Method for removing a two-part connector in a workpiece arrangement

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12202031-B2
Application number	US-202117555982-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 20, 2021
Priority date	Jun 21, 2019
Publication date	Jan 21, 2025
Grant date	Jan 21, 2025

Abstract

A method for removing a two-part connector in a workpiece arrangement includes providing a workpiece arrangement having first and second surfaces and having a hole connecting the first surface to the second surface. A connector is fastened in the hole, which connector has a bolt extending along a central axis and a sleeve fastened on the bolt. The bolt has a head portion and a shank portion with retaining grooves. The sleeve is fastened to the bolt on the side of the second surface such that the inner surface thereof engages with the retaining grooves and prevents a relative movement of bolt and sleeve parallel to the central axis. The sleeve has an outside diameter which is greater than the diameter of the hole in the workpiece arrangement. The sleeve is cut and or the bolt, and the connector is removed from the hole.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for removing a two-part connector in a workpiece arrangement, the method comprising:
providing a workpiece arrangement comprising:
a workpiece body comprising a first surface and a second surface, wherein the second surface is opposite the first surface;
a hole formed through the workpiece body, such that the hole connects the first surface to the second surface; and
a connector in the hole, the connector having a bolt and a sleeve fastened to the bolt;
wherein the bolt extends along a centerline between a first end, which is on a side of the first surface of the workpiece arrangement, and a second end, which is on a side of the second surface of the workpiece arrangement;
wherein the bolt has a head portion, which has a diameter that is greater than a diameter of the hole, and a shank portion, which has a diameter that is less than or equal to the diameter of the hole;
wherein, relative to the centerline, at least a part of the shank portion projects from the workpiece arrangement on the side of the second surface and has retaining grooves that extend at least predominantly in a circumferential direction of the bolt;
wherein the sleeve is fastened to the bolt on the side of the second surface such that an inner surface of the sleeve engages with the retaining grooves and prevents relative movement between the connector and the workpiece body in a direction parallel to the centerline; and
wherein the sleeve has an outside diameter that is greater than the diameter of the hole in the workpiece arrangement;

cutting the sleeve, using a cutting tool, with a cut parallel to the centerline; and
removing the connector from the hole;
wherein the cutting tool comprises:
a supporting body with a contact face for bearing on the second surface of the workpiece arrangement;
a bore that proceeds from the contact face into the supporting body;
a guide slot that is formed in the supporting body and extends radially outwardly from the bore;
a blade provided within the guide slot, the blade having a straight cutting edge that extends parallel to a central axis of the bore; and
at least two further cutting edges that extend parallel to the central axis, are formed in an immobile manner on an inner wall of the bore, and are spaced apart from each other and the guide slot in the circumferential direction;
wherein the guide slot is formed in the supporting body such that the blade is against the second surface of the workpiece arrangement to cut the sleeve;

wherein cutting the sleeve comprises:
arranging the cutting tool such that the contact face bears on the second surface of the workpiece arrangement and a portion of the connector that projects out of the hole at the second surface extends into the bore;
orienting the blade such that the straight cutting edge is parallel to the centerline; and
moving the blade through the guide slot, into the bore, towards the central axis, and towards and against the sleeve in a radial direction toward the centerline until at least the straight cutting edge of the blade cuts through the sleeve;

wherein moving the blade through the guide slot, into the bore, towards the central axis, comprises moving the blade parallel to the second surface of the workpiece arrangement; and
wherein, when the sleeve is located in the bore, the sleeve bears on the at least two further cutting edges while the sleeve is cut.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cut extends at least along the retaining grooves.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the guide slot is formed such that the blade moves parallel to the second surface of the workpiece arrangement while cutting the sleeve.

4. The method of claim 1 , comprising, after cutting the sleeve, removing the bolt in a direction toward the side of the first surface.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein removing the bolt comprises striking the second end of the bolt.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least two further cutting edges are uniformly spaced apart from the guide slot in the circumferential direction.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein:
the at least two further cutting edges is two further cutting edges; and
cutting the sleeve comprises using the blade and the two further cutting edges to form three cuts in the sleeve due to a pressure exerted by the blade on the sleeve as the blade moves against the sleeve in the radial direction toward the centerline; and
each of the three cuts is oriented parallel to the centerline.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein each of the three cuts is formed by a corresponding one of the blade and the two further cutting edges.

Assignees

• Airbus Operations Gmbh

Inventors

• Skirke Jörn
• Schäfer Alexander

Classifications

• B21J15/50 Primary

  Removing or cutting devices for rivets · CPC title

• B21J15/022

  Setting rivets by means of swaged-on locking collars, e.g. lockbolts · CPC title

• B25B27/00

  Hand tools, specially adapted for fitting together or separating parts or objects whether or not involving some deformation, not otherwise provided for (machines for simply fitting together or separating metal parts or objects B23P19/00) · CPC title

• F16B19/06 Primary

  Solid rivets made in one piece · CPC title

• B23D79/00 Primary

  Methods, machines, or devices not covered elsewhere, for working metal by removal of material (by combined operations B23D81/00; cutting by electron-beam B23K15/00, by laser beam B23K26/00; by electro-erosion B23H; tool holders for machine tools B23Q3/00; handles for hand implements B25G) · CPC title