Sealing System for Fasteners

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016332189-A1
Application number	US-201514711123-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 13, 2015
Priority date	May 13, 2015
Publication date	Nov 17, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method and apparatus for forming a sealant coating on a fastener are provided. The apparatus comprises a light generator, a light housing, and a forming cup. The light generator is configured to generate light having a number of characteristics that cures the sealant coating on the fastener. The light housing surrounds the light generator. The forming cup is removably connected to the light housing. The forming cup has an internal cavity with an inner mold line complementary to an outer mold line for the sealant coating.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An apparatus for forming a sealant coating on a fastener, the apparatus comprising:
a light generator configured to generate light having a number of characteristics that cures the sealant coating on the fastener; a light housing surrounding the light generator; and a forming cup removably connected to the light housing, the forming cup having an internal cavity with an inner mold line complementary to an outer mold line for the sealant coating.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the number of characteristics include at least one of wavelength, intensity, or duration.

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a space between the inner mold line of the forming cup and the fastener defines a shape of the sealant coating.

4 . The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:
a cooling plate connected to the light generator, associated with the light housing, and configured to cool the light generator.

5 . The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the cooling plate is connected to a liquid coolant supply system.

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the forming cup is formed of a material substantially transparent to at least one wavelength of the light generated by the light generator.

7 . The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the forming cup further comprises at least one of a reflective coating or a release layer.

8 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the release layer is positioned within the internal cavity.

9 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the reflective coating is associated with an angled portion of the forming cup.

10 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the reflective coating substantially reflects at least one wavelength of the light generated by the light generator.

11 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the light generator comprises:
a light emitting diode array.

12 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the light generator further comprises:
support structures around a periphery of the light emitting diode array.

13 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the forming cup is a first forming cup and further comprising:
a second forming cup having a different shape than a shape of the first forming cup.

14 . An apparatus for forming sealant coating on a fastener, the apparatus comprising:
a light generator configured to generate light that has a number of characteristics that cures the sealant coating on a fastener; and a forming cup formed of a material substantially transparent to the light generated by the light generator and having a shape to direct the light to a sealant contained within an internal cavity of the forming cup.

15 . The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising:
a cooling plate connected to the light generator and a liquid coolant supply system.

16 . The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the forming cup further comprises at least one of a release layer positioned within the internal cavity, or a reflective coating associated with an angled portion of the forming cup.

17 . The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the light generator comprises:
a light emitting diode array.

18 . The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the light emitting diode array has a desired density of packing.

19 . The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the light generator further comprises:
support structures around a periphery of the light emitting diode array.

20 . A method for applying and curing a sealant coating on a fastener comprising:
holding sealant within an internal cavity of a forming cup; generating light using a light generator; and directing the light generated by the light generator into the sealant using the forming cup, wherein the light cures the sealant coating on the fastener.

21 . The method of claim 20 further comprising:
moving the forming cup and the sealant towards the fastener; and
moving the forming cup away from the sealant coating on the fastener after the sealant coating has been cured to a desired extent.

22 . The method of claim 20 , wherein generating the light using the light generator is performed until the sealant is cured to a desired extent.

23 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the forming cup is a first forming cup and further comprising:
removing the first forming cup; and installing a second forming cup relative to the light generator.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Clark Kelly L

Classifications

• B29C41/00

  Shaping by coating a mould, core or other substrate, i.e. by depositing material and stripping-off the shaped article; Apparatus therefor (with compacting pressure B29C43/00 {; by lay-up of reinforcement of substantial or continuous length B29C70/30}) · CPC title

• B05C11/1034

  specially designed for conducting intermittent application of small quantities, e.g. drops, of coating material (B05C5/0225, B05C11/1026 take precedence) · CPC title

• B05D1/00 Primary

  Processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials (B05D5/00, B05D7/00 take precedence) · CPC title

• F16B33/004

  Sealing; Insulation (by means of washers F16B43/001) · CPC title

• B05C11/1028

  Lift valves · CPC title