The Boeing Company

Matthew J Weigel, Jr

Sujith N Mally

In one example, an adapter assembly for a system for cold working a portion of a metal layer of a metal/composite structure is provided. The portion being cold worked may surround a hole in a structure that includes the metal layer and a non-metal layer. In some examples, the adapter assembly includes a shim adapter housing including a face wall, having a first aperture that is larger than the hole, and a side wall, extending from the face wall. A cavity is at least partially delimited by the face wall and the side wall. The adapter assembly also includes a shim, dimensioned to fit within the cavity. The shim has a second aperture that is larger than the first aperture. Other embodiments may be described.

Systems and methods to cold work metal/composite structures

A method and apparatus are present for removing a blind fastener from a structure. A first hole is drilled in a guide located around a center of a head of a core bolt in a body of the blind fastener to form a pilot hole. A second hole is drilled in the pilot hole in the head of the core bolt. The head of the core bolt is separated from the shaft of the core bolt. The core bolt is separated from the body. The core bolt is moved out of the body after the core bolt has been separated from the body. A head of the body is separated from a shaft of the body. The shaft of the body is moved out of the structure.

Method and apparatus for removing blind fasteners

A hand-held pneumatic-hydraulic drill unit employs modular drilling and clamp-up assemblies to perform a complete drilling cycle. The drilling cycle consists of: (1) clamping the drill unit to a work piece and/or a template that positions the drill unit relative to the workpiece; (2) advancing a rotating tool bit to perform the desired machining operation; (3) withdrawing the tool bit from the machined opening; and (4) releasing the clamping mechanism that secures the drill unit to the workpiece. The drill unit includes a pneumatic motor subassembly that is advanced toward and retracted from a workpiece by a hydraulically actuated feed cylinder. The motor subassembly and feed cylinder are axially aligned with one another. The clamp-up assembly of the drill unit also includes a clamp cylinder that is activated solely by hydraulic pressure. A modular, pneumatically actuated hydraulic pump is mounted on the drill unit and supplies pressurized hydraulic fluid to the feed and clamp cylinders. Variations in drilling depths, drilling speeds, feed rates, drilling thrusts, and clamp-up forces can be effected by changing modular components of the drill unit.

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Bonney Lake, WA, United States of America

Matthew J Weigel, Jr