Lock bolt collar removal tool

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11717899-B2
Application number	US-201715672471-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 9, 2017
Priority date	Aug 9, 2017
Publication date	Aug 8, 2023
Grant date	Aug 8, 2023

Abstract

A blade assembly for cutting a member which surrounds a bolt member includes a first blade comprising a first cutting edge aligned with a first cutting plane which extends in a first direction from the first cutting edge; a second blade comprising a second cutting edge aligned with a second cutting plane which extends in a second direction from the second cutting edge; and a third blade comprising a third cutting edge aligned with a third cutting plane which extends in the second direction from the third cutting edge, wherein the first, second and third blades are associated with one another. The first cutting edge is spaced apart from the second and third cutting edges and the first cutting plane extends between the second and third cutting planes.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A blade assembly for cutting a member which is secured to and surrounds a bolt member, comprising:
a first blade including a first cutting edge, the first cutting edge aligned with a first cutting plane, the first cutting plane extends in a first direction from the first cutting edge;
a second blade including a second cutting edge aligned with a second cutting plane which extends in a second direction from the second cutting edge;
a third blade including a third cutting edge aligned with a third cutting plane which extends in the second direction from the third cutting edge, wherein the second cutting plane and the third cutting plane are parallel to one another, wherein:
the second blade and the third blade are disposed in a fixed position such that the second blade and the third blade are stationary;
the first cutting edge is spaced apart from the second and third cutting edges;
the second and third cutting edges are spaced apart from one another;
the first cutting plane extends between the second and third cutting planes;
with the first cutting edge, the second cutting edge and the third cutting edge in a first position, the member, which surrounds the bolt member, is positionable between the first cutting edge, the second cutting edge, and the third cutting edge, wherein the first cutting plane aligns with a central longitudinal axis of the bolt member such that the central longitudinal axis of the bolt member extends within and along the first cutting plane; and
wherein the first blade is movable to a second position relative to the fixed position of the second blade and the third blade, in which the first blade travels on an arc to the second position which causes the first cutting edge, the second cutting edge, and the third cutting edge to cut the member around the bolt member into three pieces, and the second cutting edge and the third cutting edge are angled relative to each other to move the pieces away from the bolt member when the first blade moves to the second position.

2. The blade assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the second blade includes a second blade surface which extends along the second blade away from the second cutting edge;
the third blade includes a third blade surface which extends along the third blade away from the third cutting edge;
the second blade surface faces the third blade surface; and
a distance between the second blade surface and the third blade surface is greater than a distance between the second cutting edge and the third cutting edge.

3. The blade assembly of claim 1 , wherein a distance between the first cutting plane and the second cutting plane is the same as a distance between the first cutting plane and the third cutting plane.

4. The blade assembly of claim 1 , wherein, with the first cutting edge in the second position, the first cutting edge is positioned closer to the second and third cutting edges than with respect to the first position, such that the first cutting edge, the second cutting edge and the third cutting edge cut the member around the bolt member into the three pieces without the second and third cutting planes extending through the bolt member.

5. A cutting tool for cutting a member which is secured to and surrounds a bolt member, comprising:
a housing;
a first blade holder pivotably mounted to the housing relative to a pivot point;
a first blade secured to the first blade holder such that the first blade is movable on an arc to a second position when the first blade holder pivots relative to the pivot point, the first blade includes a first cutting edge aligned with a first cutting plane, and the first cutting plane extends in a first direction from the first cutting edge;
a second blade holder fixed to the housing;
a second blade secured to the second blade holder, the second blade includes a second cutting edge aligned with a second cutting plane which second cutting plane extends in a second direction from the second cutting edge;
a third blade holder fixed to the housing;
a third blade secured to the third blade holder, the third blade including a third cutting edge aligned with a third cutting plane which third cutting plane extends in the second direction from the third cutting edge, and the second cutting plane and the third cutting plane are parallel to one another, wherein the first blade holder, the second blade holder and the third blade holder are associated with one another such that with the first blade holder, is movable relative to the second blade holder and the third blade holder, wherein:
the second blade and the third blade are disposed in a fixed position relative to the second blade holder and the third blade holder, respectively;
the first cutting edge is spaced apart from the second and third cutting edges;
the second and third cutting edges are spaced apart from one another;
the first cutting plane extends between the second and third cutting planes;
with the first cutting edge, the second cutting edge and the third cutting edge in a first position the member, which surrounds the bolt member, is positionable between the first, second, and third cutting edges, wherein the first cutting plane aligns with a central longitudinal axis of the bolt member such that the central longitudinal axis of the bolt member extends within and along the first cutting plane; and
wherein the first blade is movable to the second position relative to the fixed position of the second blade and the third blade, in which the first blade travels on the arc to the second position which causes the first cutting edge, the second cutting edge, and the third cutting edge to cut the member around the bolt member into three pieces, and the second cutting edge and the third cutting edge are angled relative to each other to move the pieces away from the bolt member when the first blade moves to the second position.

6. The cutting tool of claim 5 , wherein:
the second blade includes a second blade surface which extends along the second blade away from the second cutting edge;
the third blade includes a third blade surface which extends along the third blade away from the third cutting edge, wherein:
the second blade surface faces the third blade surface; and
a distance between the second blade surface and the third blade surface is greater than a distance between the second cutting edge and the third cutting edge.

7. The cutting tool of claim 5 , wherein a distance between the first cutting plane and the second cutting plane is the same as a distance between the first cutting plane the third cutting plane.

8. The cutting tool of claim 5 , wherein:
the second cutting plane and the third cutting plane align with the member which surrounds the bolt member.

9. The cutting tool of claim 5 , wherein with the first cutting edge in the second position, the first cutting edge is positioned closer to the second cutting edge and the third cutting edge to cut the member around the bolt member into the three pieces without the second and third cutting planes extending through the bolt member.

10. The cutting tool of claim 5 further including:
a first guard plate is secured to the housing, wherein:
the housing is connected to the second and third blade holders; and
the first guard plate is positioned spaced apart from and extending along the first and second blade holders; and

a second guard plate is secured to the housing, wherein:
the second guard plate is positioned spaced apart from the first guard plate; and
the second guard plate is positioned spaced apart from and extending along the first and third blade holders.

11. The cutting tool of claim 10 , further includes a blade holder

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Alby Avery C
• Lofftus Wyatt J

Classifications

• B26B17/003

  manually operated tools specially adapted for separating nuts attached to each other, e.g. by rust (nut crackers A47J43/26) · CPC title

• B23D29/007 Primary

  for splitting nuts (hand operated tools with cutting action actuated by muscle power B26B17/003) · CPC title

• B23D15/14

  actuated by fluid or gas pressure · CPC title

• B64F5/40

  Maintaining or repairing aircraft · CPC title