Abstract: A collet clamping nosepiece for a power feed drill is described which includes at least one clamping piston located along a centerline of the nosepiece, an expansion mandrel comprising a frusto-conical exterior surface, and an expandable collet. The expandable collet is configured to substantially surround the expansion mandrel and operatively connect to the at least one clamping piston. Operation of the at least one clamping piston causes the mandrel to move along the exterior surface of the expansion mandrel for engagement and disengagement of the collet with a bore configured for insertion of the collet.

Abstract: A clamp including a vacuum base having a seal adapted to engage a first object. A cavity is defined between the first object and the seal. The clamp includes a vacuum generator connected to the cavity for reducing pressure in the cavity and a clamping member mounted on the vacuum base for engaging a second object. The clamp further includes a valve connected between the cavity and the vacuum generator. The valve is selectably positionable between an open position allowing fluid communication between the vacuum generator and the cavity for generating a pressure inside the cavity that is lower than a pressure outside the cavity, and a closed position at least partially restricting fluid communication between the vacuum generator and the cavity for at least partially preventing air from entering the cavity when pressure inside the cavity reaches a predetermined maximum.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for thrust sensing valves are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a housing including an input port and an output port and further having a mounting portion adapted to be coupled to a manufacturing tool. A supply member is operatively coupled to the housing to provide a flow of the pressurized medium into the input port of the housing. Finally, an elongated body is operatively coupled to the housing and moveable along an axis between a first position corresponding to a first pressure output from the housing and a second position corresponding to a second pressure output from the housing. The elongated body is biased into the first position and moveable into the second position in the presence of a thrust force on the mounting portion.

Abstract: A system for installing fasteners into a workpiece. The system includes a fastener orientation system and an installation unit. The fastener orientation system receives the fastener from a fastener delivery tube and retains the fastener in a holding jaw. Specifically, the fastener is retained by a plurality of deformable fingers in the holding jaw. The installation unit is coupled to the fastener orientation system and operable to move laterally with respect to the fastener orientation system to provide a force for securing the fastener in the workpiece.

Abstract: A fastener installation tool that is configured to feed fasteners from a magazine assembly into a housing where one of the fasteners is aligned to a reciprocating tool bit. The fastener installation tool is configured to set the fastener into a workpiece such that the head of the fastener is spaced apart from the surface of the workpiece by a predetermined amount. A method for coupling a first workpiece to a second workpiece is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system for installing fasteners into a workpiece. The system includes a fastener orientation system and an installation unit. The fastener orientation system receives the fastener from a fastener delivery tube and retains the fastener in a holding jaw. Specifically, the fastener is retained by plurality of fingers in the holding jaw. The installation unit is coupled to the fastener orientation system and operable to move laterally with respect to the fastener orientation system to provide a force for securing the fastener in the workpiece.

Abstract: A fastener catching and installation tool is provided that comprises a guide tube, a slide device, a translating device, and a pivot frame disposed on a frame. Further, catching fingers are disposed within the pivot frame, a slide device activation member is coupled to the slide device, and a translating device activation member is coupled to the translating device. In operation, a fastener is delivered through the guide tube and to the catching fingers, the slide device activation member activates the slide device to slide the pivot frame and the catching fingers proximate a workpiece, and the translating device activation member activates the translating device to insert the fastener into the workpiece. Additionally, the catching fingers are pivotably retained in the tool and comprise first and second catching fingers that define a tapered bore and opposed slots to properly position and catch a plurality of fastener sizes.

Abstract: A fastener catching and installation tool is provided that comprises a guide tube, a slide device, a translating device, and a pivot frame disposed on a frame. Further, catching fingers are disposed within the pivot frame, a slide device activation member is coupled to the slide device, and a translating device activation member is coupled to the translating device. In operation, a fastener is delivered through the guide tube and to the catching fingers, the slide device activation member activates the slide device to slide the pivot frame and the catching fingers proximate a workpiece, and the translating device activation member activates the translating device to insert the fastener into the workpiece. Additionally, the catching fingers are pivotably retained in the tool and comprise first and second catching fingers that define a tapered bore and opposed slots to properly position and catch a plurality of fastener sizes.

Abstract: A power feed attachment that has a coupling structure to couple it to a hand held drill. A double-acting cylinder, which has a piston and a rod, and is fixedly coupled to the coupling structure. A two-position valve assembly is configured for directing a pressurized fluid to the double-acting cylinder. When the two-position valve assembly is in a first position is directs a fluid to a first side of the piston moving the piston to a first position. When the two-position valve assembly is in the second position it directs the pressurized fluid to a second side of the piston to move the piston to a second position. An arm is coupled to the piston. A control mechanism having a housing and a control rod, wherein the control rod is movable within the housing of the control mechanism between an extended position and a retracted position.

Abstract: A fastener installation tool that is configured to feed fasteners from a magazine assembly into a housing where one of the fasteners is aligned to a reciprocating tool bit. The fastener installation tool is configured to set the fastener into a workpiece such that the head of the fastener is spaced apart from the surface of the workpiece by a predetermined amount. A method for coupling a first workpiece to a second workpiece is also provided.

Abstract: A power feed attachment that has a coupling structure to couple it to a hand held drill. A double-acting cylinder, which has a piston and a rod, and is fixedly coupled to the coupling structure. A two-position valve assembly is configured for directing a pressurized fluid to the double-acting cylinder. When the two-position valve assembly is in a first position is directs a fluid to a first side of the piston moving the piston to a first position. When the two-position valve assembly is in the second position it directs the pressurized fluid to a second side of the piston to move the piston to a second position. An arm is coupled to the piston. A control mechanism having a housing and a control rod, wherein the control rod is movable within the housing of the control mechanism between an extended position and a retracted position.

Abstract: An apparatus having a controllable dwell for drilling and or countersinking a hole in a workpiece is provided which generally comprises a feed mechanism, a retraction mechanism, and a dwell mechanism. The feed mechanism is configured to feed a spindle from a starting position to a predetermined feed limit during a feed cycle. The retraction mechanism is configured to retract the spindle from the feed limit to the starting position to complete the feed cycle. The dwell mechanism is in communication with the retraction mechanism and comprises a mechanical bias member that stores energy during at least a portion of the feed cycle, wherein the mechanical bias member releases at least a portion of the energy once the spindle reaches the feed limit. The retraction mechanism is only actuated once the spindle reaches the feed limit and the mechanical bias member releases at least a portion of the energy.

Abstract: An axial feed apparatus having an adjustable feed stop is provided. The axial feed apparatus generally comprises a power feed module having an adjustable stop mechanism engaged therewith, wherein the adjustable stop mechanism may comprise a spindle threadedly engaging the power feed module. An adjustable depth-controlling device is further included intermediate the spindle and the power feed module, which uses a series of calibrated graduations in communication with the spindle such that a rotational change in the engagement of the graduations moves the spindle by a predetermined axial distance and thereby adjust the position of the feed stop for the power feed module. Such a power feed module may be combined with a drill motor to produce a device capable of drilling/countersinking holes in a workpiece.

Abstract: This invention discloses an improved cutting tool such as a counterbore cutter or piloted reamer that is comprised of a free-spinning pilot connected to the cutting tool. The free-spinning pilot allows the cutting tool to rotate within it while it makes firm contact with a pre-drilled hole in material to be cut improving the location of the cutter relative to the hole.

Abstract: A clamping device includes a housing, removably connected to a drill motor, which has a first end portion adapted to be received within an aperture defined in a drill plate. The first end portion of the housing also defines a number of openings in which respective ones of a plurality of ball bearings are disposed. The clamping device also includes means for forcing each ball bearing outwardly within a respective opening defined in the first end portion of the housing such that portions of the ball bearings are extended outwardly beyond the housing and are urged against the drill plate. Thus, the drill motor can be securely clamped to the drill plate. The clamping device can also include a mandrel defining an internal bore through which the cutting element extends. The mandrel typically has an exterior surface in which a plurality of recesses are defined. Each recess can be aligned with a respective opening defined in the housing and can be adapted to receive a respective ball bearing.

Abstract: A device for securely clamping a drill motor to a drill plate in order to drill precisely positioned holes in a workpiece includes an annular mandrel and annular collet concentrically disposed about the cutting element. A first end of the collet includes a plurality of longitudinally extending fingers while the mandrel has a tapered end portion having a larger external diameter than the center cylindrical portion of the mandrel. A pneumatically-actuated piston is also coaxially disposed about the cutting element to extend and retract the mandrel and the collet. Once extended, the longitudinally extending fingers of the collet overlie the center cylindrical portion of the mandrel. Thus, the clamping device may be inserted through an aperture defined in a drill plate. Following its retraction, the longitudinally extending fingers of the collet overlie the tapered end of the mandrel and are correspondingly expanded.

Abstract: A memory arbiter for a cluster controller having a protocol controller, a main processing unit (MPU) and a shared common global random access memory (RAM) wherein a combination of buffers and latches enable zero wait-state access to the common global RAM to be zero-wait-state for the MPU. This result is achieved by the common global RAM inserting wait-states on the protocol controller whenever both the protocol controller and the MPU are requesting access of the common global RAM.