US 2021/0370423 A1 · Apparatus, Systems, and Methods for Forming Aligned Holes From Misaligned Holes

Abstract

Apparatus, systems, and methods for forming a plurality of aligned holes from a plurality of misaligned holes. The apparatus includes a reamer with a constant diameter a first portion and a tapered second portion. A constant diameter pilot member is connected to the reamer. The taper may be configured to center the reamer and reduce an offset between the apparatus and a centerline of a virtual hole created by the misaligned holes. The constant diameter of the pilot member corresponds to the virtual hole and the constant diameter of the first portion of the reamer correspond to a cleanup hole configured to accept an oversize fastener and fully encompass the misaligned holes. If the pilot member cannot pass through the misaligned holes, an apparatus with a smaller diameter pilot member and a larger diameter reamer is needed to create a cleanup hole that fully encompasses the misaligned holes.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An apparatus for forming a plurality of aligned holes from a plurality of misaligned holes, the apparatus comprising:

a reamer having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion having a first constant diameter and the second portion having a first end and a second end, the first end of the second portion being adjacent to the first portion of the reamer, the second portion of the reamer being tapered having a varied diameter that decreases from the first end to the second end;
and
a pilot member connected to the second end of the second portion of the reamer, the pilot member having a second constant diameter.

A system for forming a plurality of aligned holes from a plurality of misaligned holes, the system comprising:

a first reamer having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion of the first reamer having a first constant diameter, the second portion of the first reamer having a first end and a second end, the first end of the second portion of the first reamer being adjacent to the first portion of the first reamer, the second portion of the first reamer being tapered having a varied diameter that decreases from the first end to the second end;
a first pilot member connected to the second end of the second portion of the first reamer, the first pilot member having a second constant diameter that corresponds to a first virtual hole and wherein the first constant diameter of the first reamer corresponds to a first cleanup hole that accepts a first oversize fastener;
a second reamer having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion of the second reamer having a third constant diameter, the second portion of the second reamer having a first end and a second end, the first end of the second portion of the second reamer being adjacent to the first portion of the second reamer, the second portion of the second reamer being tapered having a varied diameter that decreases from the first end to the second end;
and
a second pilot member connected to the second end of the second portion of the second reamer, the second pilot member having a fourth constant diameter that corresponds to a second virtual hole and wherein the third constant diameter of the second reamer corresponds to a second cleanup hole that accepts a second oversize fastener, the second oversize fastener having a larger diameter than the first oversize fastener.

2 more elements

A method for creating aligned holes from a plurality of misaligned holes, the method comprising:

attempting to insert a first pilot member through the plurality of misaligned holes, the first pilot member being connected to a first reamer having a first portion and a second portion, the second portion having a first end and a second end with the first end being adjacent to the first portion of the first reamer, the first portion of the first reamer having a first constant diameter and the second portion being tapered having a varied diameter that decreases from the first end to the second end, wherein the first pilot member is connected to the second end of the second portion of the first reamer and wherein the first pilot member has a second constant diameter that corresponds to a first virtual hole and wherein the first constant diameter of the first reamer corresponds to a first cleanup hole that accepts a first fastener;
and
cutting the first cleanup hole through the plurality of misaligned holes with the first reamer as the first pilot member is inserted into the plurality of misaligned holes.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Apparatus, Systems, and Methods for Forming Aligned Holes From Misaligned Holes

Life of this patent

Apparatus, Systems, and Methods for Forming Aligned Holes From Misaligned Holes

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20