Apparatus for installing a seal cap
First Claim
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1. An apparatus comprising:
- a seal cap configured to be adhered to and sealed to a fastener element; and
a plurality of projections attached to and extending radially outward from an outer surface of the seal cap in which the plurality of projections is configured to fair excess material around the seal cap when the plurality of projections is moved along an interface formed between the seal cap and an object in which the fastener element has been installed, wherein each of the plurality of projections comprises a surface configured to contact the excess material as the plurality of projections is moved along the interface between the seal cap and the object, wherein the surface has a curved shape defining a channel between each of the plurality of projections and the outer surface of the seal cap, wherein the curved shape is configured to ensure that the excess material is faired to have a desired thickness.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for installing a seal cap. The seal cap may be adhered to a fastener element using a material. A portion of the material may be squeezed out as excess material in response to adhering the seal cap to the fastener element. A number of projections associated with the seal cap may be moved along an interface formed between the seal cap and an object in which the fastener element has been installed. The excess material may be faired using the number of projections as the number of projections is moved along the interface between the seal cap and the object.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a seal cap configured to be adhered to and sealed to a fastener element; and a plurality of projections attached to and extending radially outward from an outer surface of the seal cap in which the plurality of projections is configured to fair excess material around the seal cap when the plurality of projections is moved along an interface formed between the seal cap and an object in which the fastener element has been installed, wherein each of the plurality of projections comprises a surface configured to contact the excess material as the plurality of projections is moved along the interface between the seal cap and the object, wherein the surface has a curved shape defining a channel between each of the plurality of projections and the outer surface of the seal cap, wherein the curved shape is configured to ensure that the excess material is faired to have a desired thickness. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A unitary seal cap comprising:
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an inner surface defining a hollow portion within the seal cap configured to receive a fastener element, the inner surface configured to be adhered to and sealed to the fastener element using a sealant material in which at least a portion of the sealant material squeezes out and around the seal cap as excess sealant material; an outer surface defining an exterior surface of the seal cap; and a plurality of curved projections attached to and extending from the outer surface of the seal cap in which the plurality of curved projections is configured to fair the excess sealant material around the seal cap when the plurality of curved projections is moved along an interface formed between the seal cap and an object in which the fastener element has been installed, wherein each of the plurality of curved projections comprises; a surface configured to contact the excess material as the plurality of projections is moved along the interface between the seal cap and the object, wherein the surface comprises; a texture configured to smooth out any portion of the excess material in contact with the surface as the plurality of projections is moved along the interface between the seal cap and the object; and a curved shape defining a channel between each of the plurality of projections and the outer surface of the seal cap, wherein the curved shape is configured to ensure that the excess material is faired to have a desired thickness. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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Specification