The Boeing Company

James Albert DeLand

Darrell Darwin Jones

Matthew Gregory Kesterson

Roger A Gage

James M Cobb

Timothy G Nielsen

John W Palmateer

A method of processing a workpiece comprises identifying processing locations on the workpiece, drilling a first hole at one of the processing locations using a rotary drive, sensing a flow of fluid while drilling, generating an operation signal based on the flow, comparing the duration interval of the operation signal to a predetermined temporal value, and drilling a different hole at a different processing location based on the duration interval and the temporal value.

Methods for processing a workpiece

A tool configured to install and torque multiple fasteners, such as nuts and/or bolts, positioned in confined and/or hard to reach areas. The tool includes a body portion, a plurality of fastener retainers, and a structure which permits both the remote tightening and torquing of such fasteners. The tool also provides an actuator for the remote release of torque loads which may build up in the fastener retainers during such torquing of the fasteners. The actuator includes a lever arm pivotally connected to the body portion and a cam that is rotatable between a first position and a second position. A linkage is engaged by the cam and urges the lever arm to a torquing position upon the cam being in the first position and to a torque release position upon the cam being in the second position.

Apparatus and method for remote fastener installation

A system for processing a workpiece, including a rotary drive having a path along which a flow of a fluid is established during operation, a sensor in communication with the path, to generate a signal responsive to the flow of the fluid and not to generate the signal responsive to an absence of the flow, and a controller communicatively coupled to the sensor to enable the operation of the rotary drive subsequent to a termination of the signal if a duration interval thereof is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, and to prevent the operation if the duration interval of the signal is less than the predetermined value. The rotary drive may include a drill.

System and method for processing a workpiece

In one aspect of the disclosure, a system for processing a location of a workpiece is disclosed. The system includes a tool, including a first passage, configured to supply a vacuum to the location, and a second passage formed along the first passage, where the second passage is configured to supply a fluid to the location. The system also includes means for rotating and selectively axially vibrating the tool, means for supplying the fluid to the tool, and means for supplying the vacuum to the tool.

Fluid-fed vacuum cutters

A system for preventing the performance of an out-of-sequence reaming operation during the machining of holes in a lamination of fiber-reinforced plastic material. The system automatically stops or inhibits a reaming operation if a sensing tip of the reamer encounters an incompletely drilled pre-hole or blank material (i.e., no pre-hole) instead of a fully drilled pre-hole. The system does not require any human intervention to inhibit the reaming operation. In one embodiment, the human or operator cannot re-start the reaming process until the machine tool or reaming equipment is reset. In some cases the reset may require manual intervention.

Sensing tip reamer

A tool configured to install and torque multiple fasteners, such as nuts and/or bolts, positioned in confined and/or hard to reach areas. The tool includes a body portion, a plurality of fastener retainers, and a structure which permits both the remote tightening and torquing of such fasters. The tool also provides an actuator for the remote release of torque loads which may build up in the fastener retainers during such torquing of the fasteners. The actuator includes a lever arm pivotally connected to the body portion and a cam that is rotatable between a first position and a second position. A linkage is engaged by the cam and urges the lever arm to a torquing position upon the cam being in the first position and to a torque release position upon the cam being in the second position.

An improved vacuum drilling system and drill bit includes a generally hollow vacuum drill bit with one or more chip inlets arranged proximate to one or more cutting surfaces. The drill bit also includes grooves along its exterior. When the drill bit is guided by a bushing or guide hole, the grooves serve to reduce the friction therebetween. The grooves can also convey air for cooling and improved chip collection.

Vacuum drilling system

Methods and systems for large-scale airframe assembly are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes measuring a plurality of discrete point positions at least one of on and adjacent to at least one of a first and a second component, and measuring at least one surface position on the at least one of the first and second components. The measured positions are compared with a desired position information (e.g., a computer aided design model). The comparison may include applying a fitting routine to the measured positions and the desired position information. Next, a transformation matrix for improving the comparison between the measured positions and the desired position information is computed. At least one of the first and second components is then moved according to the transformation matrix. During movement, the plurality of discrete point positions may be monitored and provided to the position control system by a feedback loop.

Methods and systems for large-scale airframe assembly

There is provided a tie-in device for correlating at least two different coordinate systems. The tie-in device comprises an outer surface having a predefined geometric shape, such as a generally spherical surface, located at a first predefined distance from a reference point of the tie-in device, such as the center of the generally spherical surface. The outer surface of the tie-in device is mappable to determine the location of the reference point in a first coordinate system. The tie-in device comprises at least one target located at a second predefined distance from the reference point. The target is locatable in a second coordinate system to determine a location of the reference point in a second coordinate system. The relative locations of the reference point are tied-in, advantageously by processing circuitry, to correlate the first and second coordinate systems.

Tie-in device for the correlation of coordinate systems

A reaction cam system for use as a release system in a torquing process. The reaction cam applies a reaction force to a backup wrench coupled between a head of a fastener and an adjacent component. The reaction cam is positioned against the backup wrench and has an inner sleeve removably coupled to a head of the fastener. An eccentrically mounted cam housing is rotatably supported about the inner sleeve. The cam housing is positioned prior to the torquing process being initiated such that a high point of the housing faces a portion of the backup wrench. After the torquing process is complete and the backup wrench is forced tightly into contact with the cam housing, the cam housing can be rotated such that a gap is created between the backup wrench and reaction cam. The reaction cam then can be easily removed from the adjacent component and the backup wrench easily removed from the fastener.

Growing community of inventors

Bothell, WA, United States of America

James Albert DeLand