Seal molding system and method

• US 9,259,865 B2
• Filed: 03/17/2013
• Issued: 02/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Coffland, Donald W., Downing, Garrett W., Nguyen, David T.
• Primary Examiner(s): BELL, WILLIAM P
• Application Number:
  US13/845,014
• Publication Number:
  US 20140261994A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,066 Days
• Field of Search: 264/271.1, 264/279, 264/279.1, 425/318, 425/458
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2045/14459 injecting seal elements
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2045/645 using magnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 33/005 characterised by the location of the parting line of the mould parts
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 33/0077 characterised by the configuration of the mould filling gate mixing chambers situated in the mould opening B29B7/7471; accessories for connecting the mould filling gate with the filling spout
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 33/30 Mounting, exchanging or centering moulds, mould parts or cores; B29C33/485 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 39/10 incorporating preformed parts or layers, e.g. casting around inserts or for coating articles coating a surface by casting in general B05D1/30, B29C39/126 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/14426 Coating the end of wire-like or rod-like or cable-like or blade-like or belt-like articles
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/14549 Coating rod-like, wire-like or belt-like articles B29C45/14426 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/14598 Coating tubular articles
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/34 having venting means
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/64 Mould opening, closing or clamping devices combined with means for plasticising or homogenising B29C45/70
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/641 Clamping devices using means for straddling or interconnecting the mould halves, e.g. jaws, straps, latches
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2023/00 Tubular articles B29L2024/00 takes precedence ; catheters B29L2031/7542
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/26 Sealing devices, e.g. packaging for pistons or pipe joints
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/3076 Aircrafts blades, propellers B29L2031/08

Abstract

A seal molding system may include a mold body having a mold inner geometry formed complementary to a fitting outer geometry of a fitting. The mold body may have a mold base formed complementary to a panel surface. The mold body may include an injection hole for injecting sealant into the mold cavity, and a vent hole for venting air and sealant from the mold cavity.

Claims

1. A method of forming a seal around a fitting mounted to a panel, comprising:

providing a pair of mold body halves configured to be assembled around a fitting along mold parting lines and having a mold inner geometry formed complementary to a fitting outer geometry of the fitting mounted to a panel, the fitting having a fitting axis normal to the panel;

mounting the mold body over the fitting;

coupling the mold body halves together when assembled around the fitting using an interlocking tab and pocket formed into the mold parting lines on opposite circumferential ends of each one of the mold body halves, each mold parting line including a pair of axial portions oriented parallel to the fitting axis and interconnected by an angled portion oriented non-perpendicular to the axial portions, the axial portions and the angled portion collectively defining a Z-shape in the mold parting line when the coupled mold body halves are viewed from a side direction oriented perpendicular to the fitting axis and looking onto the mold parting line;

injecting sealant into an injection hole formed in the mold body until the sealant substantially fills a mold cavity enclosed by the mold inner geometry and the fitting outer geometry;

allowing the sealant to cure; and

removing the mold body from the fitting.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing the mold body halves as mirror images of one another.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the mold body halves include a radial lip to facilitate sealing against the fitting body.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the mold body halves include side walls having a draft angle facilitating the removal of the mold body halves from the seal.

5. The method of claim 1, further including:

clamping the mold body halves to the panel and the fitting using at least one of the following;

a tie wrap, a clamping mechanism, a magnet.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the sealant is a room temperature vulcanization sealant.

7. A method of forming a seal around a fitting, comprising:

providing a mold body having a mold inner geometry formed complementary to a fitting outer geometry of a fitting configured to be mounted to a panel;

providing a bottom plate configured complementary to the fitting flange and the panel;

mating the bottom plate to the fitting flange;

coupling the mold body to the bottom plate to encapsulate the fitting flange and form a mold cavity for receiving sealant for forming a preformed seal; and

injecting sealant into an injection hole formed in the mold body until the sealant substantially fills a mold cavity enclosed by the mold inner geometry and the fitting outer geometry;

allowing the sealant to cure to form the seal; and

removing the mold body and the bottom plate from the fitting.

8. The method of claim 7, further including the steps of:

providing the mold body with at least one port-forming post; and

forming, using the port-forming post, an injection port in a perimeter edge of the preformed seal for injecting adhesive or sealant along a perimeter edge of the preformed seal for bonding and sealing the perimeter edge to the panel.

9. The method of claim 7, further including the step of:

forming a seal groove along a perimeter edge of the seal for bonding and sealing the perimeter edge to the panel.

10. The method of claim 9, further including the step of:

providing the bottom plate with a ridge for forming the seal groove along the perimeter edge when sealant is injected into the mold cavity.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein:

the mold body includes a radial lip to facilitate sealing against a fitting body.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein:

the mold body includes side walls having a draft angle facilitating the removal of the mold body from the seal.

13. The method of claim 7, further including:

clamping the mold body to the panel and the fitting using at least one of the following;

a tie wrap, a mechanical clamp, a magnet.

14. The method of claim 7, wherein:

the sealant is a room temperature vulcanization sealant.

15. A method of forming a seal skin, comprising:

providing a mold body having a mold inner geometry formed complementary to a fitting outer geometry of a fitting configured to be mounted to a panel;

providing a seal skin lower plate having a lower plate outer geometry simulating the fitting outer geometry and a panel surface of the panel;

mating the mold body to the seal skin lower plate to define a mold cavity for forming a seal skin from sealant injected into the mold cavity;

injecting the sealant into the mold cavity;

allowing the sealant to cure to form the seal skin;

removing the mold body from the seal skin lower plate; and

removing the seal skin from the seal skin lower plate.

16. The method of claim 15, further including the step of:

bonding the seal skin to a fitting installed on a panel.

17. The method of claim 15, further including the step of:

providing the mold body with at least one port-forming post; and

forming, using the port-forming post, an injection port in the seal skin for bonding the seal skin to at least one the fitting and the panel.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein:

the seal skin lower plate includes protuberances simulating flange fasteners for attaching a fitting flange to the panel.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein:

the mold body includes a radial lip to facilitate sealing against a fitting body.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein:

the mold body includes side walls having a draft angle facilitating the removal of the mold body from the seal.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein:

the sealant is a room temperature vulcanization sealant.