The Boeing Company

Other

Sujith N Mally

Donald Wayne Coffland

Russell N Tice

Matthew J Weigel, Jr

Michael D McInnis

Paul Nelsen Stavig, Jr

Jeffrey Wayne Hamilton

Paul A McEldowney

David W Sharpe

Jeffrey L Colehour

Paul A Mceldowney

Michael D Mcinnis

Systems, methods, and apparatus for identifying parts with electromagnetic identification (EMID) tags are disclosed. In one or more embodiments, a method involves receiving, with a first antenna(s) on a mobile EMID reader portal, a first signal(s) from an EMID tag(s). The method further involves transmitting, with a second antenna(s) on the mobile EMID reader portal, a second signal(s) to an access point(s). Also, the method involves transmitting, with the access point(s), a third signal(s) to an EMID processing system and a location processing system. In addition, the method involves determining, with the location processing system, the location of the mobile EMID reader portal. Additionally, the method involves transmitting, by the location processing system, the location of the mobile EMID reader portal to the EMID processing system. Further, the method involves associating, by the EMID processing system, the EMID tag(s) with the location of the mobile EMID reader portal.

Mobile tag reader portal

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 system comprise a tool, a number of radios, and a processor. The tool has a sensor and a wireless transmitter, and is configured to perform an operation on an area. The wireless transmitter is configured to transmit a signal comprising sensor data upon completion of the operation. The number of radios is configured to generate location measurements using the signal. The processor is configured to identify a location of the area using the location measurements and generate an indication of completion of the operation.

System and method for monitoring completed manufacturing operations

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

An electronic torque wrench having a flexible head provides accurate torque measurements irrespective of the angular position of the head relative to a handle on which the force is applied. The head includes first and second portions connected by at least three pivotal links. One of the links is used to react against the entire torque applied to the handle, regardless of the pivotal position of the handle. An electronic strain gauge on the torque-reacting link provides a measurement of the torque applied to the fastener.

A system verifies torquing of pressure fittings in an aircraft wheel well. A strain gauge and an ultra-wide band (UWB) pulse signal generator are placed on a wrench used to torque the fittings. The strain senses the torque applied by the wrench, and the pulse signal generator generates UWB pulse signals indicating the location of the fitting and the torque applied to the fitting. The pulse signals are received by UWB radios within the wheel well, which generate location measurements based on the received pulse signals. A processor automatically calculates the location of the fitting being torqued based on the location measurements, and a display produces a 3-dimensional image of the fittings and their torque status.

Object location and reporting system for harsh RF environments

Various methods and apparatuses for removing blind fasteners, portions of blind fasteners, and/or other fasteners from structural assemblies are described herein. In one embodiment, a blind fastener can have a core bolt extending through a passage in a body. One method for removing the blind fastener from a structural assembly in accordance with one aspect of the invention can include removing a head portion from the core bolt, and driving the remaining portion of the core bolt at least partially through the body in a first direction. The method can further include extracting the body from the bore in a second direction opposite to the first direction. In one embodiment, the body can be extracted from the bore by inserting a tool into the passage and engaging the body, and then pulling the body in the second direction with the tool.

Methods for removing blind fasteners

An adjustable depth control device for a fastener driving tool has an attachment member which is used to couple the adjustable depth control device to the fastener driving tool. An adjustment member is coupled to the attachment member to adjust and control a driving depth of the fastener driving tool. A stopping head is formed on a rivet die of the fastener driving tool for keeping the rivet die in a chamber of the fastener driving tool and for limiting a distance the rivet die will travel.

Device for controlled depth riveting

An air pressure powered vacuum has a housing with a continuous channel through it. Positive pressure air is introduced into and accelerates in an annular shaped plenum in the housing. The high velocity air is diffused from the plenum into the channel towards a debris collection bag. The diffuser is shaped so that the air diffuses at an angle with respect to the surface of the channel and such that laminar air flow occurs adjacent said channel wall downstream. This creates strong suction at the channel inlet and debris is carried to the collection bag.

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Bellevue, WA, United States of America

Sujith N Mally