# US 2021/0276072 A1 · Offset collar delivery for swage tools > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0276072 A1 - Document ID: US20210276072A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/321,684 - Filed: 2021-05-17 - Published: 2021-09-09 - Earliest claimed: 2018-09-24 - Assignees: The Boeing Company - Applicants: The Boeing Company - Inventors: Kwok Tung Chan; Tanni Sisco; Jeff Devlin; Brendan Elmore - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210276072A1 ## CPC - B21J 15/32: Devices for inserting or holding rivets in position with or without feeding arrangements - B21J 15/022: {Setting rivets by means of swaged-on locking collars, e.g. lockbolts} - B21J 15/142: {Aerospace structures} - B21J 15/28: Control devices specially adapted to riveting machines not restricted to one of the preceding subgroups - B21J 15/285: {for controlling the rivet upset cycle} - F16B 19/05: Bolts fastening by swaged-on collars (F16B19/08 takes precedence) - B21J: FORGING; HAMMERING; PRESSING METAL; RIVETING; FORGE FURNACES (rolling of metal B21B; making particular products by forging or pressing B21K; cladding or plating B23K; finishing surfaces by hammering B23P9/04; compacting surfaces by blasting with particulate material B24C1/10; general features of presses, presses for consolidating scrap B30B; furnaces in general F27) - F16B: DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING (couplings for transmitting rotation F16D) ## Abstract Systems and methods are provided for fastening via a swage tool. One embodiment is a method for fastening via a swage tool, the method including selecting a hole located at a part; aligning an axis of a lockbolt collar with a center of the hole; placing the lockbolt collar flush against the part at a first end of the hole; and swaging the lockbolt collar onto a lockbolt that has been driven through the hole. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for fastening via a swage tool, the method comprising: selecting a hole located at a part; aligning an axis of a lockbolt collar with a center of the hole; placing the lockbolt collar flush against the part at a first end of the hole; and swaging the lockbolt collar onto a lockbolt that has been driven through the hole. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein: aligning the axis of the lockbolt collar and the center of the hole comprises intersecting the axis and the center at an Inner Mold Line (IML) of the part. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising: driving the lockbolt through the lockbolt collar and the hole, causing the axis of the lockbolt collar to become collinear with the center of the hole and the lockbolt. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising: driving the lockbolt from a second end of the hole through the hole and the lockbolt collar while the lockbolt collar is flush against the part. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising: holding the lockbolt collar for placement via opposed fingers which clamp the lockbolt collar in place below a swage nose, wherein a flange of the lockbolt collar is distal from the fingers. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5 further comprising: resting a flange of the lockbolt collar upon the fingers ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5 further comprising: overlapping the fingers with a flange at the lockbolt collar to seat the lockbolt collar at the fingers. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising: driving a swage nose against inclined ramps in the fingers to drive the fingers apart and release the lockbolt collar. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising: holding the lockbolt collar flush against the part by pressing a swage nose against the lockbolt collar. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising: transporting the lockbolt collar to a swage nose that swages the lockbolt collar into place, wherein transporting the lockbolt collar comprises reorienting the lockbolt collar as the lockbolt collar proceeds through a retractable collar arm. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising: aligning an axis of the lockbolt collar to intersect the center of the hole at an Inner Mold Line (IML) surface of the part. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising: inserting the lockbolt in one motion through the lockbolt collar and the hole. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein: the first end of the hole is located at an Inner Mold Line (IML) of the part; and a second end of the hole is located at an Outer Mold Line (OML) of the part. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) A portion of an aircraft assembled according to the method of claim 1. ### Claim 15 A non-transitory computer readable medium embodying programmed instructions which, when executed by a processor, are operable for performing a method for fastening via a swage tool, the method comprising: selecting a hole located at a part; aligning an axis of a lockbolt collar with a center of the hole; placing the lockbolt collar flush against the part at a first end of the hole; and swaging the lockbolt collar onto a lockbolt that has been driven through the hole. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The medium of claim 15 wherein: aligning the axis of the lockbolt collar and the center of the hole comprises intersecting the axis and the center at an Inner Mold Line (IML) of the part. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The medium of claim 15 wherein the method further comprises: driving the lockbolt through the lockbolt collar and the hole, causing the axis of the lockbolt collar to become collinear with the center of the hole and the lockbolt. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The medium of claim 15 wherein the method further comprises: driving the lockbolt from a second end of the hole through the hole and the lockbolt collar while the lockbolt collar is flush against the part. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The medium of claim 15 wherein the method further comprises: holding the lockbolt collar for placement via opposed fingers which clamp the lockbolt collar in place below a swage nose, wherein a flange of the lockbolt collar is distal from the fingers. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The medium of claim 19 wherein the method further comprises: resting a flange of the lockbolt collar upon the fingers ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The medium of claim 19 wherein the method further comprises: overlapping the fingers with a flange at the collar to seat the collar at the fingers. ### Claim 22 (depends on 15) The medium of claim 15 wherein the method further comprises: driving a swage nose against inclined ramps in the fingers to drive the fingers apart and release the lockbolt collar. ### Claim 23 (depends on 15) The medium of claim 15 wherein the method further comprises: holding the lockbolt collar flush against the part by pressing a swage nose against the lockbolt collar. ### Claim 24 (depends on 15) The medium of claim 15 wherein the method further comprises: transporting the lockbolt collar to a swage nose that swages the lockbolt collar into place, wherein transporting the lockbolt collar comprises reorienting the lockbolt collar as the lockbolt collar proceeds through a retractable collar arm. ### Claim 25 (depends on 15) The medium of claim 15 wherein the method further comprises: aligning an axis of the lockbolt collar to be intersect the center of the hole at an Inner Mold Line (IML) surface of the part. ### Claim 26 (depends on 15) The medium of claim 15 wherein the method further comprises:inserting the lockbolt in one motion through the lockbolt collar and the hole. ### Claim 27 (depends on 15) The medium of claim 15 wherein: the first end of the hole is located at an Inner Mold Line (IML) of the part; and a second end of the hole is located at an Outer Mold Line (OML) of the part. ### Claim 28 (depends on 15) A portion of an aircraft assembled according to the method performed by the computer readable medium of claim 15. ### Claim 29 An apparatus for delivering lockbolt collars at a swage tool, the apparatus comprising: a pair of fingers disposed at a swage nose, each finger comprising: a vertical portion that follows the swage nose; an inclined ramp that is integral with the vertical portion that extends beyond a swaging surface of the swage nose; and an arcuate cut-out disposed at a distal portion of the inclined ramp, the arcuate cut-out having a circumference corresponding with a circumference of a lockbolt collar. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The apparatus of claim 29 wherein: the vertical portion pivots about a hinge at the swage nose. ### Claim 31 (depends on 29) The apparatus of claim 29 wherein: force applied to the inclined ramp by the swage nose as the swage nose swings the vertical portion about the hinge and away from the swage nose. ### Claim 32 (depends on 29) The apparatus of claim 29 wherein: the arcuate cut-out has a circumference corresponding with a circumference of a lockbolt collar. ### Claim 33 (depends on 29) The apparatus of claim 29 wherein: the arcuate cut-out has a circumference dimensioned for seating a flange of the lockbolt collar. ### Claim 34 (depends on 29) The apparatus of claim 29 further comprising: a collar delivery system that places a lockbolt collar between the pair of fingers. ### Claim 35 (depends on 29) The apparatus of claim 29 wherein: the hinges of the fingers are biased to draw the arcuate cut-outs of the fingers towards each other, in order to clamp the lockbolt collar below a flange of the lockbolt collar. ### Claim 36 (depends on 29) The apparatus of claim 29 wherein: the vertical portion is flush with the swage nose. ### Claim 37 (depends on 29) The apparatus of claim 29 wherein: the hinges of the fingers apply force that holds a lockbolt collar between the fingers while the swage nose is retracted. ### Claim 38 (depends on 29) The apparatus of claim 29 further comprising: a collar feed arm that transports collars to the fingers; a guide that controls motion of the collar feed arm as the collar feed arm extends towards the fingers and retracts away from the fingers; and an actuator that drives the collar feed arm. ### Claim 39 (depends on 29) The apparatus of claim 29 wherein: the fingers point upward, and receive a lockbolt collar having a flange disposed at an upward portion. ### Claim 40 (depends on 29) Fabricating a portion of an aircraft using the apparatus of claim 29. ### Claim 41 A method for placing a collar on a lockbolt, the method comprising: locating an Inner Mold Line (IML) end of a hole; sensing a centerline of the hole; holding a collar against the IML, end of the hole; aligning an axis of the collar with the centerline of the hole; and inserting a lockbolt through the collar and the hole.