Abstract: The present invention relates to a portable process for automated fastening of aircraft structures. The invention will employ two primary elements for locating and installing through-the-skin fasteners. Inside and outside units are attached onto an airframe and indexed to each other through coordination holes that have been pre-drilled through the structure. The aircraft structure is assembled with the pre-drilled coordination holes by aligning adjacent airframe parts and inserting alignment pins. The alignment pins will provide a degree of clamping to pull the parts together and provide indexing for inside and outside vacuum attachment track systems. The invention is equipped to traverse along the track system, accurately position itself, and drill only or countersink a hole, insert a fastener, and fasten, i.e., upset a rivet, or run down a threaded nut, then reposition itself to the next fastener location and repeat the process.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a protrusion sensor that determines the acceptability of a rivet within a component. The sensor includes a baseline detector which remains stationary, a movable detector which moves with a bucking bar module and produces a first signal proportionate to a distance between the baseline detector and the movable detector, and a CPU electronically connected to the movable detector and receiving the first signal.

Abstract: Provided is an aircraft trimming device including a guide assembly (24) and a cutting tool (26). The guide assembly (24) includes a rigid plate (25) and a T-shaped track (30) mounted to one side of the plate to serve as a support and a guide for the cutting tool (26). The cutting tool (26) includes a base assembly (32); an air supply assembly (34) that is supported on the base assembly (32); and a cutting assembly (36) in pneumatic communication with the air supply assembly (34). During operation, the cutting tool (26) is pneumatically lifted by the air supply assembly (34) a slight distance off the track (30) in order that a mechanic may translate the cutting tool (26) along the track (30), thereby trimming an aircraft sub-assembly edge along a predetermined path (40).

Abstract: An automated assembly machine for fabricating large mechanical structures including a floor assembly jig for receiving and holding parts in a desired orientation, a pair of carriages, a first drive mechanism for independently driving the carriages longitudinally, a second drive mechanism for moving the carriages vertically, a tool tray mounted on the carriages, and a plurality of tools, including a drill, a hole diameter measurement probe, a nut runner, and an electromagnetic riveter, mounted on the tool tray for lateral movement toward and away from a workpiece clamp-up position. The tools are positioned at the workpiece clamp-up position by moving one of the carriages longitudinally along the floor assembly jig and raising the other carriage to elevate the tool tray to a desired elevation.

Abstract: A fastener feed system for selecting a fastener needed for a particular fastening location from a fastener storage area and delivering the fastener to a workpiece where the fastener is to be installed includes a tray having a floor and a grid partition arrangement defining a multiplicity of cells for holding single fasteners in a vertical orientation and a delivery tube for conveying the fasteners, selected and extracted from the tray, to a fastener inserting device for inserting the fasteners into holes in the workpiece. A suction head, attached to the proximal end of the delivery tube, contacts a top edge of the grid partition arrangement and applys suction to a selected cell to suck the fastener in the cell through the suction head and into the delivery tube. An X-Y motive device is provided for positioning the suction head over the selected cell.

Abstract: A nut feeding method and apparatus for an automatic assembly machine includes a carrousel for carrying a large supply of nuts on vertical feed rods hanging from a rotating head from which the nuts can be fed to a nut runner. A shaft projects on an axis of rotation from the rotating head, and a drive mechanism rotates the shaft to rotate the carrousel about the axis of rotation. The body of the apparatus has a sliding surface adjacent the lower end of the rods around which a lower nut on each rod slides in a circular path as the carrousel rotates. A nut on one of the rods can pass through an opening, when selectively uncovered by a movable plug, in the sliding surface at one radial position on the circular path for feeding to the nut runner. A nut channel beneath and communicating with the opening conveys the nut to a nut loading station. An air cylinder moves a nut feed pin to feed the nut to the nut driver socket in the nut driver.

Abstract: An automatic liquid lubricant application device for applying a liquid lubricant to the inside of a hole in a workpiece includes an applicator for insertion into the hole for application of the lubricant. The applicator includes a perforated tube surrounded by a sleeve of wicking material. A shoulder surrounding the applicator is sized to engage the workpiece on the marginal portions around the hole. The shoulder is mounted for limited axial movement when pressed against the workpiece. A fluid flow channel connected at one end to a source of lubricant is connected at the other end to the perforated tube. A flow control device for controlling the flow of lubricant in the channel is actuated by axial movement of the shoulder when engaging the workpiece.

Abstract: A plurality of gripper modules positioned in space apart relationship along a frame member provide an end-of-arm tool. A pair of gripper modules disposed on opposite sides of the end-of-arm tool each support a Hall effect sensor which is coupled through a signal processing circuit to control the heads of the gripper modules.

Abstract: A safety device for that portion of an elevated platform, including a horizontal guard railing, to which an open access ladder is attached. The safety device comprises an elongated, rigid member adapted to form an extension of the horizontal portion of the guard railing; and means for securely connecting the elongated member to the guard railing on both sides of the ladder access opening to the platform, thereby providing an extension of the horizontal portion of the guard railing which includes the portion of the platform above the platform access opening of the ladder.