Shank-fastener apparatuses and methods for joining panels

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10981277-B2
Application number	US-201816222861-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 17, 2018
Priority date	Dec 17, 2018
Publication date	Apr 20, 2021
Grant date	Apr 20, 2021

Abstract

A shank-fastener apparatus comprises a shank-fastener housing, a shank-fastener turret, an indexing-pin assembly, a drill, and a shank-fastener delivery assembly. The shank-fastener turret is supported by the shank-fastener housing and is selectively rotatable relative to the shank-fastener housing about a shank-fastener-turret rotation axis (A). The indexing-pin assembly is supported by the shank-fastener housing and is selectively movable relative to the shank-fastener housing between an indexing-pin-assembly extended position and an indexing-pin-assembly retracted position along an indexing-pin-assembly axis (B) that is parallel to the shank-fastener-turret rotation axis (A). The drill is supported by the shank-fastener turret and is selectively movable relative to the shank-fastener turret along a drill axis (C) that is parallel to the shank-fastener-turret rotation axis (A). The shank-fastener delivery assembly also supported by the shank-fastener turret.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A shank-fastener apparatus for joining a first panel and a second panel, at least partially overlapping each other, the shank-fastener apparatus comprising:
a shank-fastener housing;
a shank-fastener turret, supported by the shank-fastener housing and selectively rotatable relative to the shank-fastener housing about a shank-fastener-turret rotation axis (A);
an indexing-pin assembly, supported by the shank-fastener housing and selectively movable relative to the shank-fastener housing along an indexing-pin-assembly axis between: (i) an indexing-pin-assembly extended position in which the indexing-pin assembly extends from the shank-fastener housing, and (ii) an indexing-pin-assembly retracted position in which the indexing-pin assembly is drawn into the shank-fastener housing, the indexing-pin-assembly axis (B) being parallel to the shank-fastener-turret rotation axis (A);
a drill, supported by the shank-fastener turret and selectively movable relative to the shank-fastener turret along a drill axis (C) that is parallel to the shank-fastener-turret rotation axis (A); and
a shank-fastener delivery assembly, supported by the shank-fastener turret.

2. The shank-fastener apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:
the indexing-pin assembly comprises:
a clamping sleeve;
an indexing pin, positioned within the clamping sleeve; and
a plunger, positioned within the indexing pin; and

each of the clamping sleeve, the indexing pin, or the plunger is movable relative to another along the indexing-pin-assembly axis (B).

3. The shank-fastener apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the indexing pin has an elongated shape and comprises:
an indexing-pin first end and an indexing-pin second end, axially opposite the indexing-pin first end; and
fingers, proximate to the indexing-pin second end and bendable relative to the indexing-pin-assembly axis (B).

4. The shank-fastener apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein:
the clamping sleeve has an elongated shape and comprises a clamping-sleeve first end and a clamping-sleeve second end, located axially opposite from the clamping-sleeve first end;
in the indexing-pin-assembly retracted position, the clamping sleeve is retracted into the shank-fastener housing with the clamping-sleeve second end positioned in the shank-fastener housing; and
in the indexing-pin-assembly extended position, the clamping sleeve extends from the shank-fastener housing with the clamping-sleeve second end positioned outside of the shank-fastener housing.

5. The shank-fastener apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein:
the indexing-pin assembly further comprises:
a first indexing-pin spring, operatively connected to the clamping sleeve;
a second indexing-pin spring, operatively connected to the indexing pin; and
a third indexing-pin spring;

the first indexing-pin spring applies a first spring force to the clamping sleeve to bias the clamping sleeve along the indexing-pin-assembly axis (B) into the shank-fastener housing;
the second indexing-pin spring applies a second spring force to the indexing pin to bias the indexing pin along the indexing-pin-assembly axis (B) into the shank-fastener housing;
the third indexing-pin spring applies a third spring force to the plunger to bias the plunger away from the indexing-pin second end;
the first indexing-pin spring has a first spring constant;
the second indexing-pin spring has a second spring constant;
the third indexing-pin spring has a third spring constant; and
the third spring constant is greater than the second spring constant and is less than the first spring constant.

6. The shank-fastener apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein:
each of the fingers comprises a finger-flange at the indexing-pin second end; and
the finger-flange of each of the fingers extends radially away from the indexing-pin-assembly axis (B).

7. The shank-fastener apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the plunger is shorter than the indexing pin along the indexing-pin-assembly axis (B).

8. The shank-fastener apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:
the shank-fastener turret comprises a shank-fastener-turret trailing side and a shank-fastener-turret leading side that opposes the shank-fastener-turret trailing side; and
each of the drill and the shank-fastener delivery assembly is positioned in the shank-fastener turret to cooperate with a receiver-fastener apparatus at the shank-fastener-turret leading side;
the shank-fastener turret further comprises a drill receptacle that extends into the shank-fastener turret from the shank-fastener-turret leading side;
the drill is positioned in the drill receptacle;
the drill receptacle is sized for the drill to move along the drill axis (C) within the drill receptacle;
the drill comprises:
a drill housing, positioned in the drill receptacle of the shank-fastener turret;
a drill spindle, positioned in the drill housing;
a motor, operatively connected to the drill spindle to apply a force to rotate a drill bit, held by the drill spindle; and
a housing support spring that biases the drill housing away from the shank-fastener-turret leading side; and

the housing support spring is positioned between the drill housing and the shank-fastener turret.

9. The shank-fastener apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the drill further comprises:
a pressure foot that extends out of the shank-fastener turret via the shank-fastener-turret leading side; and
a pressure-foot spring, located between the pressure foot and the drill housing to bias the pressure foot away from the drill housing.

10. The shank-fastener apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:
the shank-fastener turret comprises a shank-fastener-turret trailing side and a shank-fastener-turret leading side that opposes the shank-fastener-turret trailing side; and
each of the drill and the shank-fastener delivery assembly is positioned in the shank-fastener turret to cooperate with a receiver-fastener apparatus at the shank-fastener-turret leading side;
the shank-fastener delivery assembly comprises:
a magazine, sized to hold shank fasteners; and
a retainer, positioned adjacent to the magazine to receive one of the shank fasteners from the magazine.

11. The shank-fastener apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein:
the retainer comprises:
a first retainer side and a second retainer side, opposite the first retainer side;
a hollow interior space that extends between the first retainer side and the second retainer side and that is sized to contain one of the shank fasteners from the magazine;
a retainer slot that extends into the hollow interior space; and
flaps at the second retainer side;

the retainer slot is aligned with the magazine to enable one of the shank fasteners to move from the magazine, through the retainer slot, and into the hollow interior space;
the flaps are partially circumferentially spaced about the hollow interior space to temporarily retain one of the shank fasteners in an operative position;
two of the flaps at least partially define the retainer slot;
the shank-fastener delivery assembly further comprises a push rod, aligned with the retainer and configured to contact one of the shank fasteners in the retainer and to drive the one of the shank fasteners from the hollow interior space of the retainer; and
the shank-fastener delivery assembly further comprises a push-rod spring that biases the push rod away from the retainer and toward the shank-fastener-turret trailing side.

12. The shank-fastener apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the magazine comprises a magazine body, a shank-fastener outlet, and a magazine slot, which

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Pringle Iv John Walter
• Erickson Chris J

Classifications

• B21J15/142

  Aerospace structures · CPC title

• Y10T29/4978

  Assisting assembly or disassembly · CPC title

• B25J11/005 Primary

  Manipulators for mechanical processing tasks · CPC title

• B23P2700/01

  Aircraft parts · CPC title

• B23P19/06 Primary

  Screw or nut setting or loosening machines · CPC title