Conductive sleeved fastener assembly

• US 10,014,593 B2
• Filed: 04/26/2016
• Issued: 07/03/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Heeter, Russell J., Nguyen, Thu A., Ward, John A., Porter, John R., Wilkerson, Jeffrey A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Salone, Bayan
• Application Number:
  US15/138,524
• Publication Number:
  US 20160240939A1
• Time in Patent Office: 798 Days
• Field of Search: 295271, 295272, 4113661, 4113662, 411367, 411368, 411369, 411383
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/02 Lightning protectors; Static dischargers in general H01T
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2200/93 Fastener comprising feature for establishing a good electrical connection, e.g. electrostatic discharge or insulation feature
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 33/006 Non-metallic fasteners using screw-thread
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 33/06 Surface treatment of parts furnished with screw-thread, e.g. for preventing seizure or fretting corrosion preventing means F16B33/008; settable coatings for locking threaded members F16B39/225; deformable coatings for locking threaded members F16B39/34
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/304 having means for improving contact
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/308 Conductive members located parallel to axis of screw
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/16 for manufacturing contact members, e.g. by punching and by bending
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4998 Combined manufacture including applying or shaping of fluent material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49982 Coating

Abstract

A conductive fastener assembly, system, and method, wherein the fastener assembly includes a fastener, a fastener sleeve, a nut, and a lubricant coating. The lubricant coating is deposited on a distal portion of a fastener shank and is omitted from the rest of the fastener. To overcome the stresses placed on the fastener sleeve by the insertion of the fastener shank largely devoid of a lubricant coating, the fastener sleeve is reinforced by one or more of an increased thickness, a high-strength alloy, and a soft metal coating.

Claims

1. A method of preparing a conductive sleeved fastening assembly for use, comprising:

providing a fastener having a fastener head, a fastener shank extending from said fastener head, and a fastener sleeve provided on said fastener shank and a fastener sleeve flare on said fastener sleeve, wherein said fastener sleeve is configured to extend through a first structure and a second structure;

depositing a lubricant coating on a distal portion of the fastener shank, wherein the lubricant coating is omitted from a proximal portion of the fastener shank and from the fastener head; and

applying a fay seal between the first structure and the second structure, wherein the fay seal is omitted from a horizontal area between the first structure and the second structure surrounding the fastener sleeve.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of reinforcing the fastener sleeve.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the fastener head and the fastener sleeve flare are formed having a countersink configuration.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

arranging an expanded metal foil on a top surface of said first structure.

5. A method of preparing a conductive sleeved fastening assembly for use, comprising:

providing a first structure, having an expanded metal foil arranged thereon;

providing a second structure;

providing a fastener, configured to attach the first structure to the second structure, having a fastener head and a fastener shank extending from said fastener head, and a fastener sleeve provided on said fastener shank and a fastener sleeve flare on said fastener sleeve;

depositing a lubricant coating on a distal portion of the fastener shank, wherein the lubricant coating is omitted from a proximal portion of the fastener shank and from the fastener head; and

applying a fay seal between the first structure and the second structure, wherein the fay seal is omitted from a horizontal area between the first structure and the second structure surrounding the fastener sleeve.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising forming the fastener head and the fastener sleeve having a countersink configuration.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising reinforcing the fastener sleeve.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the lubricant is a solid film lubricant.

9. The method of claim 5, further comprising applying a metal coating to the fastener sleeve.

10. A method of preparing a conductive sleeved fastening assembly, comprising:

providing a first structure;

arranging an expanded metal foil on the first structure;

providing a second structure;

attaching the first structure to the second structure with an electrically conductive fastener having a fastener head, a fastener shank extending from said fastener head, and a fastener sleeve being configured to receive said fastener shank;

attaching a nut to a distal portion of the fastener shank;

depositing a lubricant coating on a distal portion of the fastener shank, wherein the lubricant coating is omitted from a proximal portion of the fastener shank and from the fastener head; and

applying a fay seal between the first structure and the second structure, wherein the fay seal is omitted from a horizontal area between the first structure and the second structure surrounding the fastener sleeve.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the fastener sleeve comprises a fastener sleeve flare at a top end thereof.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising forming the fastener head and the fastener sleeve flare to have a countersink configuration.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the fastener sleeve has a wall thickness that is greater than or equal to 0.012 inches.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising forming the fastener sleeve from a high-strength alloy.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising depositing a metal coating on the fastener sleeve.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising reinforcing the fastener sleeve.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the lubricant is a solid film lubricant.