Spacer for use in precision bonding applications that provides enhanced shear strength

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11639035-B2
Application number	US-202217571027-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 7, 2022
Priority date	Oct 3, 2016
Publication date	May 2, 2023
Grant date	May 2, 2023

Abstract

A spacer-locator with integrated locator pins and spacer tabs for use in joining applications. The spacer-locator provides consistent and accurate spacing between mating surfaces and the locator pins provide enhanced location control of the joining components while providing a mechanical advantage to the shear strength at the joint. Also, a spacer-locator for joining at least two objects along mating surfaces, the spacer-locator constraining at least two degrees of freedom for the objects to be joined.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system for spacing at least two surfaces, comprising:
a first object with a first mating surface;
a second object with a second mating surface; and
at least one spacer tab with at least one locator pin;
wherein the first mating surface includes at least one locator positioning hole;
wherein the at least one locator pin is operable to prevent rotation in at least one dimension; and
wherein the at least one spacer tab includes at least one fluid channel.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one locator pin includes at least one cross section operable to prevent rotation in the at least one dimension.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one locator pin includes a non-circular cross-section.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one locator pin constrains movement of the first mating surface and the second mating surface in at least two dimensions.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first mating surface and the second mating surface are planar or non-planar.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one locator pin is non-perpendicular to the first mating surface and the second mating surface.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one locator pin further includes at least two locator pins connected by the at least one spacer tab.

8. A system for spacing at least two surfaces, comprising:
a first object with a first mating surface;
a second object with a second mating surface; and
at least one locator pin;
wherein the first mating surface includes at least one locator positioning hole and at least one spacer tab, and wherein the at least one spacer tab is integral with the first mating surface;
wherein the at least one locator pin is operable to prevent rotation in at least one dimension; and
wherein the at least one locator pin further includes at least two locator pins connected by the at least one spacer tab.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the at least one locator pin includes at least one cross section operable to prevent rotation in the at least one dimension.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the at least one locator pin includes a non-circular cross-section.

11. The system of claim 8 , wherein the at least one locator pin constrains movement of the first mating surface and the second mating surface in at least two dimensions.

12. The system of claim 8 , wherein the at least one locator pin is integral with the second mating surface.

13. The system of claim 8 , wherein the first mating surface and the second mating surface are planar or non-planar.

14. The system of claim 8 , wherein the at least one spacer tab includes at least one fluid channel.

15. The system of claim 8 , wherein the at least one locator pin is non-perpendicular to the first mating surface and the second mating surface.

16. A system for spacing at least two surfaces, comprising:
a first object with a first mating surface;
a second object with a second mating surface; and
at least one spacer tab with at least one locator pin;
wherein the first mating surface includes at least one locator positioning hole;
wherein the at least one locator pin is operable to prevent rotation in at least one dimension; and
wherein the at least one locator pin is non-perpendicular to the first mating surface and the second mating surface.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the at least one locator pin includes a non-circular cross-section.

18. The system of claim 16 , wherein the at least one spacer tab includes at least one fluid channel.

19. The system of claim 16 , wherein the at least one locator pin further includes at least two locator pins connected by the at least one spacer tab.

20. The system of claim 16 , wherein the at least one locator pin constrains movement of the first mating surface and the second mating surface in at least two dimensions.

Assignees

• Altec Ind Inc

Inventors

• Mckinney Ryan J
• Hoffmann Kyle E
• Hegg Jace

Classifications

• F16B11/006

  by gluing (gluing of plastics material B29C65/48) · CPC title

• B29C65/48

  using adhesives {, i.e. using supplementary joining material; solvent bonding} · CPC title

• B29C66/87 Primary

  Auxiliary operations or devices · CPC title

• F16B5/065 Primary

  the plates being one on top of the other and distanced from each other, e.g. by using protrusions to keep contact and distance · CPC title

• B29C65/7826

  said distance pieces being non-integral with the parts to be joined, e.g. particles · CPC title