Apparatus and method for automated application of rivets
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorEdward J. Batt
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for automated application of rivets to a part is described, in which an operator is not required to manually align a rivet gun with each hole to be riveted or to manually squeeze the rivet into place. The apparatus includes a frame assembly, a tool positioning assembly attached to the frame assembly, and a movable tool assembly engaged with the tool positioning assembly and configured to be moved with respect to the tool positioning assembly. The tool positioning assembly is adjustable to correspond with a position of a number of rivet holes on a part to be riveted. In this way, the movable tool assembly is able to sequentially align with each of a number of rivet holes via alignment with the tool positioning assembly and to apply a rivet to each of the rivet holes.
Claims20
An apparatus for automated application of rivets to a part, the apparatus comprising:
- a frame assembly defining a periphery;
- a tool positioning assembly attached to the frame assembly and comprising a plurality of tool positioning modules, each tool positioning module of the plurality of tool positioning modules comprising a locking cone assembly comprising a locking cone;
- a movable tool assembly engaged with the tool positioning assembly and configured to be moved with respect to the tool positioning assembly and the frame assembly about the periphery of the frame assembly,
- wherein the tool positioning assembly is configured to be adjusted to correspond with a position of a plurality of rivet holes on a part to be riveted, and
- wherein the movable tool assembly is configured to move relative to the part to be riveted to sequentially align with each of the plurality of rivet holes via alignment with the tool positioning assembly and to apply a rivet to each of the plurality of rivet holes;
- wherein the movable tool assembly comprises a locking cone receiver configured to be moved into engagement with a respective locking cone and wherein engagement of the locking cone receiver with the respective locking cone positions the movable tool assembly in alignment with a respective rivet hole for applying a rivet to the respective rivet hole.
An apparatus for automated application of rivets to a part, the apparatus comprising:
- a frame assembly defining a periphery;
- a tool positioning assembly attached to the frame assembly;
- and
- a movable tool assembly engaged with the tool positioning assembly and configured to be moved with respect to the tool positioning assembly and the frame assembly about the periphery of the frame assembly,
- wherein the tool positioning assembly is configured to be adjusted to correspond with a position of a plurality of rivet holes on a part to be riveted,
- wherein the movable tool assembly is configured to move relative to the part to be riveted to sequentially align with each of the plurality of rivet holes via alignment with the tool positioning assembly and to apply a rivet to each of the plurality of rivet holes;
- wherein the movable tool assembly comprises a C-frame configured to be attached to a rivet squeezer, wherein the C-frame comprises a hinge, wherein the C-frame is configured to be moved between an open position and a closed position via rotation about the hinge, wherein in the open position the C-frame is configured to receive the part to be riveted, and wherein the C-frame further comprises an anvil, such that in the closed position, actuation of the rivet squeezer moves the rivet into contact with the anvil for deforming the rivet during a riveting operation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.