Metal mesh with a low electrical resistance conversion coating for use with aircraft structures
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A gasket for use between aircraft parts under compression, the gasket comprising:
- a moisture proof body comprising an elastomeric polymer with a tacky, outer surface configured to releasably contact at least one of the aircraft parts;
a metal skeleton encapsulated by the moisture proof body of the gasket;
wherein the metal skeleton includes an electrically conductive or semi-conductive conversion coating as an outer surface thereof; and
wherein, under compression, the moisture proof body deforms sufficiently to allow an aircraft part to contact the outer surface of the metal skeleton and provides electrical conductivity therethrough.
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Abstract
A gasket is provided with a tacky polyurethane or polyurea gel body and a metallic mesh skeleton where the skeleton has been coated with a conversion coating. The conversion coating helps reduce corrosion in the gasket and corrosion on the parts that place the gasket under compression, especially where an environment conducive to galvanic corrosion is present. This gasket may then be used in assemblies which include aircraft parts, which parts may be subject to extreme environmental conditions.
149 Citations
61 Claims
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1. A gasket for use between aircraft parts under compression, the gasket comprising:
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a moisture proof body comprising an elastomeric polymer with a tacky, outer surface configured to releasably contact at least one of the aircraft parts; a metal skeleton encapsulated by the moisture proof body of the gasket; wherein the metal skeleton includes an electrically conductive or semi-conductive conversion coating as an outer surface thereof; and wherein, under compression, the moisture proof body deforms sufficiently to allow an aircraft part to contact the outer surface of the metal skeleton and provides electrical conductivity therethrough. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 32, 33, 34, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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18. A method of producing a corrosion resistance assembly of aircraft parts comprising:
contacting an exterior of a skeleton with a composition comprising a reactive composition to obtain a conversion coating on a top surface coat on the skeleton surface and assembling the skeleton comprising said top surface coat into an aircraft gasket having an elastomeric body and placing the gasket under compression between two parts of an aircraft. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. An assembly of aircraft parts comprising:
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a first aluminum or aluminum alloy part having a first surface; a second aluminum or aluminum alloy part having a second surface; a multiplicity of fasteners for engaging the two aluminum or aluminum alloy parts; a gasket comprising a body comprising an elastomeric polymer; and a metal skeleton encapsulated by the body of the gasket; wherein the metal skeleton includes a conversion coating. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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27. A gasket for use between aircraft parts under compression, the gasket comprising:
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a moisture proof body having an outer surface comprising an elastomeric polymer; and a metal skeleton encapsulated by the moisture proof body of the gasket; wherein the metal skeleton includes an electrically conductive or semi-conductive conversion coating comprising an outer surface thereof; wherein the moisture proof body and the outer surface is comprised of a tacky, deformable, flowable gel which releasably contacts at least one of the aircraft parts; wherein the resistance of the skeleton is less than about 2.5 m·
Ω
; andwherein the skeleton contacts the aircraft parts when the body is under compression between the aircraft parts and provides electrical conductivity therethrough. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 35)
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45. A gasket for use between aircraft parts under compression, the gasket comprising:
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a moisture proof body comprising an elastomeric polymer with a tacky, outer surface configured to releasably contact at least one of the aircraft parts; a metal skeleton substantially encapsulated by the moisture proof body of the gasket in an uncompressed state; wherein the metal skeleton includes an electrically conductive or semi-conductive conversion coating on an outer surface thereof; and wherein, under compression, the moisture proof body deforms sufficiently to allow the aircraft parts to contact the outer surface of the metal skeleton and provide electrical conductivity therethrough. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59)
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60. A gasket for use between aircraft parts under compression, the gasket comprising:
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a moisture proof body comprising an elastomeric polymer with a tacky, outer surface configured to releasably contact at least one of the aircraft parts; a metal skeleton substantially encapsulated by the moisture proof body of the gasket in an uncompressed state; wherein the metal skeleton includes an electrically conductive or semi-conductive conversion coating on an outer surface thereof; wherein, under compression, the moisture proof body deforms sufficiently to allow the aircraft parts to contact the outer surface of the metal skeleton and provide electrical conductivity therethrough; wherein, under a nominal electrode pressure of about 200 psi, the conversion coated skeleton has less than 200 milliohms of resistance after 500 hours of exposure at 5% salt fog; and wherein the gasket causes no visible corrosion to the aircraft parts after 500 hours of exposure at 5% salt fog. - View Dependent Claims (61)
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Specification