US 10,946,408 B2Granted

Methods for applying materials to interface areas and applicator comprising a surface interface guide forming a continuous ring-shaped flow channel

AssigneeThe Boeing Company

InventorsJake B. Weinmann, Raul Tomuta, John W. Pringle, IV, Angelica Davancens, Martin Hanna Guirguis, Frederick Brian Frontiera

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Abstract

Provided are methods and systems for applying materials at interface areas formed by fasteners and parts. Specifically, a material is delivered to an interface area such that at least a portion of a fastener remains free from this material. The interface area may be sealed such that the material is contained within that area. As such, a controlled amount of the material is dispensed in a precise location. An applicator used for this process may include a housing and inner guide slidably disposed within this housing. The material may be delivered through an annular flow channel between the housing and inner guide. The inner guide may be sealed against and, in some embodiments, centered with respect to the fastener. The housing may be sealed with respect to the part and, in some embodiments, may be rotated with respect to the part to redistribute the material at the interface area.

Claims24

Dependent claims

A method for depositing a material in an interface area defined by a fastener and a part, the method comprising:

sealing the interface area from a remaining surface of the fastener and a remaining surface of the part, wherein the remaining surface of the fastener is outside of the interface area, and wherein the remaining surface of the part is outside of the interface area, wherein sealing the interface area comprises:
sealingly engaging the fastener with an inner guide contact surface of an inner guide of an applicator while the inner guide is in a protracted position, wherein the inner guide contact surface is located at an end of the inner guide, and
after sealingly engaging the fastener with the inner guide, sealingly engaging the part with a housing contact surface of a housing of the applicator by moving the inner guide with respect to the housing from the protracted position to a retracted position;
and
flowing the material through a flow channel formed between the housing and the inner guide, wherein the flow channel extends to the inner guide contact surface and the housing contact the surface, wherein the flow channel is restricted when the inner guide is in the protracted position and unrestricted when the inner guide is in the retracted position;
and
forming a deposit of the material having a continuous ring shape formed simultaneously around an entire perimeter of the interface area.

4 more elements

A method for forming a deposit of material, the method comprising:

operating an applicator in a retracted position,
wherein the applicator includes a housing defining a cavity, and an inner guide slidably disposed within the cavity of the housing such that the housing and the inner guide form a flow channel within the cavity between the inner guide and the housing,
wherein the housing is configured to slide with respect to the inner guide between the retracted position and a protracted position,
wherein the flow channel is restricted when the housing is in the retracted position;
and
in the retracted position, sealingly engaging a first surface with an inner guide contact surface of the inner guide to partially define an interface area;
wherein the inner guide contact surface is located at an end of the inner guide and the flow channel is continuous with the cavity and extends from the cavity to the inner guide contact surface;
and
in the protracted position,
flowing the material through the cavity and the flow channel, and
forming the deposit of material at the interface area.

8 more elements

A method for forming a deposit of material, the method comprising:

operating an applicator in a retracted position, wherein the applicator includes:
a housing defining a cavity, and an inner guide slidably disposed within the cavity of the housing such that the housing and the inner guide form a flow channel within the cavity between an internal wall of the housing and an external wall of the inner guide, wherein the housing is configured to slide with respect to the inner guide between the retracted position and a protracted position,
a bypass channel within the inner guide, and
a first seal and a second seal located within the flow channel, each of the first seal and second seal positioned around the inner guide and moveable with the inner guide, and
in the retracted position, sealingly engaging a first surface with an inner guide contact surface of the inner guide to partially define an interface area,
wherein the inner guide contact surface is located at an end of the inner guide and the flow channel is continuous with the cavity and extends from the cavity to the inner guide contact surface, and
wherein in the retracted position, the end of the inner guide extends outside of the cavity, and the first seal is configured to contact the internal wall of the housing to restrict an interior portion of the flow channel from an exterior portion of the flow channel;
and
in the protracted position,
flowing the material through the cavity to the interior portion of the flow channel,
flowing the material from the interior portion of the flow channel through the bypass channel and to the exterior portion of the flow channel, and
forming the deposit of material at the interface area.

9 more elements

An applicator for forming a deposit of material, the applicator comprising:

a housing defining a cavity;
an inner guide slidably disposed within the cavity of the housing such that the housing and the inner guide form a flow channel within the cavity between an internal wall of the housing and an external wall of the inner guide, wherein the housing is configured to slide with respect to the inner guide between a retracted position and a protracted position;
a bypass channel within the inner guide;
and
a first seal and a second seal located within the flow channel, each of the first seal and the second seal positioned around the inner guide and moveable with the inner guide;
wherein in the retracted position,
an inner guide contact surface of the inner guide is configured to sealingly engage a first surface to partially define an interface area, wherein the inner guide contact surface is located at an end of the inner guide and the flow channel is continuous with the cavity and extends from the cavity to the inner guide contact surface, and
the end of the inner guide extends outside of the cavity, and the first seal is configured to contact the internal wall of the housing to restrict an interior portion of the flow channel from an exterior portion of the flow channel;
and
wherein in the protracted position, the material is flowed through the cavity to the interior portion of the flow channel, and through the bypass channel to the exterior portion of the flow channel to form the deposit of material at the interface area.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 15/942,124Filed 30 Mar 2018 · division
Priority: 19 Mar 2015
Published: US 2018/0221914 A19 Aug 2018
Granted: 16 Mar 2021
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification12 codes

B05C 5/0225
The liquid or other fluent material being discharged through an outlet orifice by pressure, e.g. from an outlet device in contact or almost in…:…
B05C 5/0212
For applying liquid or other fluent material to separate articles: only at particular parts of the articles
B05C 17/015
For discharging material from a reservoir or container located in or on the hand tool through an outlet orifice by pressure without using…
B05D 1/26
Processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials: performed by applying the liquid or other fluent material from an outlet device in…

Family

Application14/662,970Parent of this division · filed 19 Mar 2015
US 2018/0221914 A1Pre-grant publication · published 9 Aug 2018
US 9,968,962 B2Parent of this division
US 2016/0271644 A1Published application
US 10,946,408 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.