Abstract: A system and method for feeding collar members to an attachment system for assembly of aircraft and similar large scale mechanical assemblies. Collars are fed sideways along a tube having a rectangular internal cross-section to a collar pathway defined by an clamp fork and swaging ram combination. The collar pathway is curved to present the collar to a receiving element mounted on a swaging die in a proper orientation relative to an attachment bolt which is moved through an opening in the workpiece and then through the collar. As the bolt is moved into the collar, the collar, receiving element and swaging die move together laterally to come into alignment with the bolt.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 12, 2006
Date of Patent:
June 7, 2011
Assignee:
Electroimpact
Inventors:
Scott C. Tomchick, Peter B. Zieve, Carter L. Boad