Method and tool for installing a fastener
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsMonica Joy Brockway, Farahnaz Sisco, Mekonnen Tsegga
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method is provided for installing a fastener into an opening of a structure. The fastener includes a sleeve and a pin threadably received into the sleeve. The method includes inserting the fastener into the opening, grabbing a pintail of the pin, and deforming a tail of the sleeve radially outward relative to a centerline axis of the fastener by automatically displacing the pin longitudinally along the centerline axis relative to the sleeve. The method also includes rotationally shearing the pintail of the pin from a shaft of the pin.
Claims25
A method for installing a fastener into an opening of a structure, the fastener comprising a sleeve and a pin threadably received into the sleeve, the method comprising:
- inserting the fastener into the opening;
- grabbing a pintail of the pin;
- deforming a tail of the sleeve radially outward relative to a centerline axis of the fastener by automatically displacing the pin longitudinally along the centerline axis relative to the sleeve;
- and
- rotationally shearing the pintail of the pin from a shaft of the pin.
A method for installing a fastener into an opening of a structure using a tool, the fastener comprising a sleeve and a pin threadably received into the sleeve, the method comprising:
- inserting the fastener into the opening;
- clamping a clamp of the tool to a pintail of the pin;
- deforming a tail of the sleeve radially outward relative to a centerline axis of the fastener by activating a linear actuator to displace the clamp longitudinally along the centerline axis relative to the structure such that the pin is displaced longitudinally along the centerline axis relative to the sleeve;
- grabbing the pintail of the pin with a wrench of the tool that is interconnected with the clamp;
- and
- rotationally shearing the pintail of the pin from a shaft of the pin by activating a rotary actuator to rotate the wrench of the tool.
A tool for installing a fastener that includes a sleeve and a pin threadably received into the sleeve, the tool comprising:
- a frame;
- a clamp mounted to the frame such that the clamp is configured to move longitudinally relative to the frame, the clamp being configured to grab a pintail of the pin of the fastener;
- a linear actuator operatively connected to the clamp such that the linear actuator is configured to drive linear movement of the clamp relative to the frame;
- a wrench mounted to the frame such that the wrench is configured to rotate relative to the frame, the wrench being configured to grab the pintail of the pin;
- and
- a rotary actuator operatively connected to the wrench such that the rotary actuator is configured to drive rotation of the wrench relative to the frame.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.