Methods of forming seals

• US 10,710,280 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2017
• Issued: 07/14/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Burgess, Robert Marshall, Chaney, Matthew G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shafi, Leith S
• Application Number:
  US15/701,674
• Publication Number:
  US 20180001519A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,036 Days
• Field of Search: 248565, 248576-579, 248586-587, 248590, 248594, 248597, 248623-626, 411 12, 16 44, 16 72, 264268, 264262, 2642711, 264263, 264DIG 54, 277650, 277316, 277637, 277652, 277645, 277917, 277944, 249117, 249134
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 39/026 characterised by the shape of the surface
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/26 Sealing devices, e.g. packaging for pistons or pipe joints
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/02 Lightning protectors; Static dischargers in general H01T
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 33/004 Sealing; Insulation by means of washers F16B43/001
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 37/14 Cap nuts; Nut caps or bolt caps

Abstract

A method of forming a seal about at least a portion of an object comprises placing a form about at least the portion of the object, flowing a viscous substance into the form and about at least the portion of the object, and removing the form from the object by unwinding or unraveling the form to form the seal.

Claims

1. A method of forming a seal about at least a portion of an object, using a form, comprising a non-metallic solidified material, at least one through lateral opening, a distal axial opening, a proximal axial opening, and a lateral wall, between the distal axial opening and the proximal axial opening, configured such that at least a portion of the at least one through lateral opening is spiral-shaped, the method comprising:

placing the form about the at least a portion of the object;

flowing a viscous substance into the form and about the at least a portion of the object; and

removing the form from the object by unwinding or unraveling the form to form the seal.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising allowing gas bubbles capable of existing within the viscous substance to escape from the viscous substance through the at least one through lateral opening as the viscous substance fills the form.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising discontinuing flowing the viscous substance into the form when the form is substantially filled with the viscous substance.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising using the form to maintain an external shape of the viscous substance substantially corresponding to an internal shape of the form while the viscous substance cures to form the seal.

5. The method of claim 1;

wherein flowing the viscous substance into the form comprises inserting a nozzle of a dispenser of the viscous substance into the distal axial opening of the form.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the object is selected from the group consisting of a fastener, a temperature probe, a tab, and a tongue.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising allowing an excess of the viscous substance to escape through the at least one through lateral opening as the viscous substance fills the form.

8. The method of claim 1,

wherein at least a portion of the lateral wall is tapered outwardly from the distal axial opening to the proximal axial opening.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the at least a portion of the lateral wall comprises a variable taper.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the form further comprises at least three projections, extending from the lateral wall at the proximal axial opening.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein, prior to placing the form about the at least a portion of the object, at least one of the at least three projections differs in length from another one of the at least three projections.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the object protrudes through a substrate having a non-planar surface, and wherein each of the at least three projections contacts the non-planar surface of the substrate.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one through lateral opening is partially bounded by the lateral wall.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the object protrudes through a substrate having a surface contacted by the form, and wherein an excess of the viscous substance is allowed to escape through the at least one through lateral opening at an interface of the form and the substrate as the viscous substance fills the form.

15. The method of claim 8, wherein the at least one through lateral opening is fully bounded by the lateral wall.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the viscous substance forming the seal and the non-metallic solidified material of the form are chemically different.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the viscous substance forming the seal and the non-metallic solidified material of the form are substantially chemically identical.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the distal axial opening is circumferentially closed.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the proximal axial opening circumferentially closed.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the at least one through lateral opening has an opening area;

the lateral wall comprises an outwardly facing surface, having a surface area; and

a ratio of the opening area to the surface area is between about 0.2 and about 0.6.