Toggle clamp tool system and method
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorJustin A. Restivo
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A toggle clamp tool system includes a pair of toggle clamps and a tool. Each toggle clamp includes a clamp base and a clamp arm. The clamp base is configured to be pivotably coupled to a mounting point on a structure. The clamp arm is pivotably coupled at one end to the clamp base at an arm-base pivot point, and has a clamp foot on an opposite end for bearing against a surface of the structure. The clamp arm is movable from a disengaged position into an over-center position from which the clamp arm is unable to pivot away from the surface and back toward the disengaged position. The tool is configured to be removably mounted on the clamp base of each of the toggle clamps when coupled to the structure.
Claims20
A toggle clamp tool system, comprising:
- a pair of toggle clamps, each comprising:
- a clamp base configured to be pivotably coupled to a mounting point on a structure;
- a clamp arm pivotably coupled at one end to the clamp base at an arm-base pivot point, and having a clamp foot on an opposite end for bearing against a surface of the structure, and the clamp arm is movable from a disengaged position into an over-center position from which the clamp arm is unable to pivot away from the surface and back toward the disengaged position;
- and
- a tool configured to be removably mounted on the clamp base of each of the toggle clamps when coupled to the structure.
A toggle clamp tool system, comprising:
- a pair of toggle clamps, each comprising:
- a clamp base having a clamp attach fitting configured to be removably coupled to a mounting point on a fuselage of an aircraft;
- a clamp arm pivotably coupled on one end to the clamp base at an arm-base pivot point and having a clamp foot on an opposite end for bearing against a surface of the fuselage, and the clamp arm is movable from a disengaged position into an over-center position from which the clamp arm is unable to pivot away from the surface and back toward the disengaged position;
- and
- a platform configured to be removably supported on the clamp base of each of the pair of toggle clamps when coupled to the aircraft and the platform is sized to cover a temporary gap between the fuselage and a wing during assembly of the aircraft.
A method of coupling a platform to a structure, comprising:
- coupling a clamp base of each of a pair of toggle clamps to one of a pair of mounting points spaced apart from each other on a structure;
- pivoting a clamp arm of each of the toggle clamps about an arm-base pivot point to move the clamp arm from a disengaged position to an over-center position in which the clamp arm is unable to pivot in an opposite direction back toward the disengaged position when a clamp foot on an end of the clamp arm is in contact with a surface of the structure;
- and
- mounting a tool on the pair of toggle clamps.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.