Patent ID: 11858623
Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
Field: Transport (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC B | IPC B

Claim 0:
1. An aircraft fuel tank joint having a length, the aircraft fuel tank joint comprising:
a first structural member comprising a first joint face;
a second structural member comprising a second joint face that extends generally parallel to and faces the first joint face, wherein the first joint face is spaced away from the second joint face by a gap;
a sealant dam compressed between the first joint face and the second joint face and extending substantially along the length, wherein the sealant dam has a compressed thickness that defines the gap; and
a plurality of sealant zones, comprising:
a first zone of sealant within the gap on a first side of the sealant dam; and
a second zone of sealant within the gap on a second side of the sealant dam;

wherein the sealant dam isolates the first zone of sealant from the second zone of sealant;
wherein the sealant dam, combined with the plurality of sealant zones, substantially fill the gap; and
wherein the sealant dam, the first zone of sealant, and the second zone of sealant define three independent seals within the gap.