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:
Mar. 19, 2002
Filed:
Mar. 09, 2000
Branko Sarh, Huntington Beach, CA (US);
Trent Logan, Foothill Ranch, CA (US);
David Stanley, Los Alamitos, CA (US);
The Boeing Company, Seattle, WA (US);
Abstract
An apparatus for installing rivets or other fasteners through a workpiece includes an automated machine disposed on one side of the workpiece and a hand-held tool that is manipulated by a single worker located on the opposite side of the workpiece. The automated machine includes an end effector supporting tools such as a drill and a riveter. The automated machine also includes a guide structure adapted to be releasably affixed to the workpiece, and a carriage that travels along the guide structure and supports the end effector so that the end effector can be positioned in various locations along the surface of the workpiece where fasteners are to be installed. The end effector includes an electromagnetic clamping device, and the hand-held tool includes a magnetic clamping block that is attracted by the clamping device to clamp the workpiece therebetween. The end effector generates a positioning signal and the hand-held tool includes a detector for detecting the positioning signal. The detector is operable to generate guidance information telling the person operating the hand-held tool where to move the hand-held tool so as to align the tool with the end effector of the automated machine. Once the hand-held tool is aligned with the end effector, the electromagnetic clamping device is activated to clamp the workpiece, and then the end effector tools are operated to drill a hole and to install a rivet or other fastener into the hole.