Sealant pod self-securing insert
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsRaj A. Desai, Christopher Brad Long, Christopher J. Mills
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fastener-receiving insert system includes a fastener-receiving insert having a proximal end and a distal end and at least one adhesive-dispensing chamber adjacent to the distal end of the insert, containing at least one part of an adhesive material within a chamber wall. The fastener-receiving insert system further includes a puncturing device operably engaged with and configured to puncture the chamber wall to release the at least one part of the adhesive material around the fastener-receiving insert.
Claims20
A fastener-receiving insert system, comprising:
- a fastener-receiving insert having a proximal end and a distal end;
- at least one adhesive-dispensing chamber arranged externally to the fastener-receiving insert and in engagement with the distal end thereof, and containing at least one part of an adhesive material within a chamber wall;
- and
- a puncturing device operably engaged with and arranged to puncture the chamber wall to release the at least one part of the adhesive material therefrom to dispense the at least one part of the adhesive material around the faster-receiving insert.
A method of forming a fastener-receiving insert system, comprising:
- disposing at least one adhesive-dispensing chamber externally to the fastener-receiving insert and in engagement with a distal end thereof, and at least one adhesive-dispensing chamber containing at least one part of an adhesive material within a chamber wall;
- and
- operably-engaging a puncturing device with the at least one adhesive-dispensing chamber, the puncturing device being arranged to puncture the chamber wall to release the at least one part of the adhesive material around the fastener-receiving insert.
A method of installing a fastener-receiving insert system in a composite panel, comprising:
- placing a fastener-receiving insert system in an insert-receiving orifice defined by the composite panel, the fastener-receiving insert system comprising a fastener-receiving insert having a proximal end and a distal end, at least one adhesive-dispensing chamber arranged externally to the fastener-receiving insert and in engagement with the distal end thereof, and containing at least one part of an adhesive material within a chamber wall, and a puncturing device operably engaged with the chamber wall and arranged to puncture the chamber wall;
- applying pressure to the proximal end of the fastener-receiving insert in the insert-receiving orifice to compress the at least one adhesive-dispensing chamber;
- and
- puncturing the chamber wall with the puncturing device to release the at least one part of the adhesive material therefrom and to dispense the at least one part of the adhesive material between the fastener-receiving insert and the composite panel to secure the fastener-receiving insert within the insert-receiving orifice.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.