The Boeing Company

Alpine Technology, Inc.

Mark A Woods

Jeffry Glen Bickford

Richard Philip Whitlock

Peter Apolonio Coronado

John E Inman

John A Davies, Jr

Jeffrey A Wilkerson

Thomas J Lowe

Edward E Feikert

Elizabeth Denise Blahut

Kwok Tung Chan

Dan Dresskell Day

Blake Alexander Simpson

Bruce S Howard

Sean Dennis Morden

Julie M Drexler

Randall A Rogers

Sabyasachi Basu

Gregory John Shish

Christopher Lance Newbolt

Victor Gary Hart

James L Mitchell

James T Mitchell

Eric M Avakian

Stella B Madden

Omar J Pacheo Agosto

Victor X Du

Melanie J Sutherland

Peter A Coronado

Richard P Whitlock

John A Davies

Elizabeth D Blahut

Edward Feikert

Julie R Jones

John A Davies Jr

Methods and systems for installing and verifying installation of a fastener assembly using predictive verification. A method includes receiving, at a processor, at least one fastener assembly hole characteristic of a fastener assembly hole. The method further includes determining, via the processor, whether the at least one fastener assembly hole characteristic is within a predetermined range of fastener assembly hole variable and, upon determining the at least one fastener assembly hole characteristic is within the predetermined range of fastener assembly hole variables, transmitting instructions, via the processor, to a fastening device to initiate installation of a fastener assembly in the fastener assembly hole. The processor then receives at least one installation value of the fastener assembly and determines via the processor, whether the installation value is within a predetermined range of fastener installation variables.

Methods and systems for one-sided fastener assembly installation

A one-sided fastener assembly for use in coupling an assembly stack-up includes a sleeve comprising an outer cylindrical surface and an inner tapered surface oriented at a first angle with respect to the outer surface. The inner tapered defines an opening extending through the sleeve. The fastener assembly also includes a core extending along an axis and configured for insertion into the opening. The core includes an outer tapered surface oriented at a second angle with respect to the axis configured for engagement with the sleeve inner tapered surface such that insertion of the core into the sleeve causes radial expansion of the sleeve creating an interference fit with the assembly stack-up to complete installation of the one-sided fastener assembly.

One-sided fastener assembly and methods and systems for installing the same

A two-piece, one-sided-installation fastener system may have an internally-threaded sleeve having a shank and a sleeve head. The fastener system may include an externally-threaded core bolt having a frangible driving provision and a core bolt head.

Method of installing a structural blind fastener

A fastener insertion system, for use with an assembly stack-up, includes a fastener and an end effector. The end effector includes a drill bit for drilling a hole through the stack-up, a probe for determining a stack-up parameter, and a fastener feed head for installing the fastener into the hole and applying rotational torque to complete fastener installation. The fastener insertion system also includes a processing device and an angle sensor communicatively coupled to the processing device and to the end effector. The processing device is programmed to measure, with the rotation angle sensor, the angular displacement required to complete fastener installation and to transmit a signal representative of the measured angular displacement from the angle sensor to the processing device. The processing device is also programmed to compare the measurement of angular displacement required to complete fastener installation to a range of angular displacement indicative of correct fastener installation.

Systems for in-process quality control during drill-fill assembly

A joint fastening system employs a lock bolt having a pull stem and locking threads inserted through a bore in a joint having fay sealant between layers. A collar is received over the pull stem to engage the threads, the collar producing tension on the threads to generate clamp force sufficient for fay sealant squeeze out.

Temporary clamp up system for sealant squeeze out in lock bolt installations

Structural blind fastener and method of installation

A fastener system for composite structure providing electromagnetic energy (EME) protection incorporates a fastener having a head with an engagement surface and a shank having a threaded end. A nut is received on the threaded end of the fastener, with the nut also having an engagement surface. At least one of the head engagement surface and the nut engagement surface incorporates a reduced area portion for engagement of a first mating surface or second mating surface, respectively.

Nut, washer and fastener head for electromagnetic effect protection

A method for assembling a structure is described. The method includes locating a position in an assembly stack-up where a one-sided fastener is to be installed, drilling a hole through the assembly stack-up at the position, countersinking the hole to a specified depth, operating a calibrated probe to determine at least parameter associated with one or more of the hole and the stack-up proximate the hole, inserting the one-sided fastener into the hole, applying a rotational torque to the one-sided fastener to complete installation of the one-sided fastener, and comparing a measurement of angular displacement required to complete installation of the one-sided fastener to a range of angular displacement indicative of correct installation of the fastener.

Methods and systems for in-process quality control during drill-fill assembly

Apparatuses and methods for structurally testing fasteners are described herein. A fastener test apparatus configured in accordance with one aspect of the invention includes a first support member configured to support a head portion of a fastener, and a second support member configured to support a locking feature on a shaft portion of the fastener. The test apparatus can also include a force measurement device configured to be operably sandwiched between the first support member and the second support member. The force measurement device can be used to measure fastener preload. The test apparatus can further include first and second fixtures for performing an ultimate tensile test of the fastener. In this regard, the first fixture can be configured to exert a first force against the first support member in a first direction, and the second fixture can be configured to exert a second force against the second support member in a second direction opposite the first direction.

Apparatuses and methods for structurally testing fasteners

A passive-adaptive indentor is provided for cold working a material that includes a material surface and a depth extending in a direction that is perpendicular to a direction of the material surface. The passive-adaptive indentor has a first member that includes a first working end that is configured to create a first residual stress field that extends to a predetermined depth in the material. The passive-adaptive indentor also has a second member that includes a second working end that is configured to create a second residual stress field that extends to a generally fixed second depth of the material regardless of the depth to which the first residual stress field extends. A method of using a passive-adaptive indentor for cold working a material is also presented.

Passive-adaptive indentor for stress wave cold working

A fastener measurement system includes a number of gauge blocks, each having a tapered bore disposed therein. Each gauge block has a number of conical inserts that fit within the tapered bore. The inserts have a central bore of varying sizes to receive fasteners of different shank diameters. The gauge block includes a beveled surface at the point where the bore meets a top surface of the gauge block. The beveled surface reduces wear and allows the gauge block to be easily calibrated. A computer system receives measurements made by a linear transducer that measures the height of the fastener above the surface of the gauge block a correction factor .delta. is added to the height measured to produce an indication of the true head height of the fastener. The computer system prompts the user to test the head heights of a random sample of fasteners and prints a report of the head heights as well as an indication of whether the sample of fasteners meets engineering specifications.

Fastener measurement system

A glass cullet separator utilizes a multi-element optical sensor to detect when an opaque particle in a group primarily composed of transparent particles moving along a plane passes a first line lying in that plane, and the particular location of the particle along the first line. A signal from the optical sensor is fed to a microprocessor. After a delay equal to the time it takes for a particle to pass between the first line and a second line, which is parallel to and separated from the first line, the microprocessor causes a valve to open and emit a jet of high velocity air from a nozzle aimed toward the plane along the second line. The jet of air blows the opaque particle out of the plane where it is captured and separated from the remainder of the particles. A plurality of nozzles are located in a manifold which extends across the extent of the second line. The manifold also supports the valves and fluid conduits that interconnect the valves and the nozzles.

Glass cullet separator and method of using same

A video imaging system for sequentially measuring the dimensions or tolerances of a plurality of fasteners. The system includes a feed gate in combination with a reciprocating chuck, the latter moving each fastener, one at a time, into the field of view of a pair of orthogonally-oriented cameras. A pair of orthogonally-oriented back-lights, one each being directly opposite the field of view of one of the cameras, silhouettes each fastener, and defines a camera image that is digitized for producing fastener dimensions. The orthogonal relationship of the cameras enables the true fasteners position to be calculated relative to each camera.

Inspection device for flush head bolts and rivets

A vacuum chuck (36) moves back and forth from a feed gate (16) to a video imaging position. The chuck (36) has a vacuum line which attaches a fastener (15) to the chuck's forward end surface where it is held as the chuck moves. The feed gate (16) selectively permits or blocks fastener exiting movement from a track (12) and centers the fastener (15) relative to the chuck (36) before it is attached.

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Renton, WA, United States of America

Mark A Woods