Self-forming fuel tank sealant system
First Claim
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1. A sealed structure comprising:
- a first part of the structure;
a second part of the structure;
the first part of the structure and the second part of the structure are connected and are held together;
a first surface area on the structure, the first surface area having a high surface energy;
the first part of the structure and the second part of the structure are connected and are held together in the first surface area on the structure;
a second surface area on the structure, the second surface area having a low surface energy, the low surface energy being less than the high surface energy; and
,a sealant on the first surface area on the structure, the sealant being substantially absent from the second surface area on the structure, and the sealant having an exposed fillet shaped meniscus surface between the first surface area and the second surface area on the structure.
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Abstract
A self-forming sealant system forms a seal between two parts or between a fastener and a part of a structure. In forming the seal, a first finish having a high surface energy is applied to the joint between the two parts or is applied to the fastener and the part. A second finish having a low surface energy is then applied adjacent to the area where the first finish was applied. A sealant is then applied to the joint between the two parts or the fastener and the part, where the sealant migrates to the joint or fastener coated with the first finish having the high surface energy and away from the areas adjacent the joint or the fastener coated by the second finish having the low surface energy.
8 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A sealed structure comprising:
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a first part of the structure; a second part of the structure; the first part of the structure and the second part of the structure are connected and are held together; a first surface area on the structure, the first surface area having a high surface energy; the first part of the structure and the second part of the structure are connected and are held together in the first surface area on the structure; a second surface area on the structure, the second surface area having a low surface energy, the low surface energy being less than the high surface energy; and
,a sealant on the first surface area on the structure, the sealant being substantially absent from the second surface area on the structure, and the sealant having an exposed fillet shaped meniscus surface between the first surface area and the second surface area on the structure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A sealed structure comprising:
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a first part of the structure; a second part of the structure; the first part of the structure and the second part of the structure are connected and are held together; a first surface area on the structure; the first part of the structure and the second part of the structure are connected and are held together in the first surface area on the structure; a first finish coating the first surface area on the structure, the first finish having a high surface energy; a second surface area on the structure; a second finish coating the second surface area on the structure, the second finish having a low surface energy, the low surface energy being less than the high surface energy; and
,a sealant on the first finish, the sealant being substantially absent from the second finish, and the sealant having an exposed fillet shaped meniscus surface between the first finish and the second finish. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of sealing a structure comprising:
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connecting a first part of the structure and a second part of the structure together and holding the first part of the structure and the second part of the structure together; coating a first surface area on the structure with a first finish, the first part of the structure and the second part of the structure that are connected together and held together being in the first surface area on the structure, the first finish having a high surface energy; coating a second surface area on the structure with a second finish, the second finish having a low surface energy that is less than the high surface energy; and
,applying a sealant on the first finish coating the first surface area on the structure, the sealant being substantially absent from the second finish coating the second surface area on the structure, and the sealant having an exposed fillet shaped meniscus surface between the first finish and the second finish. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification