Tool for laying a sealing strip around a protruding part of a connecting element, method for laying a sealing strip using said tool, and aircraft comprising at least one sealing strip obtained using said laying method

{
  "publication_number": "US12409582B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Tool for laying a sealing strip around a protruding part of a connecting element, method for laying a sealing strip using said tool, and aircraft comprising at least one sealing strip obtained using said laying method",
  "abstract": "A tool for laying a sealing strip around a protruding part of a connecting element protruding from a bearing surface, the laying tool including an annular duct having an outer surface configured to delimit, with the bearing surface and the protruding part, a cavity when the annular duct is positioned around the protruding part and in contact with the bearing surface, the annular duct including at least one orifice for supplying pasty composition and outlet orifices for injecting the pasty composition into the cavity to form the sealing strip. A method for laying a sealing strip using the tool is disclosed and an aircraft with at least one sealing strip obtained using the method.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A tool for laying a sealing strip around a protruding part of a connecting element protruding from a bearing surface, the tool comprising: an annular duct having an outer surface, which is oriented towards an outer region of the annular duct, and an inner surface, which is oriented towards an inner region of the annular duct; wherein the outer surface of the annular duct is configured to delimit, with the bearing surface and the protruding part, a cavity when the annular duct is positioned around the protruding part and in contact with the bearing surface; wherein the annular duct comprises: a plurality of outlet orifices configured to connect the inner region of the annular duct and the cavity; and at least one inlet orifice configured to supply the inner region of the annular duct with a pasty composition; wherein the outer surface comprises: a first generatrix included in a surface substantially in a shape of the bearing surface; and a second generatrix identical to the contour of the protruding part; wherein the first and second generatrices divide the outer surface into first and second complementary regions, the second complementary region being larger than the first complementary region; wherein the plurality of outlet orifices are situated in the first complementary region; and wherein the at least one inlet orifice is positioned in the second complementary region.",
    "2. The tool according to claim 1, wherein the annular duct forms a closed loop following a circumferential axis and has, in a plane perpendicular to the circumferential axis, a cross section that is substantially circular with a radius smaller than a height of the protruding part.",
    "3. The tool according to claim 2, wherein the radius of the circular cross section is between ⅓ and ¾ of the height of the protruding part.",
    "4. The tool according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of outlet orifices is situated approximately equidistantly from the first and second generatrices.",
    "5. The tool according to claim 1, wherein: the at least one inlet orifice of the annular duct comprises a plurality of inlet orifices that are distributed regularly around a circumference of the annular duct and are continued by supply ducts; each of the supply duct has a first end, which is connected to the annular duct, and a second end; and the second end of each of the supply ducts are connected together as a common second end leading out via a single supply orifice.",
    "6. The tool according to claim 5, wherein: the annular duct and the supply ducts form a single part; and the supply ducts are rigid.",
    "7. The tool according to claim 1, wherein the annular duct comprises, in the outer surface, at least one groove configured to allow gas to exit the cavity.",
    "8. A method for laying a sealing strip around a protruding part of a connecting element protruding from a bearing surface, the method comprising: providing the tool according to claim 1; fitting the tool around the protruding part and in contact with the bearing surface, such that the outer surface of the annular duct of the tool, the bearing surface, and the protruding part delimit a cavity; injecting a pasty composition into the annular duct such that the pasty composition exits, via the outlet orifices, to fill the cavity; and removing the tool.",
    "9. The method according to claim 8, comprising fitting a reinforcing framework around the protruding part before the fitting of the tool around the protruding part.",
    "10. An aircraft comprising: a wall of a tank, which comprises: a bearing surface, wherein at least one protruding part of a connecting element protrudes from the bearing surface; and a sealing strip around the protruding part; wherein the wall of the tank is produced using the method according to claim 9.",
    "11. A tool for laying a sealing strip around a protruding part of a connecting element protruding from a bearing surface, the tool comprising: an annular duct having an outer surface, which is oriented towards an outer region of the annular duct, and an inner surface, which is oriented towards an inner region of the annular duct; wherein the outer surface of the annular duct is configured to delimit, with the bearing surface and the protruding part, a cavity when the annular duct is positioned around the protruding part and in contact with the bearing surface; wherein the annular duct comprises: a plurality of outlet orifices configured to connect the inner region of the annular duct and the cavity; and a plurality of inlet orifices that are distributed regularly around a circumference of the annular duct, are continued by supply ducts, and are configured to supply the inner region of the annular duct with a pasty composition; wherein each of the supply ducts has a first end, which is connected to the annular duct, and a second end; and wherein the second end of each of the supply ducts are connected together as a common second end leading out via a single supply orifice.",
    "12. The tool according to claim 11, wherein the annular duct forms a closed loop following a circumferential axis and has, in a plane perpendicular to the circumferential axis, a cross section that is substantially circular with a radius smaller than a height of the protruding part.",
    "13. The tool according to claim 12, wherein the radius of the circular section is between ⅓ and ¾ of the height of the protruding part.",
    "14. The tool according to claim 11, wherein: the annular duct and the supply ducts form a single part; and the supply ducts are rigid.",
    "15. The tool according to claim 11, wherein the annular duct comprises, in the outer surface, at least one groove configured to allow gas to exit the cavity.",
    "16. A method for laying a sealing strip around a protruding part of a connecting element protruding from a bearing surface, the method comprising: providing the tool according to claim 12; fitting the tool around the protruding part and in contact with the bearing surface, such that the outer surface of the annular duct of the tool, the bearing surface, and the protruding part delimit a cavity; injecting a pasty composition into the annular duct such that the pasty composition exits, via the outlet orifices, to fill the cavity; and removing the tool.",
    "17. The method according to claim 16, comprising fitting a reinforcing framework around the protruding part before the fitting of the tool around the protruding part."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The disclosure herein relates to a tool for laying a sealing strip around a protruding part of a connecting element, to a method for laying a sealing strip using the tool, and to an aircraft comprising at least one sealing strip obtained using the laying method.\n\nAccording to one embodiment, an aircraft comprises a central fuel tank, positioned in the region where the fuselage and the wings meet, delimited by walls through certain regions of which numerous connecting elements, such as bolts for example, pass.\n\nAs illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the tank comprises a wall 10 having a bearing surface F 10 oriented towards the interior of the tank and an orifice 10. 1 passing through the wall. The wall 10 also comprises a connecting element 12, such as a bolt for example, having a shank 12. 1 passing through the orifice 10. 1 and a head 12. 2 protruding from the bearing surface F 10. To obtain a seal, the head 12. 2 of the connecting element 12 is embedded in a mass 14 of sealant mastic. This mass 14 covers the region of the surface F 10 surrounding the head 12. 2 and also the latter.\n\nThis mass 14 of sealant mastic is deposited by an operator using a mastic gun. According to one mode of operation, the operator positions the nozzle of the mastic gun above the head 12. 2 and presses the trigger of the gun until a mass covering the entire head 12. 2 and the peripheral region thereof is formed.\n\nGiven this mode of operation and the large number of connecting parts, a significant volume of sealant mastic is necessary to obtain a seal at all of the connecting elements.",
  "cpc": [
    "B29C 39/10",
    "B05C 5/02",
    "B29C 70/682",
    "B29C 70/74",
    "B29L 2031/3076",
    "B64D 37/005",
    "B64F 5/10",
    "F16B 11/006",
    "F16B 33/004",
    "F16B 37/14",
    "F16J 15/108",
    "F16J 15/14"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B05C 5/02",
    "B29C 39/10",
    "B29L 31/30",
    "B64D 37/00"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Airbus Operations SAS"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Gérard Millet",
    "Vincent Delpy",
    "Simon Foucart-Gaudy"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2023-04-28",
  "publication_date": "2025-09-09",
  "grant_date": "2025-09-09",
  "priority_date": "2022-05-17",
  "application_number": "US-202318309374-A",
  "family_id": "82196629",
  "cited_by_count": 0,
  "citations": [
    "FR531776A",
    "DE3642537A1",
    "GB2514171A",
    "EP3020528A1",
    "EP3546375A1"
  ]
}