# US 2014/0196831 A1 · Systems, methods, and components for the construction and disassembly of raised panel assemblies > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0196831 A1 - Document ID: US20140196831A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/930,442 - Filed: 2013-06-28 - Published: 2014-07-17 - Earliest claimed: 2012-01-13 - Assignees: The Boeing Company - Applicants: The Boeing Company - Inventors: STEPHEN WILLIAM AYRES; Ralph David Druckman; Paul Henry Allen; Scott Allen Ziemann; Michael C. Esposito - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140196831A1 ## CPC - B29D 99/001: {Producing wall or panel-like structures, e.g. for hulls, fuselages, or buildings (articles with hollow walls B29D24/00)} - B64C 1/066: {Interior liners} - B64C 1/18: Floors - E04F 15/02435: {Sealing joints} - E04F 21/0038: {for fitting sealing strips or like} - E04F 21/1652: {for smoothing and shaping joint compound to a desired contour} - Y10T 156/1189: with shearing during delaminating - B29D: PRODUCING PARTICULAR ARTICLES FROM PLASTICS OR FROM SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE (making granules B29B9/00; making preforms B29B11/00) - B64C: AEROPLANES; HELICOPTERS - E04F: FINISHING WORK ON BUILDINGS, e.g. STAIRS, FLOORS (windows, doors E06B) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract Systems, methods, and components for the construction and disassembly of raised panel assemblies. These systems, methods, and components may include a flow-limiting structure that is configured to define at least one boundary of a channel that includes at least a portion of a gap between adjacent raised panels and is configured to receive a sealant material. The flow-limiting structure may limit a flow of the sealant material therepast, thereby decreasing an overall volume of sealant material needed for construction of the raised panel assembly and/or limiting undesired adhesion of the raised panels to other structures. These systems, methods, and components also may include an elongate disassembly aid that is configured to sever at least a portion of the sealant material from between adjacent raised panels upon removal from the raised panel assembly, such as to decrease a time needed for disassembly and/or repair of the raised panel assembly. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of constructing a raised panel assembly, the method comprising: placing a flow-limiting structure within the raised panel assembly to form a boundary of a channel that is configured to receive a sealant material, wherein the channel includes a portion of a gap between a first edge of a first raised panel and a second edge of a second raised panel; and applying the sealant material to the channel, wherein the flow-limiting structure limits a flow of the sealant material therepast, wherein the sealant material forms an adhesive bond with the first raised panel and the second raised panel, and further wherein the applying is performed after the placing. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the method further includes placing an elongate disassembly aid within the gap, wherein the elongate disassembly aid is configured to decrease a time needed to disassemble the first raised panel from the second raised panel by at least one of slicing, cutting, severing, tearing, and splitting at least a portion of the sealant material that extends between the first raised panel and the second raised panel. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the elongate disassembly aid forms a portion of the flow-limiting structure, and further wherein the placing the elongate disassembly aid is performed concurrently with the placing the flow-limiting structure. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the placing the elongate disassembly aid is performed subsequent to the placing the flow-limiting structure. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the method includes placing the flow-limiting structure and applying the sealant material without adhering a separate tape material to a side of the gap that is opposite from a side of the gap from which the applying is performed. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the applying includes applying the sealant material as a liquid sealant material, and further wherein the method includes curing the sealant material to form a solid sealant material. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the placing includes placing the flow-limiting structure within the raised panel assembly as a solid. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the placing includes compressing the flow-limiting structure between the first edge and the second edge. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the placing includes directly contacting the flow-limiting structure with the first edge and with the second edge. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the applying includes forming an adhesive bond between the sealant material and the flow-limiting structure. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the placing the flow-limiting structure includes regulating a depth of the flow-limiting structure within the gap to provide a contact area between the sealant material, the first raised panel, and the second raised panel that is sufficient to provide a desired bond strength therebetween. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the placing the flow-limiting structure includes placing the flow-limiting structure to a desired depth within the gap using an application tool. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the method further includes orienting the flow-limiting structure relative to the application tool by locating a convex region of the application tool within a recessed region that is defined by the flow-limiting structure. ### Claim 14 A method of disassembling a raised panel assembly, wherein the raised panel assembly includes a first raised panel with a first edge, a second raised panel with a second edge, and a gap between the first edge and the second edge, wherein a flow-limiting structure defines at least one boundary of a channel that includes a portion of the gap, wherein the channel contains a sealant material, and further wherein at least one of the sealant material and the flow-limiting structure includes an elongate disassembly aid, the method comprising: grasping the elongate disassembly aid; removing the elongate disassembly aid from the raised panel assembly, wherein the removing includes separating the elongate disassembly aid from the flow-limiting structure; and severing at least a severed portion of the sealant material that extends between the first edge and the second edge with the elongate disassembly aid during the removing. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the method further includes removing a removed panel from the raised panel assembly, wherein the removed panel includes at least one of the first raised panel and the second raised panel. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein separating includes at least one of slicing, cutting, severing, tearing, and splitting at least a portion of the flow-limiting structure. ### Claim 17 A flow-limiting structure that is configured to limit a flow of a sealant material out of a gap between adjacent raised panels, the flow-limiting structure comprising: a resilient elongate body, wherein the resilient elongate body defines: (i) a longitudinal axis; (ii) a central portion; and (iii) two projections that extend from opposed side regions of the central portion, wherein the central portion and the two projections extend along the longitudinal axis of the resilient elongate body; and an elongate disassembly aid that extends along the longitudinal axis of the flow-limiting structure, wherein a shear strength of the elongate disassembly aid is greater than a shear strength of the resilient elongate body. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The flow-limiting structure of claim 17, wherein the resilient elongate body is a monolithic resilient elongate body that defines a substantially constant transverse cross-sectional shape. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The flow-limiting structure of claim 17, wherein the two projections extend from the central portion to define a concave recessed region therebetween. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) A kit of components configured to be utilized to seal a gap between adjacent raised panels, the kit comprising: the flow-limiting structure of claim 17; a sealant material, wherein the flow-limiting structure is configured to form at least one boundary of a channel that forms a portion of the gap and is configured to receive the sealant material, wherein the flow-limiting structure is configured to limit a flow of the sealant material therepast, and further wherein the sealant material is configured be applied to the channel, to fill a portion of the channel, and to adhere to each of the adjacent raised panels; and an application tool that is configured to insert the flow-limiting structure to a desired depth within the gap prior to the application of the sealant material.