Encapsulated expanded crimped metal mesh for sealing, EMI shielding and lightning strike applications

摘要

A composite gasket for sealing, lightning strike protection and EMI shielding is provided. The gasket has a resilient conductive mesh sheet embedded with an elastomer gel layer. The conductive mesh is corrugated to provide a series of repeating waveforms, providing the gasket with a lower deflection force, better corrosion resistance, protection against lightning strikes and a higher EMI shielding capability. A second elastomer can be used around the edge portions of the gasket for improved abrasion resistance and increased tensile strength. A fiberglass sheet can be incorporated in the mesh for added reinforcement and support. The gaskets of the invention can be used on external aircraft components, such as external aircraft antenna mounts.

主权项

1. An aircraft EMI shielding and lightning strike protection gasket for compressible placement between a first external aircraft surface and a second external aircraft surface for providing improved electrical conductivity and deflection characteristics therebetween, the gasket comprising:
a polymer elastomer gel layer, said gel layer having a gel layer outer margin extending along an x-axis and a y-axis, said y-axis disposed generally normal to the x-axis, at least a portion of the gel layer outer margin extending beyond a mesh outer margin, and extending beyond at least one of the first or second aircraft surfaces when the gasket is compressed, to define an edge portion tapered in an outwardly extended direction with a triangular profile at the end thereof, a resilient, electrically-conductive mesh sheet embedded in the elastomer gel layer, the mesh having the mesh outer margin extending along the x-axis and y-axis, and having a thickness dimension extending along a z-axis, said z-axis disposed generally normal to the x-axis and the y-axis, the mesh sheet being corrugated to form a series of waveforms having amplitudes extending generally along the z-axis; whereby when the gasket is compressed between the first and the second external aircraft surfaces, the mesh sheet provides electrical conductivity across the direction of the x-axis and the y-axis, and electrical contact and improved force deflection between the first and the second external aircraft surface in the direction of the z-axis.