Multiple nutplate rotary abrasion tool

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11149778-B2
Application number	US-201715631017-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 23, 2017
Priority date	Jun 23, 2017
Publication date	Oct 19, 2021
Grant date	Oct 19, 2021

Abstract

A system includes an abrasion assembly containing one or more abrasion pads configured to clean a faying surface of multiple nutplates, and a shaft attached to at least one of the abrasion pads and configured to rotate some or all of the abrasion pads during cleaning, wherein cleaning includes abrading the faying surfaces with the abrasion pads. The system also includes a base configured to attach to a pressure applicator, and a pressure applicator configured to attach to the base, hold the nutplates such that the faying surface of each nutplate is capable of contacting one of the abrasion pads, and apply pressure to the nutplates such that each of the nutplates contact one of the abrasion pads during the cleaning. Furthermore, the abrasion assembly is configured to rotate the abrasion pads within at least one of the base and the pressure applicator during cleaning.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system, comprising:
an abrasion assembly, comprising:
one or more abrasion pads configured to clean a faying surface of each of a plurality of nutplates; and
a first shaft attached to at least one of the one or more abrasion pads and configured to rotate at least one of the one or more abrasion pads during cleaning of the nutplates, wherein cleaning the nutplates comprises abrading each of the faying surfaces with at least one of the one or more abrasion pads;

a base comprising a first coupling component, the base configured to attach to a pressure applicator via the first coupling component; and
the pressure applicator, the pressure applicator comprising:
a second coupling component configured to at least partially surround the first coupling component of the base; and
a nutplate holder comprising a plurality of rectilinear depressions, each rectilinear depression configured to seat a portion of one of the plurality of nutplates such that faying surfaces of the nutplates can be abraded by the one or more abrasion pads, wherein the pressure applicator is configured to:
attach to and detach from the base via the second coupling component; and
apply pressure to the plurality of nutplates such that each of the plurality of nutplates contact at least one of the one or more abrasion pads during the cleaning of the nutplates;

wherein the one or more abrasion pads protrude at least partially through a surface of the first coupling component of the base;
wherein the abrasion assembly is configured to rotate the one or more abrasion pads within at least one of the base and the pressure applicator during the cleaning of the nutplates; and
wherein the one or more abrasion pads and the first shaft each comprise an opening configured to accept a protrusion attached to each of one or more of the nutplates during the cleaning of the nutplates.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the pressure applicator comprises one or more openings configured to accept a protrusion attached to each of one or more of the nutplates during the cleaning of the nutplates.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the one or more abrasion pads is detachable from the first shaft.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the pressure applicator further comprises a handle configured to apply pressure to the nutplate holderduring the cleaning of the nutplates.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the abrasion assembly further comprises one or more second shafts, wherein each of the one or more second shafts is:
attached to at least one of the one or more abrasion pads; and
configured to rotate the at least one of the one or more abrasion pads during the cleaning of the nutplates.

6. The system of claim 5 , where in the abrasion assembly further comprises one or more gears configured to, during the cleaning of the nutplates, transfer rotational motion from the first shaft to the one or more second shafts.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first or second coupling component comprises one or more protrusions configured to reduce movement between the abrasion assembly and the pressure applicator.

8. A system, comprising:
one or more abrasion pads configured to clean a faying surface of each of a plurality of nutplates;
a base comprising a first coupling component, the base configured to:
attach to a pressure applicator via the first coupling component; and
hold the one or more abrasion pads within at least one of the base and the pressure applicator during the cleaning of the nutplates, wherein cleaning the nutplates comprises abrading each of the faying surfaces with at least one of the one or more abrasion pads; and

the pressure applicator comprising:
a second coupling component configured to at least partially surround the first coupling component of the base; and
a nutplate holder comprising a plurality of rectilinear depressions, each rectilinear depression confi 2 ured to seat a portion of one of the plurality of nutplates such that faying surfaces of the nutplates can be abraded by the one or more abrasion pads, wherein the pressure applicator is configured to:
attach to and detach from the base via the second coupling component; and
apply pressure to the plurality of nutplates such that each of the plurality of nutplates contact at least one of the one or more abrasion pads during the cleaning of the nutplates;

wherein the one or more abrasion pads protrude at least partially through a surface of the first coupling component of the base; and
wherein the one or more abrasion pads and a shaft coupled to the one or more abrasion pads each comprise an opening configured to accept a protrusion attached to each of one or more of the nutplates during the cleaning of the nutplates.

Assignees

• Lockheed Corp

Inventors

• Coffey Kevin Aaron
• Coleman David Haynes
• Street Stuart C
• Twaddle Steven E

Classifications

• B24B23/02 Primary

  with rotating grinding tools; Accessories therefor · CPC title

• B24B41/065

  Steady rests · CPC title

• B24B7/162

  for mass articles · CPC title

• B24B41/0475

  equipped with oscillating abrasive blocks, e.g. mounted on a rotating head · CPC title

• B24B55/00

  Safety devices for grinding or polishing machines; Accessories fitted to grinding or polishing machines for keeping tools or parts of the machine in good working condition (of general applicability for machine tools B23Q11/00; in general F16P) · CPC title