Tool-change stations

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10875133-B2
Application number	US-201916270267-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 7, 2019
Priority date	Feb 29, 2016
Publication date	Dec 29, 2020
Grant date	Dec 29, 2020

Abstract

A tool-change station includes a base, and a first tool-change member that is coupled to the base and is rotatable relative to the base. The first tool-change member includes a first tool-engagement portion, geometrically complementary with a tool-change-engagement portion of a tool of a rotary drive.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A tool-change station, comprising:
a base; and
a first tool-change member, coupled to the base and rotatable relative to the base, and
wherein the first tool-change member is configured to install and remove a tool to and from a rotary drive and comprises a first tool-engagement portion, geometrically complementary with a tool-change-engagement portion of the tool of the rotary drive.

2. The tool-change station according to claim 1 , wherein the first tool-change member further comprises a first socket-engagement portion, having an external shape complementary with an internal shape of a socket of the rotary drive.

3. The tool-change station according to claim 2 , further comprising a first drive, coupled to the first tool-change member, and wherein the first drive is configured to selectively cause relative rotation between the first tool-change member and the base.

4. The tool-change station according to claim 2 , further comprising a second tool-change member, coupled to the base and rotatable relative to the base, and wherein the second tool-change member comprises a second tool-engagement portion.

5. The tool-change station according to claim 2 , wherein:
the base comprises a first aperture; and
the first tool-change member further comprises a first base-engagement portion, received within the first aperture so that the first base-engagement portion is rotatable within the first aperture.

6. The tool-change station according to claim 5 , further comprising a first drive, coupled to the first tool-change member, and wherein the first drive is configured to selectively cause relative rotation between the first tool-change member and the base.

7. The tool-change station according to claim 5 , further comprising a second tool-change member, coupled to the base and rotatable relative to the base, and wherein the second tool-change member comprises a second tool-engagement portion.

8. The tool-change station according to claim 5 , further comprising a first bushing, fixed within the first aperture of the base, and wherein the first base-engagement portion of the first tool-change member is rotatable within the first bushing.

9. The tool-change station according to claim 8 , further comprising a first drive, coupled to the first tool-change member, and wherein the first drive is configured to selectively cause relative rotation between the first tool-change member and the base.

10. The tool-change station according to claim 8 , further comprising a second tool-change member, coupled to the base and rotatable relative to the base, and wherein the second tool-change member comprises a second tool-engagement portion.

11. The tool-change station according to claim 8 , further comprising a first retainer and wherein:
the first tool-change member further comprises a first shoulder between the first socket-engagement portion and the first base-engagement portion;
the first base-engagement portion of the first tool-change member comprises a first groove; and
the first bushing is captured between the first shoulder of the first tool-change member and the first retainer, received within the first groove of the first base-engagement portion of the first tool-change member.

12. The tool-change station according to claim 11 , further comprising a first drive, coupled to the first tool-change member, and wherein the first drive is configured to selectively cause relative rotation between the first tool-change member and the base.

13. The tool-change station according to claim 11 , further comprising a second tool-change member, coupled to the base and rotatable relative to the base, and wherein the second tool-change member comprises a second tool-engagement portion.

14. The tool-change station according to claim 5 , further comprising a first retainer and wherein:
the first tool-change member further comprises a first shoulder between the first socket-engagement portion and the first base-engagement portion;
the first base-engagement portion of the first tool-change member comprises a first groove; and
the base is captured between the first shoulder of the first tool-change member and the first retainer, received within the first groove of the first base-engagement portion of the first tool-change member.

15. The tool-change station according to claim 14 , further comprising a first drive, coupled to the first tool-change member, and wherein the first drive is configured to selectively cause relative rotation between the first tool-change member and the base.

16. The tool-change station according to claim 14 , further comprising a second tool-change member, coupled to the base and rotatable relative to the base, and wherein the second tool-change member comprises a second tool-engagement portion.

17. The tool-change station according to claim 1 , further comprising a first drive, coupled to the first tool-change member, and wherein the first drive is configured to selectively cause relative rotation between the first tool-change member and the base.

18. The tool-change station according to claim 17 , further comprising a second tool-change member, coupled to the base and rotatable relative to the base, and wherein the second tool-change member comprises a second tool-engagement portion.

19. The tool-change station according to claim 1 , further comprising a second tool-change member, coupled to the base and rotatable relative to the base, and wherein the second tool-change member comprises a second tool-engagement portion.

20. The tool-change station according to claim 19 , wherein the second tool-engagement portion of the second tool-change member is different from the first tool-engagement portion of the first tool-change member.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Mathis Dennis R
• Kerestes Jason
• Chow Rachel M

Classifications

• B25B27/0007

  Tools for fixing internally screw-threaded tubular fasteners · CPC title

• Y10T29/49815

  Disassembling · CPC title

• B23P2700/01

  Aircraft parts · CPC title

• B25B13/488

  for connections where two parts must be turned in opposite directions by one tool · CPC title

• B25B23/0035

  Connection means between socket or screwdriver bit and tool · CPC title