Systems, methods, and apparatus for automated sealant application

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9987795-B2
Application number	US-201514702993-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 4, 2015
Priority date	May 4, 2015
Publication date	Jun 5, 2018
Grant date	Jun 5, 2018

Abstract

Systems, methods, and apparatus are disclosed for shaping sealant applied to a fastener. Tools disclosed herein include a housing that includes a first end, a second end, and a chamber, the first end including a first opening defining a first portion of the chamber, the second end being configured to be coupled to a robotic sealant applicator, the housing further including a second opening configured to transfer a solvent from an external reservoir to the chamber. The tools may also include a porous member included in the chamber, the porous member being configured to store an amount of solvent, the porous member being further configured to apply a designated shape to the sealant applied to the fastener in response to the sealant contacting the porous member, and the porous member being further configured release at least a portion of the solvent in response to the sealant contacting the porous member.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A tool for shaping sealant applied to a fastener, the tool comprising:
a housing comprising a first end, a second end, and a chamber, the first end comprising a first opening defining a first portion of the chamber, the second end being configured to be coupled to a robotic sealant applicator, the housing further comprising a second opening configured to transfer a solvent from an external reservoir to the chamber; and
a porous member included in the chamber, the porous member being configured to store an amount of solvent, the porous member comprising a first layer and a second layer, the first layer being positioned inside the chamber, the second layer being positioned across the first opening, the porous member being further configured to apply a designated shape to the sealant applied to the fastener in response to the sealant contacting the porous member, and the porous member being further configured release at least a portion of the solvent in response to the sealant contacting the porous member.

2. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the first layer is configured to store a first amount of solvent, wherein the second layer is configured to store a second amount of solvent, and wherein the second amount is wicked away from the solvent stored in the first layer.

3. The tool of claim 2 , wherein the first layer has a surface defined, at least in part, by an interior surface of the chamber.

4. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the porous member is coupled to a regulator.

5. The tool of claim 4 , wherein the regulator is configured to regulate a flow of solvent provided to the porous member.

6. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the second opening comprises a port defined through a sidewall of the housing, the port being configured to be coupled to an external reservoir that stores solvent.

7. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the second opening is included in the second end and defines a second portion of the chamber.

8. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the second end comprises a threaded portion configured to be removably coupled with the robotic sealant applicator.

9. The tool of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the housing has a conical geometry.

10. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the fastener comprises a nut or a bolt configured to fasten a portion of a machine.

11. A system for applying sealant to a fastener, the system comprising:
a robotic arm configured to move to at least one designated position, the fastener being located at the designated position; and
a tool coupled to the robotic arm, the tool comprising:
a housing comprising a first end, a second end, and a chamber, the first end comprising a first opening defining a portion of the chamber, the second end being configured to be coupled to a robotic sealant applicator, the housing further comprising a second opening configured to transfer a solvent from an external reservoir to the chamber; and
a porous member included in the chamber, the porous member being configured to store an amount of solvent, the porous member being further configured to apply a designated shape to the sealant applied to the fastener in response to the sealant contacting the porous member, and the porous member being further configured release at least a portion of the solvent in response to the sealant contacting the porous member.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the porous member comprises a first layer and a second layer, the first layer being configured to store a first amount of solvent, the second layer being configured to store a second amount of solvent, the second amount being wicked away from the solvent stored in the first layer.

13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the porous member comprises a single layer coupled to a regulator configured to regulate a flow of solvent provided to the porous member.

14. The system of claim 11 , wherein the second opening comprises a port defined through a sidewall of the housing, the port being configured to be coupled to an external reservoir that stores solvent.

15. The system of claim 11 wherein the system further comprises:
a rotating element configured to rotate an orientation of a robotic sealant applicator and the dabbing tool.

16. The system of claim 11 , wherein the robotic arm is further configured to move the tool to a plurality of designated positions, the plurality of designated positions being determined based on engineering data associated with an assembly of a machine.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Guirguis Martin Hanna
• Mireles Cesar

Classifications

• B05C9/12 Primary

  the auxiliary operation being performed after the application (B05C9/14 takes precedence) · CPC title

• 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

• B05B3/02 Primary

  with rotating elements (electric spraying discharge apparatus characterised by having rotary outlet or deflecting elements B05B5/04) · CPC title

• F16B33/004

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

• B05B15/70

  Arrangements for moving spray heads automatically to or from the working position · CPC title