The Boeing Company

Brian Joseph Martinek

Thomas O Blankenship

James Morrison

James Arthur Hammond, Jr

George E Anderson

David L Fritsche

John A Baumann

Sean M Thuston

Scott A Rose

Daniel C King

Michael D Katzenberger

Kenneth D Harper

Warren Richard Koch

Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and devices for repairing holes in weld seams created by bobbin friction stir welding tools. A hole may be created when a welding tool or, more specifically, a pin of the tool is removed or otherwise extracted from a weld seam created by the tool. The method may involve inserting a plug (e.g., a rivet) into the hole, reshaping the plug in the hole (e.g., riveting) thereby securing the plug in the component, and creating another weld seam through the plug thereby consuming the plug. In some embodiments, the hole may be reshaped prior to inserting the plug. For example, the hole may be drilled out and/or a countersink may be created on one or both ends of the hole. Furthermore, the plug may extend outside of the hole prior to its reshaping and, in some embodiments, even after reshaping.

Repairing holes created in components during bobbin friction stir welding

The disclosure provides a computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for managing inspection of items. In one embodiment, an identifier for an item is received in a shipment of items to form a received item. Inspection criteria for inspecting the shipment of items are adjusted using a quality history. The quality history is data regarding results of inspections of items. A result of the inspection is received. The quality history is updated with the result of the inspection.

Method and apparatus for a receiving, inspection, and supplier quality system

A coldwork tool assembly including an outer housing and an inner housing in telescopic arrangement with each other and a retaining collar configured to accommodate a plurality of mandrel configurations. One of a plurality of various mandrels is removably coupled to the inner housing using the retaining collar to secure the mandrel to the inner housing as the inner housing moves between a contracted and an expanded position relative to the outer housing.

Coldwork tool assembly

A method and device for testing a substantially cylindrical tool having an axis is performed by imparting a testing torque to the cylindrical tool. The tool is clamped in a vise. The tool has a driven end including a shank and a working end in opposed relation along the axis. The vise is configured to clamp the tool to prevent rotation of the tool about the axis. The shank is clamped in a chuck. The chuck has a adapter defining a void configured to engagingly receive a socket drive shaft. A torque wrench having a lever arm and a socket driver shaft is engaged by insertion of the socket drive shaft into the void. A torque is imparted to the cylindrical tool about its axis by suitably imparting a force on the lever arm. The quantum of torque imparted is measured based upon operation of the torque wrench.

Brazed joint torque test apparatus and methods

An apparatus for forming features in a workpiece is provided. The apparatus includes a nosepiece that engages a boss of a template and guides a tool member therethrough. The nosepiece includes a housing and an adjustable member positioned at least partially in an interior space of the housing. The adjustable member defines radial apertures that hold locking members such as spherical bearings. The locking members are configured to contact a tapered portion of the inner surface of the housing so that as the adjustable member is adjusted from an unlocked position to a locked position, the locking members contact the tapered portion of the housing and are urged radially inward to retain the boss.

Locking nosepiece and template

An apparatus having a controllable dwell for drilling and or countersinking a hole in a workpiece is provided which generally comprises a feed mechanism, a retraction mechanism, and a dwell mechanism. The feed mechanism is configured to feed a spindle from a starting position to a predetermined feed limit during a feed cycle. The retraction mechanism is configured to retract the spindle from the feed limit to the starting position to complete the feed cycle. The dwell mechanism is in communication with the retraction mechanism and comprises a mechanical bias member that stores energy during at least a portion of the feed cycle, wherein the mechanical bias member releases at least a portion of the energy once the spindle reaches the feed limit. The retraction mechanism is only actuated once the spindle reaches the feed limit and the mechanical bias member releases at least a portion of the energy. A predetermined dwell period is thereby provided between the spindle reaching the feed limit and the retraction mechanism being actuated. An associated method is also provided.

Apparatus having a controllable dwell and associated method

An axial feed apparatus having an adjustable feed stop is provided. The axial feed apparatus generally comprises a power feed module having an adjustable stop mechanism engaged therewith, wherein the adjustable stop mechanism may comprise a spindle threadedly engaging the power feed module. An adjustable depth-controlling device is further included intermediate the spindle and the power feed module, which uses a series of calibrated graduations in communication with the spindle such that a rotational change in the engagement of the graduations moves the spindle by a predetermined axial distance and thereby adjust the position of the feed stop for the power feed module. Such a power feed module may be combined with a drill motor to produce a device capable of drilling/countersinking holes in a workpiece. A drilling/countersinking device is thus facilitated that is capable of providing a readily adjustable feed stop for positively controlling the depth of the drilled/countersunk hole in a consistent, accurate, and repeatable manner. An associated method is also provided.

Growing community of inventors

Troy, MO, United States of America

Brian Joseph Martinek