Apparatuses and methods for guiding a drill bit to form a hole
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsVoltaire Valeriano, Jr., Matthew G. Kesterson, Florante M. Halili, Gregory Van
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An assembly for guiding a drill bit of a drill assembly comprises a chassis and a centering bushing, comprising an exterior conical portion and a central opening. The assembly further comprises a vacuum-cup bracket, coupled to the chassis and adjustably positionable relative to the chassis along a second axis. The assembly also comprises vacuum cups, coupled to the vacuum-cup bracket. The assembly additionally comprises a pressure foot, coupled to the chassis at the first end of the chassis and adjustably positionable relative to the chassis along the second axis.
Claims22
An assembly (300) for guiding a drill bit (404) of a drill assembly (400), the drill assembly (400) comprising a nose-piece (402), having an upper end (410) and a lower end (412), the assembly (300) comprising:
- a chassis (310), having a first end (312) and a second end (314), located opposite each other along a first axis (316);
- a centering bushing (320), located at the second end (314) of the chassis (310) and comprising:
- an exterior conical portion (322), having a first azimuthal-symmetry axis (324);
- and
- a central opening (326), having a second azimuthal-symmetry axis (327),
- collinear with the first azimuthal-symmetry axis (324);
- a vacuum-cup bracket (330), coupled to the chassis (310) between the first end (312) and the second end (314) and adjustably positionable relative to the chassis (310) along a second axis (318) that is normal to the first axis (316);
- vacuum cups (340), coupled to the vacuum-cup bracket (330);
- and
- a pressure foot (352), coupled to the chassis (310) at the first end (312) of the chassis (310) and adjustably positionable relative to the chassis (310) along the second axis (318).
(canceled)
A method (500) of guiding a drill bit (404) of a drill assembly (400) through a component (200) to form a hole (102) in a base structure (100), the component (200) comprising a stepped obverse surface (220), a reverse surface (230), spaced from the stepped obverse surface (220), and a countersunk surface (202), having a minimum diameter and a maximum diameter and bounded by the stepped obverse surface (220), which comprises a plurality of step-like surfaces (210), offset relative to each other, wherein the component (200) is positioned such that at least a portion of the reverse surface (230) is in contact with an obverse surface (104) of the base structure (100), the method comprising steps of:
- positioning an exterior conical portion (322) of a centering bushing (320) such that at least a portion of the exterior conical portion (322) is located within a countersunk opening (201), defined by the countersunk surface (202) of the component (200), wherein the centering bushing (320) is coupled to a chassis (310) that has a first end (312) and a second end (314), located opposite the first end (312) along a first axis (316), and the centering bushing (320) is located at the second end (314) of the chassis (310);
- positioning a pressure foot (352), coupled to the chassis (310) at the first end (312) of the chassis (310), in contact with the obverse surface (104) of the base structure (100) or in contact with at least one of the plurality of step-like surfaces (210) of the component (200);
- positioning vacuum cups (340) of a vacuum-cup bracket (330), coupled to the chassis (310) between the first end (312) and the second end (314) of the chassis (310), in contact with the obverse surface (104) of the base structure (100) or in contact with at least one of the plurality of step-like surfaces (210) of the component (200);
- applying vacuum to the vacuum cups (340) to preload the pressure foot (352) against the obverse surface (104) of the base structure (100) or against the one of the plurality of step-like surfaces (210) of the stepped obverse surface (220) of the component (200) and to preload the exterior conical portion (322) of the centering bushing (320) against the countersunk surface (202) of the component (200) such that the exterior conical portion (322) of the centering bushing (320) mates with the countersunk surface (202) of the component (200) in a geometrically complementary relationship;
- and
- rotationally advancing the drill bit (404) through the component (200) and into the base structure (100) while guiding the drill bit (404) using a central opening (326) of the centering bushing (320) to form, in the base structure (100), the hole (102) that has a diameter, which is equal to or less than the minimum diameter of the countersunk surface (202) of the component (200), wherein the hole (102) and the countersunk surface (202) share an azimuthal-symmetry axis (430).
-41. (canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.