Hole locating device and mechanism
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorJohn McCracken
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention relates to hole locating devices and to methods for their use. An apparatus under the invention may be used to aid in locating and/or drilling holes in a composite. The apparatus may be used to locate holes to be drilled in a post-cure composite which may be formed on a surface of a tool during a curing process. The apparatus may be utilized to locate and/or drill holes in parts of an airplane or in non-airplane applications. Such an apparatus may include a body defining a bore and a cap. A first end of the body may be adapted to be secured to an interior surface of a hole defined in a tool for forming a composite. The cap may be adapted to be hermetically sealed to a second end of the body.
Claims30
An apparatus to aide in drilling holes in a composite comprising:
- a body defining a bore, said body comprising first and second ends, wherein said first end of said body is adapted to be secured to an interior surface of a hole defined in a tool for forming said composite;
- and
- a cap which is adapted to be hermetically sealed to said second end of said body.
An apparatus to aide in drilling holes in a composite comprising:
- a body defining a bore, said body comprising first and second ends;
- a tool defining at least one hole, said tool comprising a first surface which is adapted to abut against the composite, a second opposing surface, and an interior surface of said at least one hole;
- wherein said first end of said body is adapted to be inserted into and secured within said interior surface of said at least one hole while another portion of said body is disposed over the second opposing surface of the tool.
A method for preparing a composite to have one or more holes drilled in the composite, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a body defining a bore, the body comprising first and second ends;
- providing a tool defining at least one hole, the tool comprising a first surface adapted to define a shape of the composite, a second opposing surface, and an interior surface of said at least one hole;
- and
- inserting the first end of said body into said at least one hole while at least a portion of said body is disposed over the second opposing surface of said tool.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.