Foamed energy absorptive fastener seal cap

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10301033-B2
Application number	US-201615275338-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 24, 2016
Priority date	Feb 1, 2012
Publication date	May 28, 2019
Grant date	May 28, 2019

Abstract

A fuel tank system comprising a fuel tank, a number of fasteners, and a number of covers. The number of fasteners has a number of ends extending into an interior of the fuel tank. The number of covers is configured to cover the number of ends of the number of fasteners. A cover in the number of covers comprises a housing configured to cover an end of a fastener in the number of ends, a deformable material associated with an interior side of the cover, and cells that are present within the deformable material. The deformable material is configured to contain energy within the cover in which the energy is caused by an electromagnetic event.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for operating a platform with a fuel tank, the method comprising:
operating the platform using fuel in the fuel tank, wherein the fuel tank has a fastener having an end within an interior of the fuel tank; and
containing energy within a cover that covers the end such that at least one of a housing of the cover, a deformable material in the cover, and cells present within the deformable material contain the energy within the cover, wherein the energy is caused by an electromagnetic event.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein containing the energy within the cover comprises:
absorbing at least one of mechanical force, heat, and an electrostatic discharge using the at least one of the housing of the cover, the deformable material in the cover, and the cells.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
preventing fuel from flowing out of the fuel tank.

4. A method for absorbing energy within a cover, the method comprising:
filling an interior of the cover with a deformable material;
creating a path wherein the energy flows from an end of a fastener on an exterior of a fuel tank, through a hole in the exterior of the fuel tank, and into the deformable material;
dissipating the energy;
wherein the deformable material comprises cells; and
wherein creating a path further comprises extending the path through the cells of the deformable material.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein dissipating the energy comprises:
deforming the deformable material.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the deformable material is elastically deformable and has an original shape and further comprising:
substantially returning the deformable material to the original shape after deforming the deformable material.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein deforming the deformable material comprises compressing the deformable material.

8. A method for absorbing energy within a cover, the method comprising:
filling an interior of the cover with a deformable material;
creating a path wherein the energy flows from an end of a fastener on an exterior of a fuel tank, through a hole in the exterior of the fuel tank, and into the deformable material;
dissipating the energy;
wherein the energy is caused by an electromagnetic event, the deformable material comprises a foam, and wherein dissipating the energy comprises:
absorbing a force generated by a gas formed within the cover during the electromagnetic event.

9. The method of claim 4 , wherein the energy comprises at least one of mechanical energy, thermal energy, and electrical energy.

10. The method of claim 4 , wherein the energy is a moving particle and wherein creating a path further comprises:
bouncing the moving particle off of a housing of the cover.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein dissipating the energy comprises dissipating kinetic energy in the moving particle.

12. A method for containing energy within a cover, the method comprising:
filling an interior of the cover with a deformable material;
creating a path wherein the energy flows from an end of a fastener on an exterior of a fuel tank, through a hole in the exterior of the fuel tank, and into the deformable material;
altering the path to reduce energy flow;
wherein the deformable material comprises cells; and
wherein altering the path comprises extending the path through the cells of the deformable material.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein altering the path comprises:
compressing the deformable material.

14. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
forming a seal between the deformable material and the interior of the cover; and
using the seal to prevent energy transfer.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
using the seal to reduce or prevent fluid from entering or exiting the fuel tank.

16. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
preventing accumulation of electrical charge using the cover.

17. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
placing a layer between the cover and the deformable material.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein creating the path further comprises modifying the path such that the energy flows through the layer before flowing into the deformable material.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Gaw Kevin O'Brien

Classifications

• B64D45/02

  Lightning protectors; Static dischargers · CPC title

• B64D37/06

  Constructional adaptations thereof · CPC title

• Y10T29/49948

  Multipart cooperating fastener [e.g., bolt and nut] · CPC title

• B64C3/34

  Tanks constructed integrally with wings, e.g. for fuel or water · CPC title

• Y10T29/49947

  by applying separate fastener · CPC title