Method for fuel tank spark containment
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsRichard B. Tanner, James Frederick Ackermann
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for forming a seal over a hole in a structure. The apparatus comprises a washer, a sleeve, and a fastener. The washer has a first channel. The sleeve has a second channel and an expandable section. The sleeve is positioned inside the first channel in the washer. The fastener has an elongate portion positioned inside the second channel of the sleeve to cause at least a portion of the expandable section of the sleeve to form a first interference fit with the washer.
Claims12
A method for forming a seal over a hole in a first part joined to a second part of a structure, the method comprising:
- positioning a sleeve inside a first channel in a washer;
- positioning the sleeve and the washer relative to the hole;
- moving an elongate portion of a fastener into an expandable section of the sleeve to install the fastener and the sleeve in the hole, where the sleeve extends through the first part and into the second part and wherein moving the elongate portion of the fastener into the sleeve causes at least a portion of the expandable section of the sleeve to form a first interference fit with the washer;
- and
- positioning a securing mechanism on the elongate portion of the fastener extending from the second part to hold the washer against a surface of the structures;
- wherein positioning the sleeve inside the first channel in the washer and moving the elongate portion of the fastener into the expandable section of the sleeve occurs at the same time.
A method of spark containment in an aircraft, the method comprising:
- positioning a sleeve inside a first channel in a washer, wherein the washer has a countersunk portion and an outer diameter greater than a diameter of a hole of a first part of a structure in the aircraft;
- positioning the sleeve and the washer relative to the first part of the structure in the aircraft;
- moving an elongate portion of a fastener into an expandable section of the sleeve to install the fastener and the sleeve in the hole, where the sleeve extends through the first part of the structure and into a second part of the structure and wherein moving the elongate portion of the fastener into the sleeve causes at least a portion of the expandable section of the sleeve to form a first interference it with the washer;
- and
- positioning a securing mechanism on the elongate portion of the fastener extending from the second part of the structure to hold the washer against a surface of the first part of the structure such that the washer forms a seal around the hole;
- wherein positioning the sleeve inside the first channel in the washer and moving the elongate portion of the fastener into the expandable section of the sleeve occurs at the same time.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.