Patents by Inventor Andre D. Swart

Andre D. Swart 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).

  • Publication number: 20240309905
    Abstract: Nut plate grippers, end effectors that include nut plate grippers, robots that include end effectors, installation systems that include robots, and related methods are disclosed herein. The nut plate grippers are configured to grip a nut plate and include an attachment region, a first resilient projecting region, and a second resilient projecting region. The first resilient projecting region extends from the attachment region and defines a first nut plate-contacting end. The second resilient projecting region extends from the attachment region and defines a second nut plate-contacting end. The first resilient projecting region and the second resilient projecting region are configured to resiliently deflect toward one another to facilitate insertion of the first nut plate-contacting end and the second nut plate-contacting end between a pair of opposed plate flanges of a base plate of the nut plate. The methods include methods of gripping a nut plate utilizing the nut plate grippers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2023
    Publication date: September 19, 2024
    Inventors: Benjamin S. Zielinski, Jason Cochrane, Ashkan Amirsadri, Andre D. Swart
  • Patent number: 12042845
    Abstract: Nut plate grippers, end effectors that include nut plate grippers, robots that include end effectors, installation systems that include robots, and related methods are disclosed herein. The end effectors include a nut plate gripper, a rivet holder, and a yoke that defines a nut plate gripper side and a rivet holder side. The nut plate gripper is operatively attached to the nut plate gripper side of the yoke. The rivet holder is operatively attached to the rivet holder side of the yoke such that the nut plate gripper and the rivet holder define a structure-receiving region therebetween. The nut plate gripper is configured to grip the nut plate. The rivet holder is configured to selectively retain a plurality of rivet heads of a plurality of corresponding rivets. The robots include the end effector. The installation systems include the robot. The methods include methods of utilizing nut plate installation systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignees: The Boeing Company, Strata Manufacturing PJSC
    Inventors: Benjamin S. Zielinski, Jason Cochrane, Ashkan Amirsadri, Andre D. Swart