Patents by Inventor Gregory L. Clark

Gregory L. Clark has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 5848859
    Abstract: An improved drilling device for drilling normal holes in a workpiece surface is carried and positioned by an automatic control arm. The improved drilling device includes a compliant drill head generally comprising a drill housing and a pressure foot. The pressure foot for contacting the workpiece surface is connected to the drill housing at a universally swiveling joint. The drill housing encloses a drill drive means that advances and rotates a drill tool about a drill axis. Both the pressure foot and the drill housing have axial chambers and holes for permitting the drill tool to advance to the workpiece surface. Linear gauges mounted to the drill housing probe the orientation of the pressure foot relative to the drill housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1998
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Gregory L. Clark, David A. Yousko
  • Patent number: 5752306
    Abstract: A method of upsetting a headed rivet in a countersunk hole using an electromagnetic riveting machine having two opposed drivers which are impelled against each end of the rivet to upset the rivet with a single stroke of the machine. The movement of the driver at the headed end of the rivet in initiated slightly after movement of the driver at the shank end of the rivet to lift the headed end of the rivet slightly out of the countersink so, when the headed end driver operates, the rivet shank is deformed to fill the rivet hole as the head is driven back into the countersink for good shank interference in the hole adjacent the rivet head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1998
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Gregory L. Clark, Karl A. Hansen, deceased, John J. DeJong, Executor, John R. Hare
  • Patent number: 5566747
    Abstract: A method of cooling the coil of an electromagnetic riveter includes bringing a transducer into contact with the coil and transferring heat from the coil to the transducer by conduction. The heat is removed from the transducer by unconditioned plant air blown across a set of fins in the sides of the transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1996
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Gregory C. Givler, Gregory L. Clark
  • Patent number: 5407003
    Abstract: An apparatus for cooling the coil of an electromagnetic riveter includes a transducer which is brought into intimate contact with the coil to transfer heat from the coil to the transducer by conduction. The transducer is cooled by unconditioned plant air blown across a set of fins in the sides of the transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1995
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Gregory C. Givler, Gregory L. Clark
  • Patent number: 5379508
    Abstract: A method of riveting includes drilling a hole in a workpiece with a drill bit held in a spindle mounted on an axial centerline of a drill/rivet machine. The drill descends through a drill/suction cavity of a movable shuttle and drill chips cut by the drill bit are suctioned away from the workpiece as they are made. The drill bit is withdrawn to a level just above the drill/suction cavity, which is then moved to position a rivet insert station over the newly drilled hole in the workpiece. A rivet is blown into the rivet insert station, is guided into alignment with the hole and injected directly into the hole by air pressure. The shuttle moves a rivet die over the newly installed rivet in the hole and a driver of an electromagnetic riveter is lowered into contact with the die, which in turn is pressed against the rivet head. Another rivet die is pressed against the rivet tail on the other side of the panel by a driver of another electromagnetic riveter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1995
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Gregory C. Givler, Gregory L. Clark, Edward J. Woods, Karl A. Hansen, John R. Hare
  • Patent number: 5231747
    Abstract: This invention relates to a machine and its constituent components for drilling a hole in a workpiece, inserting a rivet in the hole, and upsetting the rivet, all without moving the lateral position of the machine or the workpiece, and to an assembly for supporting and positioning a plurality of said machines for working simultaneously on the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1993
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Gregory L. Clark, Gregory C. Givler, Karl A. Hansen, John R. Hare, Edward J. Woods
  • Patent number: 5213454
    Abstract: An apparatus for suctioning chips cut by a drill, mist lubrication of the drill, and cooling the coil of an electromagnetic riveter includes a movable shuttle body having a drill/suction cavity open at the top to receive a drill dit, and having a tapered opening at the bottom through which the drill descends to drill a hole in a workpiece clamped by a pressure foot attached to a carrier in which the shuttle body slides. A port opening in the side of the cavity is connected to a vacuum hose through which drill chips cut by the drill bit are suctioned away from the workpiece as they are made. A second port opening in the side of the cavity aligns with a nozzle through which mist lubrication is blown on the drill bit before it starts drilling, and through which air is blown into the cavity to swirl the chips as they are being cut by the drill to facilitate their removal through the vacuum port. The coil of an electromagnetic riveter is cooled by conduction to a transducer with which the coil is in contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1993
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Gregory C. Givler, Gregory L. Clark
  • Patent number: 5203855
    Abstract: A method of mist lubrication of a drill, suctioning chips cut by the drill, and cooling the coil of an electromagnetic riveter includes aligning the open top of a drill/suction cavity of a movable shuttle body with a drill which descends through the cavity and through a tapered opening at the bottom of the cavity to drill a hole in a workpiece clamped by a pressure foot attached to a carrier in which the shuttle body slides. As the drill descends through the cavity, mist lubrication is blown on the drill bit through a nozzel aligned with a port opening in the side of the cavity. Drill chips cut by the drill bit are suctioned away from the workpiece as they are made through a second port opening in the side of the cavity which is connected to a vacuum hose. Air is blown into the cavity through the same nozzel to swirl the chips as they are being cut by the drill to facilitate their removal through the vacuum port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1993
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Gregory C. Givler, Gregory L. Clark