Sealant-applicator tip and method for applying a sealant material

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018161802-A1
Application number	US-201615373621-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 9, 2016
Priority date	Dec 9, 2016
Publication date	Jun 14, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A sealant-applicator tip ( 100 ) comprises a body ( 102 ), having a plane of symmetry ( 104 ) and comprising an inlet opening ( 106 ). The sealant-applicator tip ( 100 ) also comprises a head ( 108 ), extending from the body ( 102 ) opposite the inlet opening ( 106 ). The head ( 108 ) comprising a first planar face ( 110 ), comprising a first linear edge ( 112 ), a second planar face ( 114 ), comprising a second linear edge ( 116 ), a third face ( 118 ), comprising a third edge ( 120 ), a fourth face ( 122 ), comprising a fourth edge ( 124 ), a fifth edge ( 126 ), a sixth edge ( 128 ), a seventh edge ( 130 ), and an outlet opening ( 134 ), formed in the third face ( 118 ) and in communication with the inlet opening ( 106 ) of the body ( 102 ). The sealant-applicator tip ( 100 ) further comprises a channel ( 140 ), extending from the inlet opening ( 106 ) to the outlet opening ( 134 ).

First claim

1 . A sealant-applicator tip ( 100 ), comprising:
a body ( 102 ), having a plane of symmetry ( 104 ), wherein the body ( 102 ) comprises an inlet opening ( 106 ); a head ( 108 ), extending from the body ( 102 ) opposite the inlet opening ( 106 ), wherein the head ( 108 ) comprises:
a first planar face ( 110 ), comprising a first linear edge ( 112 );
a second planar face ( 114 ), oriented at a first non-zero angle ( 162 ) to the first planar face ( 110 ) and comprising a second linear edge ( 116 ), wherein the first linear edge ( 112 ) of the first planar face ( 110 ) and the second linear edge ( 116 ) of the second planar face ( 114 ) lie in a virtual flat plane ( 132 );
a third face ( 118 ), separating the first planar face ( 110 ) from the second planar face ( 114 ), wherein the third face ( 118 ) comprises a third edge ( 120 );
a fourth face ( 122 ), comprising a fourth edge ( 124 );
a fifth edge ( 126 ), shared by the first planar face ( 110 ) and the fourth face ( 122 );
a sixth edge ( 128 ), shared by the second planar face ( 114 ) and the fourth face ( 122 );
a seventh edge ( 130 ), shared by the third face ( 118 ) and the fourth face ( 122 ), and
an outlet opening ( 134 ), formed in the third face ( 118 ), wherein the outlet opening ( 134 ) is in communication with the inlet opening ( 106 ) of the body ( 102 ); and a channel ( 140 ), extending from the inlet opening ( 106 ) to the outlet opening ( 134 ).

2 . The sealant-applicator tip ( 100 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the third edge ( 120 ) of the third face ( 118 ) is linear and lies in the virtual flat plane ( 132 ), the third face ( 118 ) is planar, and the third face ( 118 ) is oblique to the first planar face ( 110 ) and to the second planar face ( 114 ).

3 - 7 . (canceled)

8 . The sealant-applicator tip ( 100 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the virtual flat plane ( 132 ), containing the first linear edge ( 112 ) of the first planar face ( 110 ) and the second linear edge ( 116 ) of the second planar face ( 114 ), is perpendicular to the plane of symmetry ( 104 ) of the body ( 102 ).

9 . The sealant-applicator tip ( 100 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the virtual flat plane ( 132 ), containing the first linear edge ( 112 ) of the first planar face ( 110 ) and the second linear edge ( 116 ) of the second planar face ( 114 ), is oblique to the plane of symmetry ( 104 ) of the body ( 102 ).

10 - 12 . (canceled)

13 . The sealant-applicator tip ( 100 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the head ( 108 ) further comprises an eighth edge ( 136 ), shared between the first planar face ( 110 ) and the third face ( 118 ).

14 - 16 . (canceled)

17 . The sealant-applicator tip ( 100 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the head ( 108 ) further comprises a ninth edge ( 138 ), shared between the second planar face ( 114 ) and the third face ( 118 ).

18 - 20 . (canceled)

21 . The sealant-applicator tip ( 100 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the outlet opening ( 134 ) of the head ( 108 ) has a perimeter edge ( 178 ) and an axis of symmetry ( 176 ), and wherein the perimeter edge ( 178 ) comprises:
a linear segment ( 180 ), adjacent to the third edge ( 120 ) of the third face ( 118 ); a first curved segment ( 182 ), extending from the linear segment ( 180 ) toward the seventh edge ( 130 ) of the head ( 108 ); and a second curved segment ( 184 ), extending from the linear segment ( 180 ) to the first curved segment ( 182 ), and wherein: the axis of symmetry ( 176 ) bisects the linear segment ( 180 ), and the first curved segment ( 182 ) and the second curved segment ( 184 ) are symmetric about the axis of symmetry ( 176 ).

22 . The sealant-applicator tip ( 100 ) according to claim 21 , wherein the axis of symmetry ( 176 ) of the outlet opening ( 134 ) bisects the third face ( 118 ) in two equal halves.

23 . The sealant-applicator tip ( 100 ) according to claim 21 , wherein the third face ( 118 ) comprises a truncated triangular shape.

24 . The sealant-applicator tip ( 100 ) according to claim 1 , wherein:
the body ( 102 ) defines a channel-body portion ( 142 ) of the channel ( 140 ), the head ( 108 ) defines a channel-head portion ( 144 ) of the channel ( 140 ), and the channel-head portion ( 144 ) is in communication with the channel-body portion ( 142 ).

25 . The sealant-applicator tip ( 100 ) according to claim 24 , wherein:
the channel ( 140 ) further comprises a channel interface ( 174 ), connecting the channel-body portion ( 142 ) and the channel-head portion ( 144 ), at least a portion of the channel-body portion ( 142 ) tapers inwardly from the inlet opening ( 106 ) of the body ( 102 ) to the channel interface ( 174 ), and at least a portion of the channel-head portion ( 144 ) tapers outwardly from the channel interface ( 174 ) to the outlet opening ( 134 ) of the head ( 108 ).

26 . The sealant-applicator tip ( 100 ) according to claim 24 , further comprising an O-ring 154 , located in the channel-body portion ( 142 ) of the channel ( 140 ).

27 . The sealant-applicator tip ( 100 ) according to claim 26 , wherein:
the body ( 102 ) further comprises an internal annular shoulder ( 156 ) formed in the channel-body portion ( 142 ) of the channel ( 140 ), and the O-ring ( 154 ) is received by the internal annular shoulder ( 156 ).

28 . The sealant-applicator tip ( 100 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the first planar face ( 110 ) has a triangular shape.

29 . The sealant-applicator tip ( 100 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the second planar face ( 114 ) has a triangular shape.

30 . The sealant-applicator tip ( 100 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the body ( 102 ) comprises a medial axis ( 146 ), comprising at least one inflection point ( 148 ).

31 . The sealant-applicator tip ( 100 ) according to claim 1 , further comprising a notch ( 158 ), extending along a portion of the body ( 102 ) from the inlet opening ( 106 ).

32 . The sealant-applicator tip ( 100 ) according to claim 1 , further comprising an opposed pair of teeth ( 160 ), extending outwardly from the body ( 102 ) proximate the inlet opening ( 106 ).

33 - 35 . (canceled)

36 . A method ( 500 ) of applying a sealant material ( 300 ) to a corner joint ( 302 ), formed by a first planar surface ( 308 ) and a second planar surface ( 310 ), the method ( 500 ) comprising:
positioning a sealant-applicator tip ( 100 ) relative to the corner joint ( 302 ) such that a first planar face ( 110 ) of the sealant-applicator tip ( 100 ) is in flush surface contact with and parallel to one of the first planar surface ( 308 ) or the second planar surface ( 310 ) and a second planar face ( 114 ) of the sealant-applicator tip ( 100 ) is in flush contact with and parallel to another one of the first planar surface ( 308 ) or the second planar surface ( 310 ); advancing the sealant-applicator tip ( 100 ) in a first direction ( 316 ) along the corner joint ( 302 ) while supplying a sealant material ( 300 ) to the corner joint ( 302 ) through a channel ( 140 ) of the sealant-applicator tip ( 100 ) and shaping the sealant material ( 300 ), supplied to the corner joint ( 302 ), with a seventh edge ( 130 ) of the sealant-applicator tip ( 100 ) to form a first bead ( 312 ) of the sealant material ( 300 ).

37 . The method according to claim 36 , further comprising advancing the sealant-applicator tip ( 100 ) in a second direction ( 318 ) along the corner joint ( 302 ), opposite the f

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Pringle-Iv John W
• Trend Don D

Classifications

• B05D1/26

  performed by applying the liquid or other fluent material from an outlet device in contact with, or almost in contact with, the surface · CPC title

• B05C17/005

  for discharging material {from a reservoir or container located in or on the hand tool} through an outlet orifice by pressure {without using surface contacting members like pads or brushes} · CPC title

• B05C5/0216

  by relative movement of article and outlet according to a predetermined path · CPC title

• B05D1/02

  performed by spraying · CPC title

• B05C5/0204

  for applying liquid or other fluent material to the edges of essentially flat articles · CPC title