Fastener lattice seal
AssigneeIllinois Tool Works Inc.
InventorMark O. Lepper
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed is a flexible seal to form a sealed connection between a first component and a second component via a fastener and an opening formed in the second component. The flexible seal includes a through-hole, a seal surface, and a lattice structure. The through-hole receives at least a portion of the fastener. The seal surface conforms to the second component and seals the opening. The lattice structure manages a seal formed between the seal surface and the second component.
Claims20
A flexible seal (108) to form a sealed connection between a first component (102) and a second component (104) via a fastener (106) and an opening (118) formed in the second component (104), the flexible seal (108) comprising:
- a through-hole (210) configured to receive at least a portion of the fastener (106);
- a seal surface (212) configured to conform to the second component (104) and to seal the opening (118);
- and
- a lattice structure (204) configured to manage a seal formed between the seal surface (212) and the second component (104).
A fastener assembly (100) to form a sealed connection between a first component (102) and a second component (104) having an opening (118), the fastener assembly (100) comprising:
- a fastener (106) configured to retain the second component (104) relative to the first component (102);
- and
- a flexible seal (108) configured to couple to the fastener (106), wherein the flexible seal (108) comprises a through-hole (210), a lattice structure (204), and a seal surface (212) configured to conform to the second component 104 and to seal the opening (118).
A method of fabricating a flexible seal (108) to form a sealed connection between a first component (102) and a second component (104) via a fastener (106) and an opening (118) formed in the second component (104), the method comprising:
- loading a 3D model to a 3D printer for processing by the 3D printer,
- wherein the 3D model specifies the flexible seal (108) as having a through-hole (210) configured to receive at least a portion of the fastener (106), a seal surface (212) configured to conform to the second component 104 and to seal the opening (118), and a lattice structure (204) configured to manage a seal formed between the seal surface (212) and the second component (104);
- and
- manufacturing, via the 3D printer based on the 3D model, a flexible seal (108) using a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), a thermoplastic vulcanisate (TPV), or a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.