Conductive sleeved fastener assembly

• US 10,574,018 B2
• Filed: 03/24/2015
• Issued: 02/25/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Nguyen, Thu A., Parent, Michael G., Heeter, Russell J., Wilkerson, Jeffrey A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan, Thiem D
• Application Number:
  US14/667,439
• Publication Number:
  US 20150200517A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,799 Days
• Field of Search: 29842, 29458, 29509, 29510, 29517, 295221, 29825, 411 3, 411 43, 411 82, 411167, 411258, 411339, 411361, 411383, 411416, 411428, 411432, 411914
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/02 Lightning protectors; Static dischargers in general H01T
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 13/00 Dowels or other devices fastened in walls or the like by inserting them in holes made therein for that purpose nails F16B15/00; self-locking pins or bolts in general, stud-and-socket releasable fastenings F16B21/00; dowels or bolts for railroad sleepers E01B9/00; ans means for anchoring structural elements or bulkheads specially adapted to foundation engineering E02D5/74; bolts or dowels used while laying bricks or casting concrete sleepers E04B1/38; setting anchoring bolts in shafts, tunnels or galleries E21D20/00; anchoring bolts for shafts, tunnels or galleries E21D21/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2200/93 Fastener comprising feature for establishing a good electrical connection, e.g. electrostatic discharge or insulation feature
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 33/00 Features common to bolt and nut
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/64 Connections between or with conductive parts having primarily a non-electric function, e.g. frame, casing, rail
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/00 Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing, assembling, maintaining, or repairing of line connectors or current collectors or for joining electric conductors of trolley lines B60M1/28
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/002 Maintenance of line connectors, e.g. cleaning
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/26 for engaging or disengaging the two parts of a coupling device structural association with two-part coupling device H01R13/629
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49147 Assembling terminal to base
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49885 with coating before or during assembling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49915 Overedge assembling of seated part
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49938 Radially expanding part in cavity, aperture, or hollow body

Abstract

A conductive sleeved fastener assembly includes an electrically-conductive fastener having a fastener head and a fastener shank extending from the fastener head and an electrically-conductive fastener sleeve receiving the fastener shank of the fastener and a fastener sleeve flange provided on the fastener sleeve and disposed in direct contact with the fastener head of the fastener. A method of preparing a conductive sleeved fastener for use is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method of attaching a first composite structure to a second composite structure comprising:

positioning an electrically-conductive fastener sleeve within a bolt opening in a first composite structure and a bolt opening in a second composite structure;

engaging an outer surface of the first composite structure with a flange of the electrically-conductive fastener sleeve;

applying a lubricant to a shank of an electrically-conductive fastener while omitting the lubricant from a fillet adjoining a head of the electrically-conductive fastener and the shank, the shank extending from the head;

inserting the shank of the electrically-conductive fastener into the electrically-conductive fastener sleeve after applying the lubricant to the shank of the electrically-conductive fastener, wherein a portion of the shank of the electrically-conductive fastener extends beyond the second composite structure; and

establishing an electrical conductivity pathway between the electrically-conductive fastener and the electrically-conductive fastener sleeve by engaging a contact surface on the shank with a contact surface on the electrically-conductive fastener sleeve to create a contact interface.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the lubricant is omitted from a contact surface on the head of the electrically-conductive fastener.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing the electrical conductivity pathway further comprises engaging a contact surface on the head of the electrically-conductive fastener with the contact surface on the electrically-conductive fastener sleeve and engaging a contact surface on a fillet radius of the shank with the contact surface on the electrically-conductive fastener sleeve.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising threading a nut onto the portion of the shank of the electrically-conductive fastener that extends beyond the second composite structure.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising maintaining the head of the electrically-conductive fastener and the flange of the electrically-conductive fastener sleeve devoid of the lubricant.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein applying the lubricant to the shank of the electrically-conductive fastener further comprises applying a solid film lubricant to the shank of the electrically-conductive fastener.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein applying the lubricant to the shank of the electrically-conductive fastener further comprises applying a first lubricant to the shank and applying a second lubricant to the shank.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the first lubricant is cetyl alcohol and the second lubricant is a solid film.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising increasing a spark threshold between the electrically-conductive fastener and the electrically-conductive fastener sleeve.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the lubricant imparts electrical resistance between the electrically-conductive fastener and the electrically-conductive fastener sleeve.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein applying the lubricant to the shank of the electrically-conductive fastener further comprises applying a coating lubricant to the shank of the electrically-conductive fastener.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising applying lubricant to an interior surface of the electrically-conductive fastener sleeve.

13. A method of attaching a first composite structure to a second composite structure comprising:

positioning an electrically-conductive fastener sleeve within a bolt opening in a first composite structure and a bolt opening in a second composite structure;

engaging an outer surface of the first composite structure with a flange of the electrically-conductive fastener sleeve;

applying a lubricant to a shank of an electrically-conductive fastener, the shank extending from a head of the electrically-conductive fastener;

inserting the shank of the electrically-conductive fastener into the electrically-conductive fastener sleeve after applying the lubricant to the shank of the electrically-conductive fastener, wherein a portion of the shank of the electrically-conductive fastener extends beyond the second composite structure; and

establishing an electrical conductivity pathway between the electrically-conductive fastener and the electrically-conductive fastener sleeve,

wherein applying the lubricant to the shank of the electrically-conductive fastener further comprises applying a first lubricant to the shank and applying a second lubricant to the shank, and

wherein the first lubricant is cetyl alcohol and the second lubricant is a solid film.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising maintaining the head of the electrically-conductive fastener and the flange of the electrically-conductive fastener sleeve devoid of the lubricant.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising maintaining a fillet adjoining the head and the shank of the electrically-conductive fastener devoid of the lubricant.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the lubricant imparts electrical resistance between the electrically-conductive fastener and the electrically-conductive fastener sleeve.

17. A method of attaching a first composite structure to a second composite structure comprising:

positioning an electrically-conductive fastener sleeve within a bolt opening in a first composite structure and a bolt opening in a second composite structure;

engaging an outer surface of the first composite structure with a flange of the electrically-conductive fastener sleeve;

applying a lubricant to a shank of an electrically-conductive fastener while omitting the lubricant from a fillet adjoining a head of the electrically-conductive fastener and the shank, the shank extending from the head; and

inserting the shank of the electrically-conductive fastener into the electrically-conductive fastener sleeve, wherein a portion of the shank of the electrically-conductive fastener extends beyond the second composite structure.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the shank of the electrically-conductive fastener is inserted into the electrically-conductive fastener sleeve after applying the lubricant to the shank of the electrically-conductive fastener.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein inserting the shank of the electrically-conductive fastener into the electrically-conductive fastener sleeve further comprises establishing an electrical conductivity pathway between the electrically-conductive fastener and the electrically-conductive fastener sleeve.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein establishing the electrical conductivity pathway further comprises engaging a contact surface on the head of the electrically-conductive fastener with a contact surface on the electrically-conductive fastener sleeve and engaging a contact surface on a fillet radius of the shank with a contact surface on the electrically-conductive fastener sleeve.