Apparatuses and methods for improved sealing
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsSteven A. Best, Jesse Randal Wiseman, Hugh Christopher VanValkenburgh, John R. Lowell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A dry bay sealing assembly is provided that includes a first end plate and a second end plate that are configured to be disposed on respective opposite first and second sides of a structural member proximate to a joint defined between the structural member and a fitting. The first end plate and the second end plate are configured to define an interior volume therebetween containing at least a portion of a fastener joining the structural member and the fitting. The first end plate and the second end plate are configured to cooperate with the structural member to seal the interior volume from an exterior volume.
Claims20
A dry bay sealing assembly comprising:
- a first end plate and a second end plate configured to be disposed on respective opposite first and second sides of a structural member proximate to a joint defined between the structural member and a fitting, the first end plate and the second end plate configured to define an interior volume therebetween containing at least a portion of a fastener joining the structural member and the fitting, the first end plate and the second end plate configured to cooperate with the structural member to seal the interior volume from an exterior volume.
A method comprising:
- joining a structural member to a fitting at a joint using at least one fastener, wherein at least a portion of the at least one fastener extends into an interior of the structural member;
- positioning a first end plate on a first side of the structural member;
- positioning a second end plate on a second side of the structural member to define an interior volume, wherein the at least a portion of the at least one fastener that extends into the interior of the structural member is contained within the interior volume;
- and
- sealing at least the first end plate, second end plate, and structural member to provide a seal between the interior volume and an exterior volume.
An airplane wing joint assembly comprising:
- a fitting configured to be joined to a body of the airplane;
- a structural member configured to be joined to a wing of the airplane, the wing defining a fuel carrying volume, the structural member joined to the fitting at a joint by at least one fastener;
- and
- a first end plate and a second end plate disposed on respective opposite first and second sides of the structural member proximate to the joint defined between the structural member and the fitting, the first end plate and the second end plate configured to define an interior volume therebetween containing at least a portion of the at least one fastener joining the structural member and the fitting, the first end plate and the second end plate cooperating with the structural member to seal the interior volume from the fuel carrying volume.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.