The Boeing Company

Daniel Thomas Long

Franklin Bernard French

John Richard Porter

Raymond C Eng

Kevin Michael Bell

Lisa Ann Cardon

Bruce J Hanninen

Theodore W Pitt

David William Cole

Franklin B French

A collar fastening system that includes a collar fastening tool, and a collar loading assembly coupled to the collar fastening tool. The collar loading assembly includes a loading arm that rotates into multiple positions and a holding member coupled to the loading arm. The loading arm positions the holding member between a loading position and an unloading position. The holding member includes an arcuate side wall and a vacuum opening defined in the arcuate side wall. The holding member receives a collar when at the loading position, and selectively holds the collar against the arcuate side wall with a retaining force provided by a vacuum applied via the vacuum opening. The loading arm provides the collar to the collar fastening tool when at the unloading position.

Collar fastening system and method of operating

A method for processing a drilling location in a confined area of a workpiece along a drilling axis A using an end effector is disclosed. The method comprises positioning the end effector relative to the drilling location of the workpiece, clamping the workpiece between a clamp of the end effector and a pressure foot of the end effector, wherein the pressure foot supports the clamp movable relative to the pressure foot, and drilling the workpiece with a flat angle drill of the end effector.

Methods for processing a confined area of a workpiece

In one aspect, a vacuum alignment tool for holding and aligning a first fastener with a second fastener is provided. The vacuum alignment tool includes a main body including an end wall having an aperture disposed therein configured to receive at least a portion of the first fastener. The vacuum alignment tool also includes a vacuum receiving portion coupled to the main body. The vacuum receiving portion including a vacuum bore disposed therein, wherein a vacuum channel extends within the main body and within the vacuum receiving portion between the aperture and the vacuum bore.

Fastening system with vacuum alignment tool and methods of operating same

In one embodiment, a system includes a first end effector configured to press a selected area of an aircraft wing skin panel against a corresponding area of an underlying wing support structure with a downward force, drill a hole within the selected area, the hole extending through the skin panel and the support structure, and insert an elongated shaft of a fastener into the hole. The system includes a mechanism configured to locate the first end effector relative to the selected area. The system can further include a second end effector configured to press the corresponding area of the support structure against the selected area of the skin panel with an upward force that is opposite in direction to the downward force, and a mechanism configured to locate the second end effector relative to the corresponding area of the support structure.

Systems and methods for assembling aircraft wing skins

One example of the present disclosure relates to an apparatus for manipulating a fastener. The apparatus comprises a chamber that includes a first location and a second location. A first actuator is movable between a first position, contiguous with the first location, and a second position, contiguous with the second location. A second actuator is movable between a third position, contiguous with the second location, and a fourth position, contiguous with a third location. A third actuator is movable between a fifth position, contiguous with the third location, and a sixth position, contiguous with the fourth location. The third location is at least partially outside the chamber, and the fourth location is entirely outside the chamber.

Apparatus and methods for manipulating a fastener

An automated apparatus for use in selectively installing temporary fasteners in an assembly is provided. The apparatus includes an end effector, a cutting mechanism coupled to the end effector and that forms an opening in the assembly when a potential opening location is substantially aligned with a cutting mechanism center point. The apparatus also includes at least one of a first sub-assembly and a second sub-assembly coupled to the end effector. The first sub-assembly includes a temporary fastener insertion mechanism that inserts a temporary fastener through the opening in the assembly when the opening is substantially aligned with an insertion mechanism center point different from the cutting mechanism center point. The second sub-assembly includes a temporary fastener removal mechanism that removes installed temporary fasteners from the assembly when the installed temporary fastener is substantially aligned with a removal mechanism center point different from the cutting mechanism center point.

Automated apparatus for use in selectively installing temporary fasteners in an assembly

One example of the present disclosure relates to an apparatus for processing a workpiece along a drilling axis, the apparatus comprising an end effector. The end effector comprises a pressure foot, a clamp linearly movable relative to the pressure foot along the drilling axis, and a flat angle drill linearly movable relative to the pressure foot along the drilling axis.

Growing community of inventors

Federal Way, WA, United States of America

Daniel Thomas Long