Gemcor Engineering Corp.

Joseph A Dionne

David Michalewski

Bradley M Roberts

Kurt R Kubanek

James J Birke

Mark A Siuta

Apparatus and method for positioning a wing panel or other member for riveting or conducting other operations thereon. The member is loaded at floor level on a plurality of hydraulic cylinders spaced over the length thereof and raised to a position for conducting the operations thereon. The hydraulic fluid flow to and from the hydraulic cylinders is controlled to synchronize the movements of the cylinder piston rods so that each of the piston rods bears its share of the load throughout raising and lowering of the member. The cylinders are also individually operated to accommodate passage of riveting machine heads or other tooling relative to the member.

Method for positioning a wing panel for riveting

Apparatus for positioning a wing panel for riveting

A method and apparatus for forming a metal object wherein first and second coils are provided in close proximity to and in electromagnetic association with each other, the first coil is in driving association with a forming tool for forming the metal object and the first and second coils are supported in a manner allowing movement of the first coil relative to the second coil, and wherein an electric current pulse is supplied simultaneously to the first and second coils to produce a repulsive electromagnetic force sufficient to accelerate the first coil and drive the forming tool to perform a forming operation on the metal object, the pulses being shaped in accordance with a characteristic of the object being formed. The pulse shaping aspect includes matching the magnetic force based on the current pulse with the stress-strain characteristic of the object being formed. A voltage doubling network can be employed to provide increased output force. In high energy impact fastener installation apparatus, there is balancing of the applied force from both ends of the fastener during simultaneous impact and upset to eliminate transfer of force to the workpiece and supporting structure.

High energy impact riveting apparatus and method

A method and apparatus for forming a metal object such as upsetting a fastener in a workpiece wherein first and second coils are provided in close proximity to and in electromagnetic association with each other, the first coil is in driving association with a forming tool adapted for forming the metal object and the first and second coils are supported in a manner allowing movement of the first coil relative to the second coil, and wherein an electric current pulse is supplied simultaneously to the first and second coils to produce a repulsive electromagnetic force sufficient to accelerate the first coil and driving the forming tool to form the metal object, the pulses being shaped in accordance with a characteristic of the metal object. The pulse shaping includes matching the magnetic force based on the current pulse with the stress-strain characteristic of the metal object being formed. In high energy impact fastener installation apparatus, there is balancing of the applied force from both ends of the fastener during simultaneous impact and upset to eliminate transfer of force to the workpiece and supporting structure. Advantages include a relatively less drastic fall off of mutual magnetic field with separation of the two coils, decreased heat load, increased output force, low reactive force to the supporting structure, increased efficiency and the ability to tailor the magnetic force to synchronize with the force requirements of the metal object during forming, and a gap-free joint containing the metal object.

A riveting apparatus and method wherein riveting upset force is provided by a solenoid operated plunger wherein the current provided to the coil of the solenoid is controlled such as by a servo-controller to achieve rivet upset time versatility whereby cracking may be minimized while maintaining high quality rivet upset uniformity. A condition such as plunger velocity or applied force during upset is sensed, and signals indicative of the condition are fed back to the servo-controller so that the condition may be instantaneously adjusted as the plunger is moved for rivet upset.

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West Seneca, NY, United States of America

Joseph A Dionne