Method of isolating metallic fasteners in composite panels

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9303671-B2
Application number	US-201313741420-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 15, 2013
Priority date	Jan 15, 2013
Publication date	Apr 5, 2016
Grant date	Apr 5, 2016

Abstract

A method of isolating a metallic fastener from a carbon-fiber composite panel includes inserting the metallic fastener within an electrically isolating annular collar; inserting the metallic fastener and electrically isolating annular collar within a hole defined by the carbon-fiber composite panel; and securing the metallic fastener to the carbon-fiber composite panel. The annular collar may be circumferentially disposed about the metallic fastener such that the annular collar separates and electrically isolates the entire metallic fastener from the carbon-fiber composite panel. As such, the annular collar may minimize the galvanic reaction between the fastener and the carbon-fiber composite panel.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of isolating a metallic fastener from a carbon-fiber composite panel such that a galvanic reaction between the fastener and the carbon-fiber composite panel is minimized, wherein the metallic fastener includes a body portion, the method comprising:
inserting the metallic fastener within an electrically isolating annular collar such that the electrically isolating annular collar is circumferentially disposed about the metallic fastener,
wherein a portion of the annular collar extends beyond the body portion of the metallic fastener and wherein the metallic fastener defines a central bore extending completely through the metallic fastener;
inserting the metallic fastener and electrically isolating annular collar within a hole defined by the carbon-fiber composite panel such that a portion of the metallic fastener and the portion of the annular collar extending beyond the body portion of the metallic fastener are protruding from the panel; and
securing the metallic fastener to the carbon-fiber composite panel such that the annular collar separates and electrically isolates the entire metallic fastener from the carbon-fiber composite panel;
wherein the central bore extending completely through the metallic fastener remains open after the securing.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the metallic fastener secures the composite panel to a second composite panel; and
wherein the electrically isolating annular collar separates and electrically isolates the metallic fastener from the second carbon-fiber composite panel.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the electrically isolating annular collar includes a nylon material, a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) material, or a Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) material.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the metallic fastener is a rivet.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein securing the metallic fastener to the carbon-fiber composite panel includes radially outwardly deforming the portion of the metallic fastener that is protruding from the carbon-fiber composite panel.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein securing the metallic fastener to the carbon-fiber composite panel includes radially outwardly deforming the portion of the metallic fastener that is protruding from the carbon-fiber composite panel.

7. A method of isolating a metallic fastener from a carbon-fiber composite panel such that the galvanic reaction between the fastener and the carbon-fiber composite panel is minimized, wherein the metallic fastener includes a body portion, the method comprising:
inserting the metallic fastener within an electrically isolating annular collar such that the electrically isolating annular collar is circumferentially disposed about the metallic fastener,
wherein a portion of the annular collar extends beyond the body portion of the metallic fastener and wherein the metallic fastener defines a central bore extending completely through the metallic fastener;
inserting the metallic fastener and electrically isolating annular collar within a hole defined by the carbon-fiber composite panel such that a portion of the metallic fastener and the portion of the annular collar extending beyond the body portion of the metallic fastener are protruding from the panel; and,
securing the protruding portion of the metallic fastener such that the protruding portion of metallic fastener is restrained from passing into the hole;
wherein the annular collar separates and electrically isolates the entire metallic fastener from the carbon-fiber composite panel; and,
wherein the central bore extending completely through the metallic fastener remains open after the securing.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the metallic fastener secures the composite panel to a second composite panel; and
wherein the electrically isolating annular collar separates and electrically isolates the metallic fastener from the second carbon-fiber composite panel.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the electrically isolating annular collar includes a nylon material, a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) material, or a Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) material.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the metallic fastener is a rivet.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein securing the metallic fastener to the carbon-fiber composite panel includes radially outwardly deforming the portion of the metallic fastener.

12. The method of claim 7 , wherein securing the metallic fastener to the carbon-fiber composite panel includes radially outwardly deforming the portion of the metallic fastener that is protruding from the carbon-fiber composite panel.

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Inc

Inventors

• Krajewski Paul E
• Polewarczyk Joseph M
• Konchan Jeffrey L
• O'Kane James C

Classifications

• B29C66/21

  said joint lines being formed by a single dot or dash or by several dots or dashes, i.e. spot joining or spot welding · CPC title

• B29C66/73141

  Electrical conductivity · CPC title

• B21J15/04

  Riveting hollow rivets mechanically · CPC title

• Y10T29/49956

  Riveting · CPC title

• B21J15/02

  Riveting procedures · CPC title