed from a single sheet of aluminum. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the keel panel, the first side panel, and the second side panel are each formed via a stamping process using a machine press.