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Patent Searching and Data


Title:
TOOL FOR REMOVING THE SEALANT FROM A PROTRUDING FASTENER
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2013/036235
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
A tool and a method which can be used to remove sealant from a protruding fastener. The tool (100) comprises a shank (102) for connecting to a rotary drive and a body (104) disposed on the shank. The body (104) includes a cavity (106) with a working edge (108) for engaging the sealant when the cavity is urged about the fastener. The method for removing sealant from a protruding fastener comprises the alignment of the tool with a protruding fastener, followed by a progressive urging of the tool in the aligned direction towards the fastener, while rotating the tool such that the periphery of the sealant encapsulated fastener is encircled by a working edge.

Inventors:
HAMILTON JEFFREY W (US)
STAVIG JR PAUL N (US)
FULLER MARK D (US)
Application Number:
PCT/US2011/050890
Publication Date:
March 14, 2013
Filing Date:
September 08, 2011
Export Citation:
Click for automatic bibliography generation   Help
Assignee:
BOEING CO (US)
HAMILTON JEFFREY W (US)
STAVIG JR PAUL N (US)
FULLER MARK D (US)
International Classes:
B25B27/00
Foreign References:
US20030061918A12003-04-03
US20080050191A12008-02-28
US20070098509A12007-05-03
US6475065B12002-11-05
US6475065B12002-11-05
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
SATERMO, Eric, K et al. (PO Box 2515MC 110-SD5, Seal Beach CA, US)
Download PDF:
Claims:
CLAIMS

What is claimed is:

1. A tool for removing sealant from a protruding fastener, the tool comprising: a shank for connecting to a rotary drive; and

a body disposed on the shank and including a cavity with a working edge for engaging the sealant when the cavity is urged about the fastener.

2. The tool of claim 1 further comprising a replaceable insert, wherein the replaceable insert includes the working edge.

3. The tool of any preceding claim wherein the working edge is disposed within the cavity.

4. The tool of any preceding claim wherein the working edge is contoured to approximate a profile of the fastener.

5. The tool of any preceding claim wherein the tool is configured for use with a hex drive. 6. The tool of any preceding claim wherein the body further includes a working edge disposed on a bottom face of the body.

7. The tool of any preceding claim wherein the working edge is made from a material having a Rockwell R hardness between about 60 and about 126.

8. The tool of any preceding claim wherein the working edge includes a non- metallic material.

9. A method for removing sealant from a protruding fastener comprising utilizing the tool of any of claims 1-8.

10. A method for removing sealant from a protruding fastener comprising utilizing the tool of any of claims 1-8, wherein said tool encircles the periphery of said fastener within a single revolution.

11. A method for removing sealant from a protruding fastener using the tool of any of claims 1-8 where the fastener is substantially undamaged when the sealant is removed.

12. A method for removing sealant from a protruding fastener using the tool of any of claims 1-8, comprising urging the cavity of the tool against the sealant of the fastener.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the protruding fastener is part of an aircraft.

14. A method for removing sealant from a protruding fastener comprising:

aligning a tool with a protruding fastener;

urging the tool towards the fastener; and

rotating the tool such that the fastener is encircled by a working edge to remove sealant from the fastener.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the rotating step further comprises rotating the tool such that the fastener is encircled by the working edge within a single revolution of the tool.

Description:
TOOL FOR REMOVING THE SEALANT FROM A PROTRUDING FASTENER

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to tooling associated with removing elastomeric sealants or coatings that are frequently applied to structures in order to seal them and to protect them from chemical attack. In particular the present invention applies to such tooling for removing sealant from protruding fasteners typically found in such structures.

Protruding fasteners in aircraft fuel tanks are frequently coated with elastomeric sealants or coatings in order to render them fluid tight. Typical elastomeric sealants include polysulfide or polythioether compounds. These same compounds may be applied as preformed and molded seal caps for protruding fasteners. Such seal caps are described in PPG Aerospace, PRC® - DeSoto, brochure titled "Customized Sealant Solutions PRC® Seal Caps".

In the event of a need for modification, repair, or inspection, these elastomeric sealants or coatings must be removed in order to access the protruding fasteners for the necessary maintenance or inspection procedures. Care must be exercised during the removal process to avoid damage to the protruding fasteners, surroundings, and underlying structural surfaces.

Some of the devices employed for mechanically removing elastomeric sealants include a rigid, polymeric, rotary-cutting tool as described in U.S. Patent No. 6,475,065, and the 3M™ SR Cutters No. 3 and No. 8 as described in 3M™ publication 61-5002-8019-5, titled "Surface Conditioning Products Technical Service Bulletin 3M™ SR Cutter", available from 3M™ Abrasive Systems Organization, 3M™ Center Building, 223-6N-1, St. Paul, MN 55144-1000.

In use, the conventional cutters may be used to remove sealant from a fastener by the operator manually moving a rotating cutter around the periphery of the fastener in an essentially orbital motion. Any residual sealant may then be removed manually with other hand tooling, such as a non-marring scraper or putty knife.

There is a continued need in the art for improvements to be made to tooling and methods for removing sealant from fasteners.

SUMMARY

According to one aspect of the invention, a tool comprises a shank for connecting to a rotary drive, and a body disposed on the shank. The body includes a cavity with a working edge for engaging the sealant when the cavity is urged about the fastener. One of the advantages of the tool is that the cavitity provides internal cutting and self-centering properties. These properties facilitate the circumferential removal of sealant from the fastener without the need of the operator to manually move the tool about the fastener. This is made possible because as the tool rotates it encircles the periphery of the fastener within a single revolution.

According to another aspect of the invention, a method for removing sealant from a protruding fastener includes the alignment of the tool with a protruding fastener. Sealant is removed or loosened by an urging of the tool in the aligned direction towards the fastener while rotating the tool such that the fastener is encircled by a working edge. In other words, by linearly moving the tool toward the fastener along an axis central to the fastener, while rotating the tool about such axis, sealant is removed from the fastener.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view a tool for removing sealant from a fastener according to a number of embodiments.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a tool for removing sealant from a fastener according to a number of embodiments, particularly showing the end for connection to a rotary drive.

FIGS. 3 A, 3B, and 3C are elevation views of a method for removing sealant according to a number of embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, a tool 100 for removing sealant from a protruding fastener is shown. In a number of embodiments, the tool 100 may include a shank 102 and a body 104. The shank 102 is configured for connecting to a rotary drive for imparting rotation to the tool 100. The body 104 is disposed on the shank 102 and may include a cavity 106 with one or more working edges 108 for engaging the sealant when the cavity is urged about the fastener.

The working edge 108 may be contoured or profiled such that it approximates the profile of the protruding fastener in an installed condition. Furthermore the working edge 108 may be contoured or profiled to approximate the profile of the fastener in an installed and unsealed condition. Additionally the working edge 108 may have a planer or a non-planer form. For example the working edge may have a substantially helical form.

The body 104 may be permanently or semi-permanently joined to the shank 102 by any suitable method. In some embodiments, the body 104 may be integral with the shank 102. In other embodiments, the tool 100 may include a reconnectable attachment between the body 104 and the shank 102 such that the body is releasably attachable to the shank. For example, the reconnectable attachment may be made by a threaded connection between the body 104 and the shank 102, or the body 104 may be secured to the shank 102 with a nut. Other examples may include a detent connection or keyed connection. Alternatively, the body 104 may be joined to the shank 102 in a more permanent manner by molding or casting of the body 104 to the shank 102, or through a press fit connection between the body 104 and shank 102.

The shank 102 also includes a drive section 114 for connection to a rotary drive. The drive section 114 may be cylindrical or faceted. In some embodiments the drive section 114 may include hex flats for use in a hex drive. In other embodiments it may include connection provisions for use in a quick change coupler, collet, or a three-jaw chuck.

In some embodiments, the body of the tool 100 may also include a working edge 116 disposed on a bottom face for aiding in the removal of sealant from surfaces immediately surrounding and adjacent the protruding fastener. In other embodiments, the body 104 of the tool 100 may also include a working edge disposed on an outer surface for aiding in the removal of sealant from surfaces adjacent the fastener.

The body 104 may be comprised of any suitable material, metal or non-metal; however, the working edges 108 and 116 of the body 104 are preferably made from material having low bulk hardness relative to the protruding fastener to mitigate marring of the fastener and the

surrounding surface. Suitable materials may include materials primarily comprised of non- metallic compounds such as a polymer or a soft metal like an aluminum alloy. In some embodiments the material may have a bulk Rockwell R hardness in the range of between about 60 and about 130. In other embodiments the body and working edges 108 and 116 may be composed of the same material.

In yet other embodiments the working edges 108 and 116 may be part of a replaceable insert 124. The insert 124 may be retained in the body 104 by a fastener 125. Accordingly, the body 104 may accommodate inserts of different shapes, sizes, and cutting profiles. In this manner the different inserts may conform to a variety of different protruding fastener geometries.

Referring now to FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C, the tool 100 may be used to remove sealant, or sealant caps, 126 from a protruding fastener 130 and the surrounding area. Typical applications include the removal of sealant from protruding fasteners found in aircraft, marine, and ground transportation vehicle structures. In each of these instances the tool 100 is attached to a rotary drive. Sealant removal is accomplished by aligning the tool 100 with a protruding fastener 130 and urging the cavity of the tool 100 towards the fastener such that the working edges 108 and 116 of the tool 100 engage the sealant 126 while the tool 100 is spun about a central axis 110 by a rotary drive.

As shown in FIG. 3A, the tool 100 may be located proximate, and in general alignment, to a fastener 130 of interest. While being rotated or spun, the tool 100 may be urged, or repeatedly urged, against the sealant 126 encapsulating the fastener 130 until it contacts or stops against the fastener 130, as shown in FIG. 3B, or the structure 134. Once contact is established the tool 110 may be withdrawn as depicted in FIG. 3C.

In addition, as shown specifically in FIG. 3B, the fastener 130 is received within the cavity 106 of the body 130 when the tool 100 is urged over the fastener 130. In addition, in some embodiments, with further or progressive urging of the tool 100 along an axis central toward the fastener 132, the cavity 106 may be configured such that the fastener 130 is received therein when the tool 100 is positioned against or abutting the structure 134. In addition, in some embodiments, with further urging of the tool 100 along axis 132, sealant may be removed from the structure 134 by working edge 116.

Those skilled in the art will understand that the preceding embodiments of the present invention provide the foundation for numerous alternatives and modifications thereto. These other modifications are also within the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the present invention is not limited to that precisely as shown and described in the present invention.