Friction fit electromagnetic effect protection cap system
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsBart Stevens, Daniel J. Cowan, Sean Auffinger
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A protective seal cap assembly for enclosing an end portion of a fastener extending through a structure, which includes a cap member. The cap member includes a sidewall which defines an opening and defines an interior space within the sidewall and aligned with the opening, wherein the sidewall defines a central axis. The cap member further includes at least one rib which extends away from an interior surface of the sidewall within the interior space and extends in a direction along the central axis of the cap member.
Claims21
A protective seal cap assembly for enclosing an end portion of a fastener extending through a structure, comprising:
- a cap member comprising:
- a sidewall which defines an opening and defines an interior space within the sidewall and aligned with the opening, wherein the sidewall defines a central axis;
- an end portion of the sidewall includes an inner wall member and outer wall member, such that the inner wall member and the outer wall member defines a channel, which extends about the central axis;
- a first port is defined by the outer wall member and a second port is defined by the outer wall member, such that the first port and the second port are space apart from each other about the central axis, and with the seal cap positioned on the structure, a first flow path positioned between the channel and an exterior of the outer wall member is bounded by the first port and the structure and a second flow path positioned between the channel and an exterior of the outer wall member is bounded by the second port and the structure;
- and
- at least one rib which extends away from the sidewall within the interior space and extends in a direction along the central axis of the cap member, wherein with the cap member positioned enclosing the end portion of the fastener, at least a portion of the at least one rib deforms and creates an interference friction between the at least one rib and the end portion of the fastener.
A method for holding a protective seal cap assembly against a structure enclosing an end portion of a fastener which extends through the structure, comprising the steps of:
- positioning a cap member over the end portion of the fastener and against the structure wherein the cap member includes:
- a sidewall which defines an opening and defines an interior space within the sidewall and aligned with the opening, wherein the sidewall defines a central axis;
- an end portion of the sidewall includes an inner wall member and outer wall member, such that the inner wall member and the outer wall member defines a channel, which extends about the central axis;
- a first port is defined by the outer wall member and a second port is defined by the outer wall member, such that the first port and the second port are space apart from each other about the central axis, and with the seal cap positioned on the structure, a first flow path positioned between the channel and an exterior of the outer wall member is bounded by the first port and the structure and a second flow path positioned between the channel and an exterior of the outer wall member is bounded by the second port and the structure;
- and
- at least one rib which extends away from the sidewall within the interior space and extends in a direction along the central axis of the cap member;
- and
- deforming at a least a portion of the at least one rib creating interference friction between the at least one rib and the end portion of the fastener.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.