# US 11,078,947 B2 · Combustion quenching fastener caps with holes > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,078,947 B2 - Document ID: US11078947B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/209,312 - Filed: 2018-12-04 - Published: 2020-03-12 - Granted: 2021-08-03 - Earliest claimed: 2018-09-11 - Assignees: The Boeing Company - Applicants: The Boeing Company - Inventors: Christopher Stephen Roper; Randall Colin Schubert; Eddie Kwon; Jason S. Damazo; Darrin M. Hansen; Mark Randall O'Masta; Morgan A. Stilke - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11078947B2 ## CPC - F16B 33/004: {Sealing; Insulation (by means of washers F16B43/001)} - B29C 45/0001: {characterised by the choice of material} - B64D 45/02: Lightning protectors; Static dischargers - F16B 21/073: {the socket having a resilient part on its inside} - F16B 37/14: Cap nuts; Nut caps or bolt caps - B29K 2027/18: PTFE, i.e. polytetrafluoroethylene {, e.g. ePTFE, i.e. expanded polytetrafluoroethylene} - B29K 2071/00: Use of polyethers {, e.g. PEEK, i.e. polyether-etherketone or PEK, i.e. polyetherketone or derivatives thereof}, as moulding material - B29L 2031/3076: {Aircrafts (blades, propellers B29L2031/08)} - B64D 37/32: Safety measures not otherwise provided for, e.g. preventing explosive conditions - F16B 2200/10: Details of socket shapes - 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) - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - B64D: EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLIGHT SUITS; PARACHUTES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSION TRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT - B29K: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR {MOULDS, } REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS - B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES ## Abstract A cover that extends over a fastener and methods of installing the cover over the fastener. The cover includes an open end positioned at a member from which the fastener extends. The cover also includes a closed end that extends over the fastener and shields the fastener from the exterior environment that can be combustible. A plurality of holes extend through the cover from the interior space to an exterior environment external to the cap. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A cover, comprising: a base comprising a first end and an opposing second end; a cap comprising an open end positioned at the second end of the base, the cap further comprising a closed end; an interior space positioned within the base and the cap and that is sized to extend over at least one fastener; and a plurality of holes that extend through the cap from the interior space to an exterior environment external to the cap, each of the holes comprises a hydraulic diameter of between 0.1 mm 2.0 mm. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The cover of claim 1, wherein: the interior space comprises a longitudinal axis that extends through the first end of the base; an exclusion zone positioned in the interior space at an intersection of the first end and the longitudinal axis; and the holes are aligned to prevent a line of sight through the holes from the exterior environment to the exclusion zone. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The cover of claim 1, wherein the holes comprise between 0.1%-90% of a surface area of the cap and the base. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The cover of claim 1, wherein each of the holes comprises a centerline that is straight, and wherein the centerlines of each of the holes are parallel. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The cover of claim 1, wherein each of the holes comprises a bend between a first end of the hole and a second end of the hole. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The cover of claim 1, wherein the cap comprises a masking area that is devoid of the holes, the masking area extending from the open end towards the closed end. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The cover of claim 1, wherein the open end of the cap has a greater width than the closed end with the width being measured perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the cap. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The cover of claim 1, wherein the holes are aligned to prevent a line of sight from the exterior environment to the first end of the base. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The cover of claim 1, further comprising a gasket positioned at the first end of the base, the gasket configured to conform the first end of the base against a member. ### Claim 10 A cover, comprising: a body comprising an open first end and a closed second end, an inner side and an outer side, and an interior space sized to extend over a fastener; and a plurality of holes that extend through the body to allow passage of a fluid from the interior space to an exterior environment, each of the holes comprising a first end at the inner side and a second end at the outer side; a masking area along the body that is devoid of the plurality of holes, the masking area extending from the open end towards the closed end and with the plurality of holes positioned along lateral sides of the masking area and directly above the masking area between a top of the masking area and the second end of the body; an exclusion zone positioned in the interior space at a center of the first end of the body, each of the holes is configured such that a straight line that extends between any point at the first end and any point at the second end does not intersect with the exclusion zone. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The cover of claim 10, wherein each of the holes comprises a hydraulic diameter of between 0.1 mm 2.0 mm. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The cover of claim 10, wherein the body comprises a base with a first end and a second end, and a cap attached to the base and positioned at the second end of the base. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The cover of claim 12, wherein the interior space is sized to extend over two or more of the fasteners. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The cover of claim 10, wherein the cover is mounted in a fuel cell of an aircraft and configured to quench an ignition event in the fuel cell triggered by an ignition source associated with a fastener. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The cover of claim 10, wherein each of the holes is straight and wherein each of the holes includes a centerline, with the centerlines of each of the holes being parallel. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The cover of claim 10, wherein the holes are aligned to prevent a line of sight through the holes from the exterior environment to the first end of the body. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) A method of installing the cover of claim 1 over one of the at least one fasteners, the method comprising: positioning the cover over the fastener that extends from a member with the open end of the cover positioned around the fastener and a closed end of the cover extending over the fastener, the cover comprising a plurality of holes that extend through the cover with a first end on an inner side of the cover and a second end at an outer side of the cover; and aligning the cover over the fastener with the holes aligned to prevent the fastener from being visible through the plurality of holes from the exterior environment. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein aligning the cover over the fastener comprises aligning the cover such that for each hole a straight line that extends through any point at the second end of the hole and any point at the first end of the hole does not intersect with the fastener. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising aligning a solid section of the cover adjacent to the fastener and aligning the holes farther away from the fastener. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising positioning the cover over the fastener and at least a second one of the at least one fastener.