System for loading collars onto bolts in large-scale manufacturing operations

{
  "publication_number": "US8726486B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "System for loading collars onto bolts in large-scale manufacturing operations",
  "abstract": "Collars having a center opening are conveyed through a feed channel by compressed air to a swaging die tool for bolts. There is sufficient clearance between the collar and the channel to permit movement of the collar as the forward end of the die pin engages a central opening of the collar, the feed assembly or the swaging die tool being moveable sufficiently thereafter to permit a die-pin engaged collar to move forward for engagement with a tail end of a bolt. The collar is loaded onto the bolt and the collar moved forward to a stackup of parts prior to a bolt being moved through an opening in the stackup for engagement with the collar.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A gripperless method for conveying collars having a center opening to a position where an axis of the center opening of the collar is alignable with a centerline axis of a swaging die tool for bolts, wherein the swaging die tool is part of a tool assembly for manufacturing operations, the method comprising the steps of: conveying a collar through a feed channel by compressed air, the feed channel being generally perpendicular to the swaging tool and centerline axis as the feed channel approaches the swaging die tool; operatively positioning, solely by action of the compressed air, the collar relative to the swaging die tool centerline axis, wherein there is sufficient clearance between the collar and the channel to permit movement of the collar as a forward end of a die pin portion engages the center opening of the collar, resulting in accurate loading of the collar onto the die pin, wherein the feed assembly or the swaging die tool are movable sufficiently thereafter to permit a die pin-engaged collar to be moved forward for engagement with a tail end of a bolt; and extending a bolt through a workpiece prior to a collar engaging the bolt.",
    "2. A gripperless method for conveying collars having a center opening to a position where an axis of the center opening of the collar is alignable with a centerline axis of a swaging die tool for bolts, wherein the swaging die tool is part of a tool assembly for manufacturing operations, the method comprising the steps of: conveying a collar through a feed channel by compressed air, the feed channel being generally perpendicular to the swaging tool and centerline axis as the feed channel approaches the swaging die tool; operatively positioning, solely by action of the compressed air, the collar relative to the swaging die tool centerline axis, wherein there is sufficient clearance between the collar and the channel to permit movement of the collar as a forward end of a die pin portion engages the center opening of the collar, resulting in accurate loading of the collar onto the die pin, wherein the feed assembly or the swaging die tool are movable sufficiently thereafter to permit a die pin-engaged collar to be moved forward for engagement with a tail end of a bolt; loading the collar onto the die pin; and moving the collar forward to a stackup of parts to be fastened prior to a bolt being moved through an opening in the stackup for engagement with the collar.",
    "3. A gripperless method for conveying collars having a center opening to a position where an axis of the center opening of the collar is alignable with a centerline axis of a swaging die tool for bolts, wherein the swaging die tool is part of a tool assembly for manufacturing operations, the method comprising the steps of: conveying a collar through a feed channel by compressed air, the feed channel being generally perpendicular to the swaging tool and centerline axis as the feed channel approaches the swaging die tool; operatively positioning, solely by action of the compressed air, the collar relative to the swaging die tool centerline axis, wherein there is sufficient clearance between the collar and the channel to permit movement of the collar as a forward end of a die pin portion engages the center opening of the collar, resulting in accurate loading of the collar onto the die pin, wherein the feed assembly or the swaging die tool are movable sufficiently thereafter to permit a die pin-engaged collar to be moved forward for engagement with a tail end of a bolt; loading the collar onto the die pin; and moving the die tool and the die pin-engaged collar relative to the feed assembly sufficiently to permit the collar to be moved toward the workpiece."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "This is a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/934,694, filed on Nov. 2, 2007.\n\nThis invention relates generally to assembly systems for large-scale manufacturing operations, such as for fastening together parts of aircraft wings or similar operations, and more specifically concerns a bolt collar transfer system for moving bolt collars into an aligned position with a swaging die tool assembly which then moves the collar to the parts. The collar is then swaged on a bolt extending through the parts.\n\nSystems for performing fastening operations involving bolts and collars which are swaged on the bolts in the manufacture of large workpiece assemblies such as commercial aircraft wings are known. An example of such a system is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,437,094, owned by the assignee of the present invention. Such systems typically involve a tool assembly which moves along the workpiece under computer control, performing fastening operations at successive locations. A drilling tool is used to first drill a hole in the workpieces to be joined, such as a wing panel and stringer, which are typically referred to as a stackup. A die and ram assembly is used for moving a collar into position adjacent the opening, and a bolt is then positioned and moved through the opening into the collar, or alternatively, the collar is moved onto a bolt extending through the opening. The ram assembly is then operated to swage the collar onto the end tail of the bolt, completing the fastening operation. The tool assembly is then moved to the next location along the stackup.",
  "cpc": [
    "B21D 43/00",
    "B21D 43/02",
    "B21J 15/022",
    "B21J 15/32",
    "B23P 19/001",
    "B23P 2700/01",
    "B65G 51/02",
    "Y10T 29/49998",
    "Y10T 29/53387",
    "Y10T 29/53478",
    "Y10T 29/53717",
    "Y10T 29/5377"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B23Q 7/00"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "TOMCHICK SCOTT C",
    "ELECTROIMPACT INC"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "TOMCHICK SCOTT C"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2013-06-06",
  "publication_date": "2014-05-20",
  "grant_date": "2014-05-20",
  "priority_date": "2007-11-02",
  "application_number": "US-201313911963-A",
  "family_id": "41199983",
  "citations": [
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  ]
}