Guide assembly

A guide assembly for engaging a fastener mounted in a structure, comprising:

• a frame assembly having first and second arms;
• a swivel mechanism interconnecting the first and second arms and being configured such that an angular orientation of the first and second arms is adjustable relative to one another, the swivel arm clamping the first arm to the second arm in a manner maintaining an angular orientation of the first arm relative to the second arm;
• a plurality of clamping assemblies mountable to the first and second arms for clamping the frame assembly to a structure, each one of the clamping assemblies being adjustably orientatable relative to the first and second arms to which the clamping assemblies are mounted;
• a head assembly mountable to the frame assembly and having a removable tool attached thereto, the tool being axially movable relative to the head assembly to cause the tool to exert a down force on the structure when the frame assembly is clamped to the surface;
• an alignment mechanism including a spherical bearing for adjusting an orientation of the tool relative to the frame assembly;
• the first arm extending through the swivel mechanism and including the clamping assembly located on one side of the swivel mechanism and the head assembly located on an opposite side of the swivel mechanism;
• and
• the second arm extending through the swivel mechanism and including the pair of clamping assemblies located on opposite sides of the swivel mechanism, wherein the angular orientation between the first arm and the second arm can be greater than 90°.

A method of drilling a fastener hole in a structure, comprising the steps of:

• attaching a guide assembly to a structure using a plurality of clamping assemblies, the guide assembly including a first arm, a second arm, and a head assembly mounted to an end of the first arm;
• threadably engaging a tool sleeve to the head assembly;
• inserting a drill guide into the tool sleeve;
• adjusting, using a swivel mechanism, an angular orientation of the second arm relative to the first arm;
• clamping the first arm to the second arm using the swivel mechanism in a manner maintaining an angular orientation of the first arm relative to the second arm, the first arm extending through the swivel mechanism and including one of the plurality of clamping assemblies located on one side of the swivel mechanism and the head assembly located on an opposite side of the swivel mechanism, the second arm extending through the swivel mechanism and including a pair of the plurality of clamping assemblies located on opposite sides of the swivel mechanism, wherein the angular orientation between the first arm and the second arm can be greater than 90°
• aligning the drill guide substantially with a predetermined hole location;
• and
• drilling the fastener hole at the predetermined hole location.

A method of engaging a fastener mounted in a structure, comprising the steps of:

• attaching a guide assembly to the structure using a plurality of clamping assemblies, the guide assembly including a first arm, a second arm, and a head assembly mounted to an end of the first arm, the head assembly having a tool sleeve coupled to a spherical bearing, the tool sleeve being axially movable relative to the spherical bearing, the guide assembly;
• adjusting, using a swivel mechanism, an angular orientation of the second arm relative to the first arm;
• clamping the first arm to the second arm using the swivel mechanism in a manner maintaining an angular orientation of the first arm relative to the second arm, the first arm extending through the swivel mechanism and including one of the plurality of clamping assemblies located on one side of the swivel mechanism and the head assembly located on an opposite side of the swivel mechanism, the second arm extending through the swivel mechanism and including a pair of the plurality of clamping assemblies located on opposite sides of the swivel mechanism, wherein the angular orientation between the first arm and the second arm can be greater than 90°
• inserting a drill guide in the tool sleeve;
• aligning the tool sleeve with the fastener by rotating the spherical bearing;
• drilling an engagement hole in the fastener;
• removing the drill guide from the tool sleeve;
• installing a drive member in the tool sleeve;
• coupling a tool to an end of the drive member;
• engaging the tool to the engagement hole;
• and
• moving the tool sleeve axially relative to the spherical bearing such that the tool applies a down force on the fastener.