Drilling tool
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsHelen Mary Owens, Stephen A. Staud, Michael W. Malinowski, Emily Sprik
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A tool and method for drilling holes through first and second structural members having a layer of liquid shim disposed between the first and second structural members. The tool has a drill jig with apertures defining a location for the holes to be drilled in the structural members and a heat blanket coupled to at least a portion of a bottom surface of the drill jig. The tool is coupled to one of the structural members in an area proximate the liquid shim. The heat blanket is activated to raise the temperature of the liquid shim past a curing temperature for a pre-determined period of time. Holes are then drilled through the holes in the drill jig, into the structural members and the liquid shim.
Claims12
A tool for drilling holes through first and second structural members having a layer of liquid shim disposed between the first and second structural members, the tool comprising a drill jig having apertures defining a location for the holes to be drilled in the structural members and a heat blanket coupled to at least a portion of a bottom surface of the drill jig, the heat blanket comprising a rubber pad enclosing a grid of wound resistance wire, the tool being coupled to one of the structural members in an area proximate the liquid shim.
A method of drilling holes in first and second structural members having a layer of liquid shim disposed therebetween, the method comprising:
- providing a tool for drilling comprising a drill jig having holes corresponding to the holes to be drilled in the structural members, the drill jig being coupled to a heat blanket covering at least a portion of a bottom surface of the drill jig;
- coupling the tool to one of the structural members in an area proximate the liquid shim;
- activating the heat blanket to raise the temperature of the liquid shim past a curing temperature for a pre-determined period of time;
- and
- drilling holes, through the holes in the drill jig, into the structural members and the liquid shim.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.