Rotating Sealant Removal Tool for Fastener Caps
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Solution Overview
Problem
The installation of seal caps often results in excess sealant material squeezing out, which is time-consuming to remove and can increase production costs and aesthetic issues, especially when dealing with multiple fastener elements.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus with projections is used to remove and smooth excess sealant material around seal caps by rotating over the cap, either manually or with a motorized system, ensuring a specified amount and thickness of sealant remains.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If seal caps are installed by pressing them down over fastener elements to ensure full coverage, then sealing reliability is improved, but excess sealant material squeezes out around the cap
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful excess sealant material from around the seal cap using a dedicated removal tool. The tool includes a cutting element that trims away the squeezed-out sealant, separating the harmful byproduct from the functional sealed joint.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary removal tool that mediates between the sealing process and the final appearance. This tool includes a cutting element and removal mechanism that cleanly eliminates excess sealant without damaging the seal cap or fastener element.
2Shape
If excess sealant material is removed and smoothed by hand, then aesthetic appearance is improved, but production time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by designing a tool that automatically removes and smooths excess sealant material through a single rotational motion. The cutting element and smoothing surface work together to clean up the sealant without requiring separate manual operations, making the process self-sufficient and time-efficient.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple functions into a single tool: excess sealant removal, trimming, and smoothing are all accomplished by one device in one motion. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate hand-removal and hand-smoothing steps, significantly reducing production time.
3Reliability
If multiple fastener elements are sealed with seal caps, then sealing completeness is improved, but total production time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal removal tool that can be applied to any seal cap regardless of the number of fastener elements. The tool's design allows it to remove excess sealant from any seal cap in the same manner, making it adaptable to various sealing scenarios and maintaining productivity across different production volumes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs the sealant removal action immediately after seal cap installation while the sealant is still pliable. This preliminary action prevents the excess sealant from hardening and becoming difficult to remove later, maintaining production efficiency even when sealing multiple fastener elements.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for sealing a fastener element. A structure may be positioned over a seal cap that has been adhered and sealed to the fastener element. A number of projections associated with the structure may be moved along an interface formed between the seal cap and an object in which the fastener element has been installed such that the number of projections removes at least a portion of excess material around the seal cap while moving along the interface between the seal cap and the object.