Fabrication and installation of preformed dielectric inserts for lightning strike protection
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsKathryn Louise Gehrett, James Francis Kirchner, Kelly Lee Clark
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A fabrication method for providing a relatively smooth surface associated with lightning strike protection for composite materials joined with fasteners recessed below the surface is described. The method includes coating at least one of a head of the fastener and a preformed dielectric insert with an adhesive, inserting the preformed dielectric insert into the recess such that the adhesive engages both contours of the recess and the preformed dielectric insert, and removing any excess adhesive from the surface area of the composite material and a top surface of the insert.
Claims11
A fabrication method for providing a relatively smooth surface, the smooth surface associated with lightning strike protection for composite materials joined with fasteners recessed below the smooth surface, said method comprising:
- providing a preformed dielectric insert having a backing material removably coupled to a top surface of the preformed dielectric insert;
- coating at least one of a head of the recessed fastener and a bottom surface of the preformed dielectric insert with an adhesive, wherein the preformed dielectric insert is fabricated from at least two dielectric materials, wherein at least one of the at least two dielectric materials is an elastomer;
- positioning the removable backing material on the smooth surface such that the preformed dielectric insert is inserted into a recess defined above the head of the recessed fastener, such that a portion of the adhesive is dispersed from the at least one of the head of the recessed fastener and the bottom surface of the preformed dielectric insert onto a side surface of the preformed dielectric insert and onto a wall at least partially defining the recess;
- and
- removing, without using a blade, any excess adhesive from the surface area of the composite material and a top surface of the insert.
A fabrication method for providing a relatively smooth surface, the smooth surface associated with lightning strike protection for composite materials joined with fasteners recessed below the smooth surface, said method comprising:
- providing a preformed dielectric insert having a backing material removably coupled to a first surface of the preformed dielectric insert;
- coating at least one of a head of the recessed fastener and a second surface of the preformed dielectric insert with an adhesive;
- positioning the removable backing material on the smooth surface such that the preformed dielectric insert is inserted into a recess defined above the head of the recessed fastener, such that a portion of the adhesive is dispersed from the at least one of the head of the recessed fastener and the second surface of the preformed dielectric insert onto walls defining the recess, wherein at least a portion of the preformed dielectric insert is an elastomer;
- and
- removing, without using a blade, any excess adhesive from the surface area of the composite material and the first surface of the insert.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.