The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 04, 2000
Filed:
Nov. 24, 1998
David P Banks, Lake Stevens, WA (US);
James N Buttrick, Jr, Seattle, WA (US);
Charles H Glaisyer, Everett, WA (US);
Darrell D Jones, Mill Creek, WA (US);
Russell C McCrum, Redmond, WA (US);
Philip M Wright, Clinton, WA (US);
The Boeing Company, Seattle, WA (US);
Abstract
The present invention relates to a protrusion sensor that determines the acceptability of a rivet within a component. The sensor includes a baseline detector which remains stationary, a movable detector which moves with a bucking bar module and produces a first signal proportionate to a distance between the baseline detector and the movable detector, and a CPU electronically connected to the movable detector and receiving the first signal. The CPU determines whether the rivet is acceptable by inputting a first distance when the bucking bar module is clamping an inside surface of the component, inputting a second distance when the bucking bar module is seated against a shank of the rivet, subtracting the second distance from the first distance to determine a length of the shank protruding from the inside surface of the component, and comparing the length of the shank against an internal table of rivet lengths to determine whether the proper rivet was loaded into the component or whether the rivet is within an acceptable tolerance.