System and method for sealing a metal fastener from electrolyte in an area of dissimilar metals
AssigneeJ.S.T. Corporation
InventorDavid DEMARATOS
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A sealing system and a method for sealing a metal fastener and members having dissimilar metals for a header connector or a connector device from electrolyte in an area where, in the header connector or the connector device, certain dissimilar metals may be in contact. The metal fastener and other adjoining or abutting dissimilar metals are sealed by a non-conductive seal from electrolyte, thereby protecting the metal fastener and the other adjoining or abutting dissimilar metals from galvanic corrosion and subsequently protecting the integrity of the header connector or the connector device.
Claims15
A system for sealing a metal fastener from electrolyte in an area of dissimilar metals, comprising a seal, wherein said seal comprises:
- a least a substantially flat portion that is seated between a first member and a second member, and
- end portions, each of said end portions being substantially C-shaped and being respectively mounted onto an end portion of said first member, wherein each substantially C-shaped end portion of said seal has a lower end portion and an upper end portion, each lower end portion having at least a lower pad and each upper end portion having at least an upper pad, an extended portion extending from said upper end portion and having at least an inner pad, and
- side portions having apertures passing therethrough for respectively receiving therein metal fasteners,
- wherein each lower pad is seated into a corresponding first groove of said second member,
- wherein said upper pad is seated into a corresponding second groove below or beneath a head of a corresponding one of said fasteners, and
- wherein said inner pad is seated into a corresponding third groove below or beneath said head of a corresponding one of said fasteners.
A method for sealing a metal fastener from electrolyte in an area of dissimilar metals, comprising the steps of:
- mounting a seal onto a first member;
- placing said first member, with said seal mounted thereon, onto a second member so as to abut thereto;
- inserting fasteners into apertures passing through said seal and said first member;
- fastening threads of said fasteners into said second member;
- respectively covering with cover side portions of said seal ends of said first member;
- inserting corresponding one of lower pads of said seal into a corresponding one of grooves of said second member;
- inserting a corresponding one of upper pads of said seal into a corresponding one of first grooves below or beneath a portion of a head of a corresponding one of said fasteners;
- and
- inserting a corresponding one of inner pads of said seal into a corresponding one of second grooves below or beneath another portion of said head of a corresponding one of said fasteners.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.