Nut plate seal caps

• US 9,447,808 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 09/20/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PRC-DeSoto International, Inc. (Nouryon BV)
• Original Assignee: PRC-DeSoto International, Inc. (Nouryon BV)
• Inventors: Obuhowich, George C., Rizzello, Soccorso, Shellenberger, Russell
• Primary Examiner(s): DELISLE, ROBERTA S
• Application Number:
  US14/391,919
• Publication Number:
  US 20150063945A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,285 Days
• Field of Search: 411/82, 411/337, 411/372.5, 411/372.6, 411/373, 411/383
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 19/08 Machines for placing washers, circlips, or the like on bolts or other members
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4997 At least one part nonmetallic
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53987 Tube, sleeve or ferrule

Abstract

A cap (10) for sealing a mechanical fastener (200), method for making the cap, and driver and method for applying the cap is disclosed. The cap includes a shell having an exterior surface (14) and an interior surface (16) defining a cavity (18), an opening (19) extending through the shell between the interior and exterior surfaces, and a sealant (13) at least partially filling the cavity. A package and a holder for holding a plurality of cap assemblies are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A cap assembly for sealing a mechanical fastener comprising:

a shell having an exterior surface and an interior surface defining a cavity;

an opening extending through the shell between the interior and exterior surfaces;

a sealant at least partially filling the cavity; and

a tube extending through the opening and configured to fit over a shaft of the mechanical fastener and is removable from the opening, wherein the shell is slidably moveable along an axis of the tube.

2. The cap assembly according to claim 1, wherein the shell comprises an at least partially hardened sealant.

3. The cap assembly according to claim 1, wherein the sealant is at least partially unhardened.

4. A sealant cap package comprising:

a holder; and

a plurality of cap assemblies releasably mounted on the holder, wherein each cap assembly comprises;

a shell having an exterior surface and an interior surface defining a cavity;

an opening extending through the shell between the interior and exterior surfaces;

a sealant at least partially filling the cavity; and

a tube extending through the opening, wherein the tube is releasably secured to the holder.

5. The sealant cap package according to claim 4, wherein the holder comprises a base including a plurality of nipples each configured to engage a first end of one of the tubes.

6. The sealant cap package according to claim 5, wherein the shell is supported above a surface of the base.

7. The sealant cap package according to claim 5, further comprising an upper tube support comprising a plurality of holes each configured to engage a second end of each of the tubes, wherein the plurality of holes is substantially aligned with the plurality of nipples.

8. The sealant cap package according to claim 4, further comprising an upper tube support comprising a plurality of holes each configured to engage a second end of each of the tubes.

9. The sealant cap package according to claim 4, further comprising a cover positioned above a second end of each of the tubes.

10. A method of installing a cap on a mechanical fastener, wherein the cap comprises a shell having an exterior surface and an interior surface defining a cavity, an opening extending through the shell between the interior and exterior surfaces, a sealant at least partially filling the cavity, and a tube extending through the opening and configured to fit over a shaft of the mechanical fastener, the method comprising:

inserting a shaft of the mechanical fastener into the tube; and

sliding the shell along an axis of the tube from an initial position to an installed position wherein the sealant contacts a portion of the mechanical fastener and a substrate in which the mechanical fastener is fastened.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising removing the tube from the opening after the shell is at the installed positioned.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the shell comprises an at least partially hardened sealant.

13. The method according to claim 10, wherein the sealant is at least partially unhardened.

14. A driver for installing a sealant cap assembly on a mechanical fastener, wherein the sealant cap assembly comprises a shell having an exterior surface and an interior surface defining a cavity, an opening extending through the shell between the interior and exterior surfaces, a sealant at least partially filling the cavity, and a tube extending through the opening and configured to fit over a shaft of the mechanical fastener, wherein the shell is slidably moveable along an axis of the elongated tube, the tool comprising:

a clamp structured and arranged to releasably engage the tube; and

a sleeve structured and arranged to move the shell along the axis of the tube from an initial position to an installed position wherein the sealant contacts a portion of the mechanical fastener and a portion of a substrate to which the mechanical fastener is fastened.

15. The driver according to claim 14, wherein the clamp is axially moveable in relation to the sleeve.

16. The driver according to claim 14, wherein the sleeve at least partially surrounds the clamp.