# US 10,307,784 B2 · Method and applicator for applying sealant to fasteners

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- Number: US 10,307,784 B2
- Document ID: US10307784B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/243,891
- Filed: 2016-08-22
- Published: 2018-02-22
- Granted: 2019-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2016-08-22
- Assignees: The Boeing Company
- Applicants: The Boeing Company
- Inventors: Diana Dujunco Dan Larrabee; Richard Lynn Hopkins; Jonathan Christopher Heath; John-Isaac Suttles; Robert J. Schumann
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10307784B2

## CPC

- B05C 5/0212: {only at particular parts of the articles (at particular part of web, band, strip, belt or ribbon B05C5/025)}
- B05C 1/027: {only at particular parts of the articles (at particular parts of work of indefinite length B05C1/16)}
- B05C 5/002: {the work consisting of separate articles (B05C5/0208 takes precedence)}
- B05C 17/00503: {Details of the outlet element (B05C17/00523 takes precedence; nozzles for deformable tubular containers B65D35/38)}
- B05C 17/00513: {of the thread type}
- B05C 17/00516: {Shape or geometry of the outlet orifice or the outlet element}
- F16B 39/021: {by injecting a settable material after the screwing down}
- B05C 17/00593: {Hand tools of the syringe type}
- B05C 17/015: with pneumatically {or hydraulically} actuated piston or the like {(B05C17/00543 takes precedence)}
- B05C: APPARATUS FOR APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL (spraying apparatus, atomising apparatus, nozzles B05B; plant for applying liquids or other fluent materials to objects by electrostatic spraying B05B5/08)
- F16B: DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING (couplings for transmitting rotation F16D)

## Abstract

A liquid sealant applicator system that may include a liquid sealant applicator having a coupling to reversibly connect to a source of liquid sealant, a sidewall extending from the coupling and defining a sealant flow path, a flow restrictor that restricts the sealant flow path to an annular pattern of apertures in the flow restrictor, a porous matrix that fills at least a portion of the sealant flow path downstream of the flow restrictor, a matrix retainer configured to retain the porous matrix within the sealant flow path, and a fastener socket connected to the sidewall and having a distal end configured to be placed over and at least substantially enclose the head of a preselected fastener. The applicator is configured to provide a uniform application of sealant from the source of the liquid sealant to the head of the fastener enclosed by the fastener socket.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An applicator for applying a liquid sealant to a fastener, comprising:
a coupling that is configured to reversibly connect to a source of liquid sealant;
a sidewall extending from the coupling, the sidewall including a threaded portion and defining a sealant flow path;
a flow restrictor disposed in the sealant flow path, the flow restrictor restricting the sealant flow path to a plurality of apertures disposed in an annular pattern in the flow restrictor;
a porous matrix that fills at least a portion of the sealant flow path downstream of the flow restrictor;
a matrix retainer configured to retain the porous matrix within the sealant flow path, where the matrix retainer is a locking washer that includes a plurality of inwardly-directed teeth, and the porous matrix is secured within the locking washer by the inwardly-directed teeth; and
a fastener socket connected to the sidewall extending from the coupling, the fastener socket including a threaded portion and having a distal end configured to be placed over a head of a preselected fastener and to enclose the fastener head;
wherein the sidewall and fastener socket are secured to each other by a threaded connection between the threaded portions, such that the flow restrictor and matrix retainer are secured between the sidewall and fastener socket by the threaded connection; and
the applicator is configured to provide a uniform application of the sealant from the source of the liquid sealant to the head of the fastener enclosed by the fastener socket.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The applicator of claim 1, wherein the coupling is configured to connect to the source of liquid sealant via a threaded connector, a quick-connect connector, or a bayonet-type connector.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The applicator of claim 1, wherein the porous matrix abuts the flow restrictor in the sealant flow path.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The applicator of claim 1, wherein the flow restrictor is circular, and the annular pattern of the plurality of apertures is concentric with the flow restrictor.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The applicator of claim 1, wherein the porous matrix includes a polyurethane open cell foam.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The applicator of claim 1, wherein the porous matrix extends to a lip of the fastener socket, excepting for a cavity defined by the porous matrix, the cavity being centered in the fastener socket and configured to accept the fastener head.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The applicator of claim 1, wherein the source of liquid sealant is a standard sealant cartridge disposed in a pneumatic sealant gun.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The applicator of claim 1, wherein the source of liquid sealant is a syringe.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The applicator of claim 1, wherein the flow restrictor and porous matrix are configured so that when the source of liquid sealant is pressurized to between 90-100 psi, a sealant flow rate is established that infuses sealant uniformly throughout the porous matrix.

### Claim 10

A liquid sealant application system, comprising:
a pressurizable source of liquid sealant; and
a liquid sealant applicator; wherein the liquid sealant applicator includes
a proximal coupling that is configured to reversibly connect to the pressurizable source of liquid sealant;
a sidewall extending from the proximal coupling;
a distal fastener socket connected to the sidewall and configured to be placed over a head of a preselected fastener;
a sealant flow path from the proximal coupling to the distal fastener socket;
a flow restrictor disposed in the sealant flow path, the flow restrictor having a plurality of apertures disposed in an annular pattern that is centered in the sealant flow path;
a porous matrix that fills at least a segment of the sealant flow path downstream of the flow restrictor; and
a matrix retainer configured to retain the porous matrix within the sealant flow path, where the matrix retainer is a locking washer that includes a plurality of inwardly-directed teeth, and the porous matrix is secured within the locking washer by the inwardly-directed teeth; wherein
the proximal coupling and distal fastener socket are connected to each other by a threaded connection that permits the distal fastener socket to be disconnected;
the flow restrictor and matrix retainer are secured between the proximal coupling and the distal fastener socket by the threaded connection; and
the liquid sealant application system is configured to provide a uniform application of the sealant from the source of the liquid sealant to the head of the fastener enclosed by the distal fastener socket.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The liquid sealant application system of claim 10, wherein the flow restrictor, porous matrix, matrix retainer, and distal fastener socket are configured to be interchangeable with an alternative flow restrictor, porous matrix, matrix retainer, and distal fastener socket configured for a different preselected fastener head.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The liquid sealant application system of claim 10, wherein the pressurizable source of liquid sealant includes a syringe or a pneumatic sealant gun.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The liquid sealant application system of claim 10, wherein the pressurizable source of liquid sealant is pressurized manually, pressurized using a portable source of compressed gas, or pressurized using a plumbed source of compressed gas.