Apparatus and methods for use in applying a fluid to a surface

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11633757-B2
Application number	US-202117359809-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 28, 2021
Priority date	Jun 15, 2017
Publication date	Apr 25, 2023
Grant date	Apr 25, 2023

Abstract

A fluid applicator for use in a fluid application system includes a base plate comprising at least one rail and a housing slidably coupled to the base plate. The fluid applicator also includes a plurality of fluid permeable pads positioned within the housing and a fluid delivery conduit coupled to the base plate and to the housing. The fluid applicator further includes an actuator configured to selectively move the housing and the plurality of pads along the rails between a first position and a second position. The plurality of fluid permeable pads are in flow communication with the fluid delivery conduit in the first position, and the plurality of fluid permeable pads are prevented from being in flow communication with the fluid delivery conduit in the second position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A fluid applicator for use in a fluid application system, the fluid applicator comprising:
a base plate comprising at least one rail;
a housing slidably coupled to the base plate;
a plurality of fluid permeable pads positioned within the housing;
a fluid delivery conduit coupled to the base plate and to the housing; and
an actuator configured to selectively move the housing and the plurality of pads along the rails between a first position and a second position, wherein the plurality of fluid permeable pads are in flow communication with the fluid delivery conduit in the first position, and wherein the plurality of fluid permeable pads are prevented from being in flow communication with the fluid delivery conduit in the second position.

2. The fluid applicator of claim 1 , further comprising a first end plate coupled to a first end of the base plate and a second end plate coupled to a second end of the base plate, wherein the first end plate comprises an opening to receive the fluid delivery conduit.

3. The fluid applicator of claim 2 , wherein the actuator is coupled to one of the first end plate or the second end plate.

4. The fluid applicator of claim 2 , wherein the first end plate and the second end plate define a range of movement of the housing along the base plate.

5. The fluid applicator of claim 1 , further comprising a pair of gaskets positioned on opposite sides of each pad of the plurality of fluid permeable pads.

6. The fluid applicator of claim 5 , wherein the fluid delivery conduit comprises a plurality of slots, and wherein each fluid permeable pad is aligned with a respective slot in the first position.

7. The fluid applicator of claim 6 , wherein one gasket of each pair of gaskets is aligned with a respective slot in the second position.

8. The fluid applicator of claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a plurality of biasable segments coupled to a respective corresponding fluid permeable pad of the plurality of fluid permeable pads.

9. The fluid applicator of claim 8 , further comprising at least one biasing mechanism coupled to each biasable segment and configured to bias the corresponding biasable segment and fluid permeable pad away from the fluid delivery conduit.

10. A fluid application system, comprising:
a pair of fluid applicators including a first fluid applicator and a second fluid applicator, each of said fluid applicators comprising:
a base plate;
a fluid delivery conduit coupled to said base plate; and
a housing slidably coupled to said base plate between a first position and a second position and comprising a plurality of fluid permeable pads, wherein said housing is selectively moveable to prevent fluid flow between said fluid delivery conduit and said plurality of fluid permeable pads in the first position and to couple said plurality of fluid permeable pads in fluid communication with said fluid delivery conduit in the second position; and

a rail system comprising a guide rail, wherein said first fluid applicator and said second fluid applicator are slidably coupled to said guide rail such that said first fluid applicator and said second fluid applicator are movable relative to each other to adjustably vary a distance therebetween to correspond to a thickness of a workpiece configured to be received between said first fluid applicator and said second fluid applicator.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein said fluid delivery conduit comprises a cavity and plurality of slots defined therethrough, wherein each said fluid permeable pad is aligned with a corresponding slot of said plurality of slots when said housing is in the second position to enable fluid flow from said cavity into said fluid permeable pad.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein each said fluid permeable pad is misaligned with a corresponding slot of said plurality of slots when said housing is in the first position.

13. The system of claim 11 , wherein each said fluid applicator further comprises a plurality of gaskets, wherein a gasket of said plurality of gaskets is aligned with a corresponding slot of said plurality of slots when said housing is in the first position.

14. The system of claim 10 , wherein each said fluid applicator further comprises a first end plate coupled to a first end of said base plate and a second end plate coupled to an opposing end of said base plate, wherein said first end plate and said second end plate define a range of motion of said housing.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein said fluid delivery conduit extends through an opening defined in said first end plate and is coupled within a groove defined in said base plate.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Renwick Zachary B
• Green Zachary L
• Carter Camille D
• Bloch Daniel D

Classifications

• B05C11/10

  Storage, supply or control of liquid or other fluent material; Recovery of excess liquid or other fluent material {(B05C1/0813, B05C5/0225, B05C17/002 and B05C19/06 take precedence)} · CPC title

• B05C1/025 Primary

  to flat rectangular articles, e.g. flat sheets (B05C1/027 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B05C13/00

  Means for manipulating or holding work, e.g. for separate articles {(B05C1/0821 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B05C1/00

  Apparatus in which liquid or other fluent material is applied to the surface of the work by contact with a member carrying the liquid or other fluent material, e.g. a porous member loaded with a liquid to be applied as a coating (B05C5/02, B05C7/00 take precedence) · CPC title

• B05C9/04

  for applying liquid or other fluent material to opposite sides of the work · CPC title