The Boeing Company

Mcdonnell Douglas Corporation

The Boeing Corporation

David L Fritsche

Thomas O Blankenship

James Morrison

Ike C Schevers

Dennis Ray Mathis

Daniel David Bloch

Brian Joseph Martinek

James Arthur Hammond, Jr

Michael D Katzenberger

Anthony P Slade

Scott Anthony Martin

Michael Ray Miller

David N Nappier

Daniel C King

Daniel L Toberman

Thomas P Von Minden

Robert M Wolf

Mike P Matlack

Michael Palmore Matlack

Raymond J Slesinski

Isaac Charles Schevers

Steve L Arana

Kenneth D Harper

Evan M King

Jimmy Williams, Jr

Stanley V Tiefenbrun

Dorothy A Nappier, Legal Representative

Dennis R Mathias

Scott A Martin

Michael P Matlack

An example system includes: an apparatus comprising: a temporary fastener having a stem configured to be inserted through as assembly and be retained to the assembly, and a spring mounted about the stem. The system also includes a linear actuator configured to apply a force on the spring, thereby causing the spring to be compressed against the assembly and apply a predetermined clamping force to the assembly.

Systems, apparatuses, and methods for installing a temporary fastener in an assembly

A material removal device for removing material from a substrate includes a holder extending between first and second sides and a grinding wheel supported by the holder and being operable to remove the material from the substrate. The holder has a guide frame at the first side and a support frame at the second side. The guide frame has a first bottom surface and the support frame has a second bottom surface. The first and second bottom surfaces are vertically offset from each other. The grinding wheel has an axle supported by the guide frame and the support frame. The grinding wheel has a grinding surface located below the first bottom surface and above the second bottom surface.

Method and device for removing material from a substrate

A portable pneumatic vacuum cleaner is disclosed that includes a venturi vacuum generator disposed downstream of a primary filter. The primary filter is disposed in filter chamber that is disposed downstream of a collection chamber. Both chambers are disposed in a canister and the collection chamber is separated from the filter chamber by a partition filter. A vacuum conduit extends through a wall of the canister and into the collection chamber and has a collection end positioned tangentially to the wall of the canister for generating cyclonic flow in the collection chamber. The filter chamber is connected to the vacuum generator by an outlet conduit. The vacuum generator also connects to a pressurized air source and an exhaust.

Hand-held pneumatic vacuum

A guide assembly comprises a frame assembly, a plurality of clamping assemblies, and a head assembly. The clamping assemblies may be mountable to the frame assembly for attaching the frame assembly to a structure. The head assembly may be mountable to the frame assembly and may include a tool coupled to the head assembly. The tool assembly may be axially movable relative to the head assembly to cause the tool to exert a down force on the structure when the frame assembly is attached thereto.

Guide assembly

In an advantageous embodiment, an apparatus comprises a housing associated with a machine, a shaft, a sleeve, and a biasing system. The shaft is associated with the housing, and the shaft has an end configured to receive a tool. The shaft is configured to be rotated by the machine about an axis of rotation extending through the shaft. The sleeve is associated with the housing, and the sleeve has a channel that is configured to receive the shaft. The biasing system is associated with the housing and configured to move the sleeve along the axis of rotation against a workpiece on which a drilling operation is performed during which a sleeve end presses against the workpiece with a force while the shaft with the tool is rotated by the machine.

Drilling system stabilization

A servo drill spindle includes a spindle body, an air motor slidably carried by the spindle body, a spindle extension drivingly engaged by the air motor, a cutting tool drivingly engaged by the spindle extension and a servo motor engaging the air motor and operable to advance the air motor along the spindle body.

Servo drill spindle

A method of engaging a fastener may include attaching a guide assembly to a structure. The guide assembly may include a first arm, a second arm, and a head assembly mounted to an end of the first arm. The method may further include threadably engaging a tool sleeve to the head assembly, coupling a tool to the tool sleeve, and adjusting and clamping the angular orientation of the second arm relative to the first arm using a swivel mechanism. The method may additionally include engaging the tool to a fastener, rotating the tool sleeve relative to the head assembly, and applying a down force to the fastener in response to rotating the tool sleeve to move the tool axially relative to the head assembly.

Guide assembly and method

A method for manufacturing a mobile platform component that may involve attaching only a single rail to the mobile platform component, and positioning a carriage system having a main carriage and a secondary carriage on the rail. The main carriage may be positioned along a first axis of movement on the rail. The secondary carriage may be positioned along a second axis of movement perpendicular to the first axis of movement on the main carriage. The main carriage may be releasably secured to the secondary carriage, and the carriage system may be releasably secured to the mobile platform component.

Method for forming a flexible single rail drilling system

A method and apparatus for a power feed drill. The power feed drill comprises a servo motor, a roller screw, a ball spline shaft, an air motor, and a collet chuck. The roller screw is rotatably mounted to the servo motor. The ball spline shaft has a first end connected to the roller screw, wherein rotation of the roller screw in a first direction moves the ball spline shaft in the first direction and wherein rotation of the roller screw in a second direction moves the ball spline shaft in an opposite direction to the first direction along an axis. The air motor is capable of transmitting rotation motion to the ball spline shaft to rotate around the axis. The collet chuck is fixably attached to a second end of the ball spline shaft, wherein the collet chuck is adapted to receive a tool.

Method and apparatus for a spindle with servo feed control

A collet clamping nosepiece for a power feed drill is described which includes at least one clamping piston located along a centerline of the nosepiece, an expansion mandrel comprising a frusto-conical exterior surface, and an expandable collet. The expandable collet is configured to substantially surround the expansion mandrel and operatively connect to the at least one clamping piston. Operation of the at least one clamping piston causes the mandrel to move along the exterior surface of the expansion mandrel for engagement and disengagement of the collet with a bore configured for insertion of the collet.

Collet clamping nosepiece for power feed drilling equipment

A portable, air powered drill has an automated feed system and an adjustable dwell for producing countersunk holes in a workpiece. The feed system uses hydraulic cylinders and pneumatic control logic to control the feed rate, and the dwell time of a countersink drill bit at the end of the drill stroke. A movable mechanical stop permits an operator user to adjust countersink depth. The control logic provides fully automatic feed of the drill bit, and adjustment of the dwell time to consistently produce identical countersunk holes in a variety of workpiece materials.

Countersink drill system

An apparatus having a single, elongated flexible rail with a plurality of attachment devices connected to the rail and spaced at intervals therealong for releasably affixing the rail to a surface of a work piece by vacuum. The rail bends and twists as needed to substantially follow the surface of the work piece. An X-axis carriage is coupled to the rail and adapted to traverse the rail along an X-axis, wherein the X-axis is parallel to a length of the rail. A Y-axis carriage is coupled to the X-axis and adapted to traverse the X-axis carriage along a Y-axis, wherein the Y-axis is perpendicular to the X-axis. A fastening device clamps the X-axis carriage to the Y-axis carriage. A laser associated with the X-axis carriage facilitates precise locating of a drill carried by the apparatus relative to a spot where a hole is to be drilled.

Flexible single rail drilling system

A clamp including a vacuum base having a seal adapted to engage a first object. A cavity is defined between the first object and the seal. The clamp includes a vacuum generator connected to the cavity for reducing pressure in the cavity and a clamping member mounted on the vacuum base for engaging a second object. The clamp further includes a valve connected between the cavity and the vacuum generator. The valve is selectably positionable between an open position allowing fluid communication between the vacuum generator and the cavity for generating a pressure inside the cavity that is lower than a pressure outside the cavity, and a closed position at least partially restricting fluid communication between the vacuum generator and the cavity for at least partially preventing air from entering the cavity when pressure inside the cavity reaches a predetermined maximum.

Method and apparatus for clamping a plurality of objects together

Apparatus and methods for thrust sensing valves are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a housing including an input port and an output port and further having a mounting portion adapted to be coupled to a manufacturing tool. A supply member is operatively coupled to the housing to provide a flow of the pressurized medium into the input port of the housing. Finally, an elongated body is operatively coupled to the housing and moveable along an axis between a first position corresponding to a first pressure output from the housing and a second position corresponding to a second pressure output from the housing. The elongated body is biased into the first position and moveable into the second position in the presence of a thrust force on the mounting portion.

Growing community of inventors

Foristell, MO, United States of America

David L Fritsche