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US 12,728,511 B2Granted
Grommet installation tool
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsBrian Burton Mayfield, Travis Arthur Roth
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A grommet installation tool and methods using the installation tool for installing grommets. The grommet installation tool includes a hydraulic puller. An anvil is removably coupled to the hydraulic puller, the anvil including a proximal anvil end, a distal anvil end, and an anvil conduit that extends from the proximal anvil end to the distal anvil end, wherein the proximal anvil end is removably connected to the hydraulic puller. A mandrel is removably coupled to the anvil and the hydraulic puller, wherein the mandrel comprises a proximal mandrel end, and a threaded distal mandrel end. The mandrel passes through the anvil conduit and is removably connected to the hydraulic puller.
Claims20
A method of installing a grommet, comprising:
- providing a hydraulic puller;
- coupling the hydraulic puller to a hydraulic power unit set at a predetermined hydraulic pressure;
- providing an anvil removably coupled to the hydraulic puller, the anvil comprising a proximal anvil end, a distal anvil end, and an anvil conduit that extends from the proximal anvil end to the distal anvil end, wherein the proximal anvil end is removably connected to the hydraulic puller;
- providing a mandrel removably coupled to the anvil and the hydraulic puller, wherein the mandrel comprises a proximal mandrel end, and a threaded distal mandrel end, wherein the mandrel passes through the anvil conduit and is removably connected to the hydraulic puller;
- providing a grommet, wherein the grommet comprises a proximal grommet end, a distal grommet end, and a tubular shank defining a grommet conduit that extends from the proximal grommet end to the distal grommet end, wherein the proximal grommet end comprises a grommet flange head;
- inserting the distal mandrel end through the grommet conduit until the distal anvil end contacts the grommet flange head;
- inserting the distal grommet end of the grommet through a hole in a web;
- threading reversibly a punch onto the threaded distal mandrel end, wherein the punch comprises a proximal punch end, a distal punch end, and a punch conduit that extends from the proximal punch end to the distal punch end, wherein the punch conduit comprises a proximal punch conduit end, and a threaded distal punch conduit end, and wherein the proximal punch end comprises a flaring geometry;
- activating the hydraulic puller, wherein the mandrel and punch are drawn toward the hydraulic puller while the anvil and grommet remain stationary against the web;
- contacting the distal grommet end with the flaring geometry of the proximal punch end;
- and
- forming the grommet;
- and
- wherein the mandrel comprises an un-tapered primary outer diameter between the proximal mandrel end and the threaded distal mandrel end, the un-tapered primary outer diameter supports an inner diameter of a grommet from collapse during forming, and wherein the mandrel comprises a secondary outer diameter between the un-tapered primary outer diameter and the threaded distal mandrel end, the secondary outer diameter aligning a punch bore relative to the mandrel.
11 more elements
A grommet installation tool, comprising:
- a hydraulic puller;
- an anvil removably coupled to the hydraulic puller, the anvil comprising a proximal anvil end, a distal anvil end, and an anvil conduit that extends from the proximal anvil end to the distal anvil end, wherein the proximal anvil end is removably connected to the hydraulic puller;
- and
- a mandrel removably coupled to the anvil and the hydraulic puller, wherein the mandrel comprises a proximal mandrel end, and a threaded distal mandrel end, wherein the mandrel passes through the anvil conduit and is removably connected to the hydraulic puller, wherein the mandrel comprises an un-tapered primary outer diameter between the proximal mandrel end and the threaded distal mandrel end, the un-tapered primary outer diameter supports an inner diameter of a grommet from collapse during forming, and wherein the mandrel comprises a secondary outer diameter between the un-tapered primary outer diameter and the threaded distal mandrel end, the secondary outer diameter aligning a punch bore relative to the mandrel.
1 more element
A grommet installation tool, comprising:
- a hydraulic puller;
- an anvil removably coupled to the hydraulic puller, the anvil comprising a proximal anvil end, a distal anvil end, and an anvil conduit that extends from the proximal anvil end to the distal anvil end, wherein the proximal anvil end is removably connected to the hydraulic puller;
- a mandrel removably coupled to the anvil and the hydraulic puller, wherein the mandrel comprises a proximal mandrel end, and a threaded distal mandrel end, wherein the mandrel passes through the anvil conduit and is removably connected to the hydraulic puller, wherein the mandrel comprises an un-tapered primary outer diameter between the proximal mandrel end and the threaded distal mandrel end, the un-tapered primary outer diameter supports an inner diameter of a grommet, and wherein the mandrel comprises a secondary outer diameter between the un-tapered primary outer diameter and the threaded distal mandrel end, the secondary outer diameter aligning a punch bore relative to the mandrel;
- and
- a punch removably coupled to the mandrel, wherein the punch comprises a proximal punch end, a distal punch end, and a punch conduit that extends from the proximal punch end to the distal punch end, wherein the punch conduit comprises a proximal punch conduit end, and a threaded distal punch conduit end, and wherein the proximal punch end comprises a flaring geometry;
- wherein the threaded distal punch conduit end is reversibly threaded onto the threaded distal mandrel end of the mandrel.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.