Dauber Assembly With Rotatable Collar for Short-Grip Fasteners
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fastener installation systems struggle to automatically apply sealant to fasteners with shorter grip lengths, leading to manual workarounds that compromise speed, reliability, and safety.
Innovation Solution
A dauber assembly comprising a manifold body and a collar with an inlet port, allowing for fluid communication between a sealant source and a nozzle, enabling automated sealant application by rotating the manifold body relative to the collar, thus accommodating various grip lengths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If sealant injector nozzles are used to automatically apply sealant to the exposed unthreaded portion of the fastener, then automated sealant application is achieved, but the system cannot accommodate fasteners with shorter grip lengths where the gripper fingers occupy the entire unthreaded portion
Solution Approach 1:
A dauber assembly serves as an intermediary device between the sealant source and the fastener. The dauber assembly includes a dauber body with a hollow interior that receives the sealant injector nozzle, and a collar that rotates around the dauber body. This intermediary mechanism enables automated sealant application to fasteners with varying grip lengths by allowing rotational adjustment of the collar to expose different portions of the fastener for sealant application.
Solution Approach 2:
The collar is configured to rotate around the dauber body, enabling dynamic adjustment of the sealant application position. This rotational movement allows the system to adapt to fasteners with different grip lengths by positioning the sealant injector nozzle at the appropriate location on the fastener's unthreaded portion, maintaining automated operation while accommodating variability in fastener dimensions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If manual sealant guns are used to apply sealant to the hole, then sealant can be applied to fasteners of any length, but the process loses the advantages of automated systems such as speed, reliability, and safety
Solution Approach 1:
The dauber assembly acts as an automated intermediary that bridges the gap between manual flexibility and automated efficiency. By incorporating a rotatable collar and dauber body structure, it enables automated sealant application to reach fasteners of any grip length, maintaining both adaptability and the productivity advantages of automation including speed, reliability, and safety.
3Ease of operation
If sealant is applied to the threaded portion of the fastener, then sealant application is simplified, but the torque applied to install the fastener is affected
Solution Approach 1:
The dauber assembly with rotatable collar enables selective application of sealant to specific local areas of the fastener. By rotating the collar to position the sealant injector nozzle on the unthreaded portion of the fastener, the system ensures sealant is applied only where needed (local quality), avoiding contamination of the threaded portion and maintaining precise control over installation torque while keeping the sealant application process automated and efficient.
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
Enables efficient and automated sealant application to fasteners of varying lengths, improving installation speed and reliability while maintaining safety.
Implementation Method 1
the manifold body has one or more holes providing fluid communication between the inlet port of the collar and an outlet of the nozzle
Data Source
AI summary
A dauber assembly may comprise a manifold body comprising a first end configured to receive a nozzle, and a collar extending at least partially around the manifold body. The collar may comprise an inlet port. The manifold body may have one or more holes providing fluid communication between the inlet port of the collar and an outlet of a nozzle received by the first end of the manifold body.