Fastener Sealing Tool with Load Cell for Precision Resin Application
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fastener sealing technologies lack efficient mechanisms for ensuring proper sealing around fasteners while preventing overfilling, misalignment, and obstruction during the sealing process.
Innovation Solution
A fastener sealing tool with a pivot arm and load cell that senses movement to detect undesirable events, combined with a resin injection system and UV light curing for precise sealing, is proposed. The tool can be manually operated or connected to a robotic arm for automated operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fastener sealing tool is used to seal around fasteners, then sealing reliability is improved, but detection of undesirable events (overfilling, misalignment, obstruction) is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The load cell is integrated into the pivot connection structure to detect undesirable events during the sealing process. The sensor continuously monitors pivot arm movement and detects anomalies such as overfilling, misalignment, and obstructions in real-time, enabling immediate detection and correction of sealing issues.
2Ease of operation
If manual operation is used for fastener sealing, then flexibility is improved, but consistency and precision of sealing are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The load cell provides real-time feedback on pivot arm movement and sealing process parameters. This feedback mechanism enables the operator to maintain precise control over the sealing process while preserving manual operation flexibility, ensuring consistent sealing quality through continuous monitoring and adjustment.
3Manufacturing precision
If automated robotic operation is used for fastener sealing, then sealing consistency is improved, but adaptability to different fastener types is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The fastener sealing tool is designed with a universal pivot arm structure that can accommodate different fastener types and configurations. The load cell provides consistent monitoring across various sealing applications, enabling the same tool to maintain precision while adapting to different fastener geometries and sealing requirements.
4Device complexity
If traditional sealing methods are used, then device complexity is reduced, but detection and prevention of sealing defects is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The load cell serves as an intermediary sensing element that monitors the sealing process without significantly increasing overall system complexity. By integrating the sensor into the existing pivot connection structure, the system gains defect detection capability while maintaining relatively simple device architecture.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The tool effectively prevents overfilling, misalignment, and obstruction during sealing, ensuring consistent and reliable sealing around fasteners, and can be adapted for various applications including aircraft and automotive industries.
Implementation Method 1
The load cell is a sensor operably connected to the pivot arm that senses movement of the pivot arm about the pivot connection
Implementation Method 2
An ultraviolet light source is connected to the tool body and is configured to project ultraviolet light through the mold to cure the UV curable material that fills the translucent mold
Data Source
AI summary
A fastener sealing tool that utilizes curable material to seal the area around a fastener connected to a surface. In one embodiment of the invention the fastener sealing tool is a manually operated tool, hand operated by a user who visually identifies the fastener to be sealed and then operates the fastener sealing tool to seal the desired fastener. In a second embodiment of the invention the fastener sealing tool is an end of arm tool for a robot that automatically identifies or is programmed to move to the location of the fastener, and then seal the fastener using the fastener sealing tool. The fastener sealing tool utilizes a load cell to control the flow of material and to detect certain unwanted conditions.