Method for applying a precision amount of sealant to exposed fasteners

A method of applying a sealant around the portion of a fastener exposed above a panel to which the fastener is attached comprising:

• applying a sealant retaining shell over the exposed portion of the fastener to define a closed volume between the shell, fastener and panel;
• applying a pressure on the shell to engage the shell against the panel during injection of the sealant;
• injecting an amount of sealant into the interior cavity of the sealant retaining shell at a pressure such that sealant fills the space between the object and the interior cavity of the shell but is arrested when the space is filled thereby preventing the flow of fluid between the mouth of the shell and the object;
• and
• allowing the sealant to cure.

A method of applying a sealant to cover the portion of a fastener exposed above a panel to which the fastener is attached and the point of engagement of the fastener with the panel comprising:

• (a) applying a sealant retaining shell over the exposed portion of the fastener and into contact with the panel to define a closed cavity between the shell and the fastener and panel;
• (b) applying a force on the shell to engage the shell against the panel during injection of the sealant;
• (c) injecting an amount of sealant into the interior cavity of the sealant retaining shell under a pressure sufficient to cause said sealant to fill the space between the object and the interior cavity of the shell and insufficient, when said space is filled with said sealant, to overcome said applied force of step (b) and force said sealant to flow between the mouth of the shell and the object, thereby arresting the flow of sealant into said cavity;
• and
• (d) allowing the sealant to cure.

A method of applying a sealant over an object comprising:

• applying a sealant retaining shell, having an interior cavity with a mouth thereto, with the mouth of the cavity engaging the object;
• injecting an amount of sealant into the interior cavity of the sealant retaining shell through single port in the head of the shell opposite the mouth of the shell with the mouth of the shell engaging the object such that the space between the object and the interior cavity is filled with sealant;
• allowing the sealant to cure;
• and further comprising
• (a) applying a force on the shell to engage the mouth of the shell against the object, and
• (b) injecting said sealant into the shell under a pressure sufficient to fill said space but insufficient when said space is filled with said sealant to overcome said applied force on the shell and force said sealant to flow between the mouth of the shell and the object, thereby arresting the flow of sealant into said cavity.

A method of applying a sealant over an object comprising:

• applying a sealant retaining shell having an interior cavity with a mouth thereto, with the mouth of the cavity engaging the object, the shell having a port in the head thereof with an injection nozzle receiving connection communicating with the port,
• engaging an injection nozzle in the nozzle receiving connection;
• injecting an amount of sealant through the port into the interior cavity of the sealant retaining shell with the shell engaging the object such the space between the object and the interior cavity is filled with sealant;
• allowing the sealant to cure;
• removing the shell after the sealant has cured by engaging the nozzle receiving connection;
• and further comprising
• (a) applying a force on the shell to engage the mouth of the shell against the object, and
• (b) injecting said sealant into the shell under a pressure sufficient to fill said space but insufficient when said space is filled with said sealant to overcome said applied force on the shell and force said sealant to flow between the mouth of the shell and the object, thereby arresting the flow of sealant into said cavity.

The method of applying a sealant over an object comprising:

• (a) applying a sealant-retaining shell having an interior cavity with a mouth of the cavity engaging the object, said shell having a nozzle-receiving connection defined by a cup formed in the exterior surface of said shell in the head thereof opposite the mouth of said shell, said cup having an injection port at the base thereof opening into the interior of said shell;
• (b) engaging the tip of an injection nozzle into said cup and into communication with said port to permit the injection of sealant from said nozzle and through said port into the interior of said shell;
• (c) injecting an amount of sealant through said nozzle and said port into the interior cavity of the sealant retaining shell with the shell engaging the object such that the space between the object and the interior cavity is filled with sealant;
• (d) allowing the sealant to cure;
• (e) removing the shell after the sealant has cured;
• and further comprising engaging the tip of said injection nozzle into said cup under an applied force on said shell to engage the mouth of the shell against the object and injecting said sealant into the shell under a pressure sufficient to fill said interior cavity but insufficient when said interior cavity is filled with said sealant to overcome the applied force imposed by the tip of said nozzle on the shell and force said sealant to flow between the mouth of the shell and the object, thereby arresting the flow of sealant into said cavity.