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US 11,167,310 B2Granted
Sealing assembly for forming sealant coating on a fastener, the sealing assembly comprising a light generator and a forming cup associated with the light generator
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorKelly L. Clark
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for forming a sealant coating on a fastener are provided. The apparatus comprises a light generator, a light housing, and a forming cup. The light generator is configured to generate light having a number of characteristics that cures the sealant coating on the fastener. The light housing surrounds the light generator. The forming cup is removably connected to the light housing. The forming cup has an internal cavity with an inner mold line complementary to an outer mold line for the sealant coating.
Claims23
A sealing assembly configured to form a sealant coating on a fastener, such that the sealing assembly comprises each of the following components having a common central axis:
- a light generator at an end of the sealing assembly connected to a cooling plate configured to connect to a robotic arm and configured to generate a light that comprises a number of characteristics that cures the sealant coating on the fastener;
- a light housing configured to:
- surround the light generator;
- receive, at a first end of the light housing, a retainer of the light housing, said retainer configured to receive a first quick release connector;
- a second end of the light housing configured to interface with the cooling plate to encompass the light generator;
- a forming cup that comprises:
- a base and a body;
- a material substantially transparent to the light generated by the light generator;
- and
- a shape configured to direct the light to the sealant coating contained within an internal cavity of the forming cup;
- and
- a forming cup attachment located between the forming cup and the light housing;
- said forming cup attachment comprises the first quick release connector configured to removably connect to the light housing;
- and
- said forming cup attachment configured to retain the forming cup at a constant distance from the light generator within the sealing assembly, a retainer of the forming attachment.
12 more elements
A method for applying and curing a sealant coating on a fastener using a sealing assembly for forming the sealant coating, the method comprising:
- holding a sealant within an internal cavity of a forming cup of the sealing assembly, wherein the forming cup comprises :
- a base and a body;
- a number of characteristics for curing the sealant coating on the fastener;
- a material substantially transparent to a light coming from a light generator at an end of the sealing assembly connected to a cooling plate configured to connect to a robotic arm;
- and
- a shape directing a light to the sealant coating within the internal cavity of the forming cup, the light comprising a number of characteristics for curing the sealant coating on the fastener and, such that the sealing assembly comprises:
- a light housing surrounding the light generator and configured to:
- receive, at a first end of the light housing, a retainer of the light housing configured to receive a first quick release connector;
- receive, at a second end of the light housing, the cooling plate;
- wherein said light housing and the cooling plate encompass the light generator;
- and
- a forming cup attachment:
- located between the forming cup and the light housing, said forming cup attachment comprising:
- the first quick release connector configured to removably connect to the light housing and retain a portion of the forming cup within the forming cup attachment and retain the forming cup a constant distance from the light generator within the sealing assembly;
- and
- a retainer of the forming cup attachment including threads configured to receive a second quick release connector configured to connect the forming cup to the forming cup attachment;
- the robotic arm moving the forming cup over the fastener;
- and directing the light onto and curing the sealant coating.
15 more elements
A sealing assembly configured to form a sealant coating on a fastener, such that the sealing assembly comprises each of the following components having a common central axis :
- a light generator at an end of the sealing assembly connected to a cooling plate configured to connect to a robotic arm and configured to generate a light that comprises a number of characteristics that cures the sealant coating on the fastener;
- a light housing configured to:
- surround the light generator;
- receive, at a first end of the light housing, a retainer of the light housing, said retainer of the light housing, configured to include a first quick release connector;
- a second end of the light housing configured to interface with the cooling plate to encompass the light generator;
- a forming cup that comprises:
- a base and a body;
- a material substantially transparent to the light generated by the light generator;
- and a shape configured to direct the light to the sealant coating contained within an internal cavity of the forming cup;
- and
- a forming cup attachment located between the forming cup and the light housing;
- said forming cup attachment comprises a second quick release connector configured to removably connect to the light housing;
- and
- said forming cup attachment configured to retain the forming cup a constant distance from the light generator within the sealing assembly;
- said retainer of the forming cup attachment configured to hold a portion of the forming cup within the forming cup attachment;
- and
- said retainer of the forming cup attachment comprises threads configured to receive a second quick release connector configured to connect the forming cup to the forming cup attachment.
14 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.