Alignment device and methods of using the same
AssigneeFatigue Technology, Inc.
InventorDouglas W. Glenn
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An alignment device is located on a mandrel of an installation tool and is used to align a structural member in an opening of a workpiece while seating a radial flange of the structural member against a first surface of the workpiece. The alignment device comprises a disk-shaped device having an outer surface, an inner surface forming an opening through the alignment device, and where the opening is sized to be at least slightly smaller than a major diameter of an expansion portion of the mandrel. In one embodiment, the alignment is nylon to allow the inner surface of the alignment device to be repeatedly, radially expanded and yet the opening formed by the inner surface returns to its original size.
Claims16
An installation system for installing a structural member in a workpiece, the installation system comprising:
- a mandrel configured to be coupled to an installation tool, the mandrel including a major circumference portion dimensioned to expand the structural member;
- and
- an alignment device including:
- a first surface;
- a second surface;
- and
- an inner surface defining a passage extending between the first surface and the second surface, wherein material forming the inner surface is deformable and is sufficiently resilient to align the mandrel with the structural member as the major circumference portion passes through and expands the passage of the alignment device.
An installation system for installing a member in a workpiece, the installation system comprising:
- a mandrel including a tapered expansion portion;
- and
- an alignment device having a passage configured to receive the mandrel, the alignment device is adapted to be elastically deform by the tapered expansion portion and to position the mandrel relative to the member when the alignment device contacts a first side of the workpiece and an installation tool is positioned on a second side of the workpiece and the installation tool pulls at least a portion of the mandrel through the alignment device contacting the first side of the workpiece.
A method of installing a structural member into an opening of a workpiece, the method comprising:
- moving an expansion portion of a mandrel into an opening of an alignment device in an initial configuration;
- elastically deforming the alignment device using the mandrel;
- and
- allowing the alignment device to position the mandrel relative to the workpiece while the alignment device is pulled towards the workpiece and the mandrel extends through the alignment device and through the structural member;
- and
- expanding the structural member using the expansion portion of the mandrel while a section of the mandrel is positioned in the opening of the alignment device.
A method of installing a member in a workpiece, the method comprising:
- pulling a mandrel through an alignment device positioned in a first side of the workpiece using an installation tool coupled to the mandrel and positioned on a second side of the workpiece;
- expanding the alignment device and member using the mandrel;
- separating the alignment device from the expandable member;
- and
- installing another member using the alignment device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.