IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,137,474
Granted Patent B2
US 10,137,474 · App. 15/499,710 · Granted Nov 27, 2018

High viscosity fluid dispensing system

Inventors: Chin H. Toh (Orange, CA); Trent Rob Logan (Foothill Ranch, CA); John Walter Pringle, IV (Gardena, CA); Rodney Stephen Wright (Huntington Beach, CA)
Assignee: The Boeing Company
B05D1/02B05B1/16B05B1/185B05B1/24B05B1/28B05B9/002B05B9/085B05B12/18B05B15/62B05B15/65B05C11/1044B05C17/00516B05C17/00543B64F5/10
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,137,474
App. No.
15/499,710
Granted
Nov 27, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method and apparatus for depositing a fluid over an interface. A nozzle may comprise a body having a first end and a second end, an input located at the first end of the body, an output located at the second end of the body, and a plurality of channels located within the body. The input may be configured to receive a fluid. The plurality of channels may have a configuration that causes the fluid received through the input to flow through the plurality of channels and exit the output to form a deposition having a desired shape over an interface.

Claims (26)

1. A method for depositing a fluid over an interface, the method comprising:

moving, by a dispensing device, the fluid within a chamber in a housing towards an exit of the chamber such that the fluid is dispensed through the exit of the chamber, wherein the chamber is configured to increase a tendency of the fluid to flow within the chamber;

receiving the fluid from the exit of the chamber at an input of a nozzle located at a first end of a body of the nozzle;

moving the fluid from the input through an arrangement of a plurality of channels located within the body such that the fluid exits the plurality of channels at an output of the nozzle located at a second end of the body, including:

moving the fluid through a center channel located along a center axis that extends through the first end and the second end of the body of the nozzle, wherein the cross-sectional diameter of the center channel varies along a length that extends along the center axis; and

moving the fluid through outer channels located away from the center axis around the center channel, wherein the cross-sectional diameter of each of the outer channels remains substantially constant along the center axis;

controlling a flow of the fluid through the plurality of channels by a configuration of the plurality of channels, wherein the configuration comprises a diameter profile that includes the cross-sectional diameter for each of the plurality of channels; and

depositing the fluid that exits the output of the nozzle over the interface to form a deposition having a desired shape.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein controlling the flow of the fluid through the plurality of channels by the configuration of the plurality of channels comprises:

controlling the flow of the fluid through the plurality of channels by the configuration of the plurality of channels such that the fluid exits the output of the nozzle with a desired velocity profile and a desired pressure profile to form the deposition having the desired shape.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein moving the fluid from the input through the plurality of channels comprises:

moving the fluid from the input of the nozzle into a cavity in a first section of the body; and

moving the fluid from the cavity in the first section of the body to the plurality of channels in a second section of the body of the nozzle.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

positioning the second end of the body relative to the interface, wherein the second end of the body has a selected shape that allows the second end to be positioned within a desired distance from the interface.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

depositing the fluid that exits the output of the nozzle over the interface to form the deposition, wherein the interface is selected from one of a seam interface, a cross-seam interface, a fastener interface, a corner interface, and a step interface.

6. A method for depositing a fluid over an interface using a nozzle, the method comprising:

positioning the nozzle relative to the interface in which the nozzle comprises a body having a first end and a second end in which the second end of the body has a selected shape that allows the second end to be positioned within a desired distance from the interface;

moving, by a dispensing device, the fluid within a chamber in a housing of a fluid dispensing system towards an exit of the chamber such that the fluid is dispensed through the exit of the chamber, wherein the chamber is configured to increase a tendency of the fluid to flow within the chamber;

receiving the fluid within a cavity in a first section of the body from the exit of the chamber through an input of the nozzle;

moving the fluid from the cavity in the first section through an arrangement of a plurality of channels in a second section of the body such that the fluid exits the plurality of channels at an output of the nozzle located at the second end of the body, including:

moving the fluid through a center channel located along a center axis that extends through the first end and the second end of the body of the nozzle, wherein the cross-sectional diameter of the center channel varies along a length that extends along the center axis; and

moving the fluid through outer channels located away from the center axis around the center channel, wherein the cross-sectional diameter of each of the outer channels remains substantially constant along the center axis;

controlling a flow of the fluid through the plurality of channels by a configuration of the plurality of channels, wherein the configuration comprises a diameter profile that includes the cross-sectional diameter for each of the plurality of channels; and

depositing the fluid that exits the output of the nozzle over the interface to form a deposition in which the interface is selected from one of a seam interface, a cross-seam interface, a fastener interface, a corner interface, and a step interface.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 27, 2017
From: TOH, CHIN H.; LOGAN, TRENT ROB; PRINGLE, JOHN WALTER, IV; WRIGHT, RODNEY STEPHEN
To: THE BOEING COMPANY
Reel/Frame 042170/0403 →
Continuity (3)
Division 14096275 · Dec 4, 2013
Continuation In Part 13919318 · Jun 17, 2013
Related Publication 20170239672A1 · Aug 24, 2017