Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6357101
-
Patent Number
6,357,101
-
Date Filed
Thursday, March 9, 200024 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, March 19, 200222 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
- Bryant; David P.
- Cozart; Jermie E.
Agents
-
CPC
- B64F5/0009 - Assembling or manufacturing aircraft
- B21J15/10 - Riveting machines
- B21J15/142 - Aerospace structures
- B21J15/28 - Control devices specially adapted to riveting machines not restricted to one of the preceding sub-groups
- B21J15/42 - Special clamping devices for workpieces to be riveted together
- B23B49/00 - Measuring or gauging equipment on boring machines for positioning or guiding the drill Devices for indicating failure of drills during boring Centering devices for holes to be bored
- G01D5/145 - influenced by the relative movement between the Hall device and magnetic fields
- B23B2215/04 - Aircraft components
- Y10T29/49764 - with testing or indicating
- Y10T29/49778 - with aligning, guiding, or instruction
- Y10T29/4978 - Assisting assembly or disassembly
- Y10T29/49943 - Riveting
- Y10T29/5118 - Riveting
- Y10T29/53039 - with control means energized in response to activator stimulated by condition sensor
- Y10T29/53065 - with means to fasten by deformation
- Y10T29/53083 - including means to apply magnetic force directly to position or hold work
- Y10T29/53087 - with signal, scale, illuminator, or optical viewer
- Y10T403/1616 - Position or guide means
- Y10T403/1641 - Back-off means, e.g., separator, etc.
- Y10T403/32196 - Articulate joint is ball and socket
- Y10T408/175 - to control relative positioning of Tool and work
- Y10T408/21 - with signal, indicator, illuminator or optical means
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 029 40701
- 029 40705
- 029 40709
- 029 4071
- 029 5241
- 029 509
- 029 52505
- 029 52506
- 029 26 A
- 029 34 B
- 029 703
- 029 705
- 029 709
- 029 714
- 029 715
- 029 719
- 029 720
- 029 24353
- 029 271
- 029 275
- 029 798
- 408 13
- 408 16
- 408 76
- 408 1 R
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
An apparatus for installing rivets or other fasteners through a workpiece includes an automated machine disposed on one side of the workpiece and a hand-held tool that is manipulated by a single worker located on the opposite side of the workpiece. The automated machine includes an end effector supporting tools such as a drill and a riveter. The automated machine also includes a guide structure adapted to be releasably affixed to the workpiece, and a carriage that travels along the guide structure and supports the end effector so that the end effector can be positioned in various locations along the surface of the workpiece where fasteners are to be installed. The end effector includes an electromagnetic clamping device, and the hand-held tool includes a magnetic clamping block that is attracted by the clamping device to clamp the workpiece therebetween. The end effector generates a positioning signal and the hand-held tool includes a detector for detecting the positioning signal. The detector is operable to generate guidance information telling the person operating the hand-held tool where to move the hand-held tool so as to align the tool with the end effector of the automated machine. Once the hand-held tool is aligned with the end effector, the electromagnetic clamping device is activated to clamp the workpiece, and then the end effector tools are operated to drill a hole and to install a rivet or other fastener into the hole.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to devices and methods for installing rivets or other fasteners through workpieces such as wing skins, fuselage skins, or the like. The invention more particularly relates to automated devices and methods for drilling holes through a workpiece and installing fasteners into the holes.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Installation of rivets or other types of fasteners in large airframe structures such as wing skins, fuselage skins, and the like, is typically performed either manually or by large computer-controlled machines. The manual process involves two workers disposed on opposite sides of the workpiece to be fastened. The workers install clamping devices, for example by drilling holes through the workpiece and installing temporary fasteners and/or clekos into the holes, so as to clamp together the parts to be joined. Next, a hole is drilled through the workpiece with a hand-held drill, a rivet is installed into the hole, and the two workers use an impact hammer on one side of the workpiece and an anvil on the other side to upset the rivet.
The manual process is time consuming and expensive, but has been necessary in situations where an automated machine cannot access the workpiece. For example, in fuselage barrels, it has not been possible to install rivets with existing automated machines, because there is no way for the machine to simultaneously access both sides of a fuselage skin. Most automated machines employ some version of a C-frame device, in which the workpiece to be operated upon must be capable of being disposed between the two opposing jaws of the C-frame. The C-frame jaws support tooling such as drills and riveters. A riveter generally requires two cooperative tooling elements, one located on one of the jaws of the C-frame and the other located on the other jaw, so that the two tooling elements can be disposed on opposite sides of a workpiece. A C-frame riveter may also include cooperative clamping elements for clamping the workpiece between the jaws. For small structures, where the distance from an edge of the structure to the location at which a rivet is to be installed is less than the length of the jaws, a C-frame riveter can be used. However, for areas that cannot be accessed by the jaws of a C-frame riveter, such as inside wings and fuselage barrels, an alternative approach is needed. Preferably, the alternative approach should use automation at least to some extent, so that the time and expense of installing rivets can be reduced relative to manual riveting.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The above needs are met and other advantages are achieved by the present invention, which provides an apparatus for installing rivets or other fasteners through a workpiece combining an automated machine disposed on one side of the workpiece and a hand-held tool that is manipulated by a single worker located on the opposite side of the workpiece. The automated machine includes an end effector supporting tools such as a drill for drilling a hole through a workpiece, and a riveter for installing a rivet into the hole. The automated machine also includes a guide structure, such as a pair of guide rails, adapted to be releasably affixed to or adjacent to the workpiece, and a carriage that travels along the guide structure and supports the end effector so that the end effector can be positioned in a desired location along the surface of the workpiece where a fastener is to be installed. The end effector includes an electromagnetic clamping device that generates a magnetic field. The end effector also includes a positioning device that generates a positioning signal detectable on the opposite side of the workpiece.
The hand-held tool includes a magnetic clamping block, such as a steel block or the like. When the magnetic clamping block is placed against the opposite surface of the workpiece on the side opposite from the end effector, the magnetic field of the clamping device will cause the clamping block to be attracted toward the clamping device, thus clamping the workpiece therebetween. The hand-held tool includes a detector for detecting the positioning signal of the positioning device. The detector is operable to generate guidance information telling the person operating the hand-held tool where to move the hand-held tool so as to align the tool with the end effector of the automated machine. The hand-held tool may include a visual display, such as a liquid crystal display or light-emitting diode display, for displaying the guidance information in graphical or other form. Once the hand-held tool is aligned with the end effector, the electromagnetic clamping device is activated to clamp the workpiece, and then the end effector tools are operated to drill a hole and to install a rivet or other fastener into the hole.
Preferably, the hand-held tool includes a command signal generator operable to generate a command signal, and the end effector is operable to receive the command signal and to activate the electromagnetic clamping device upon receipt of the command signal. Thus, for example, once the hand-held tool is aligned with the end effector, the operator may pull a trigger or operate some other switch device on the hand-held tool so as to generate the command signal telling the end effector to begin the clamping and other operations.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the positioning device on the end effector comprises the electromagnetic clamping device itself. Advantageously, the clamping device can generate a relatively weak magnetic field for positioning purposes, enabling the detector on the hand-held tool to detect this field and generate the guidance information telling the worker how to align the tool with the end effector. The detector may comprise, for instance, a magnetic compass or similar type of sensor. Once the tool is aligned, the worker activates the command signal generator. The end effector receives the command signal, which causes the current supplied to the electromagnetic clamping device to be increased for clamping the workpiece.
Where the end effector includes a riveter for installing a rivet into the hole drilled by the automated machine, the hand-held tool advantageously is operable to facilitate upsetting the rivet, for example through passive bucking (i.e., anvil upsetting). Alternatively, the end effector may be operable to install another type of fastener, for example a lock bolt or the like, that does not require cooperation by the hand-held tool, in which case the hand-held tool performs primarily a clamping function in cooperation with the automated machine.
After completion of the installation of a fastener, the end effector advantageously is operable to signal the worker that the operation is completed. The worker may then deactivate the hand-held tool, for example by releasing a trigger or the like, so that the hand-held tool in turn causes the electromagnetic clamping device to be deactivated. The clamping force is thus removed, and the automated machine can be moved to a new location for a subsequent fastener installation to be performed. Alternatively, the end effector may automatically deactivate the electromagnetic clamping device once installation of the fastener is complete, so that no action of the worker is required to release the clamping force on the workpiece.
The invention thus enables fasteners to be installed in workpieces in situations where a C-frame machine or the like would not be usable, and at the same time avoids the need for two workers as required with the conventional manual process. The apparatus and method of the invention also enable improved accuracy in fastener location and installation relative to the manual process. The method of fastener installation in accordance with the invention is also faster than the conventional manual process.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following description of certain preferred embodiments thereof, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1
is a schematic perspective view of an apparatus in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention in use in a fuselage barrel;
FIG. 2
is an enlarged view of a portion of
FIG. 1
, showing the apparatus in greater detail;
FIG. 3
is a schematic perspective view of the apparatus in use on a wing box;
FIG. 4
is a diagrammatic depiction of the apparatus;
FIG. 5
is a schematic elevational depiction of the apparatus in position on opposite sides of a workpiece;
FIG. 5A
is a view similar to
FIG. 5
, but partially cut away to show the electromagnet and clamping block and the positioning sensors in better detail;
FIG. 6
is an end elevation of the hand-held tool, showing the clamping block with the positioning sensors arranged therein;
FIG. 7
is a schematic plot representing a spatial distribution of magnetic flux produced by the electromagnet;
FIGS. 8A through 8C
are schematic representations of the hand-held tool in three different positions relative to the end effector and electromagnet with the spatial distribution of magnetic flux superimposed to show the relative flux strengths at the sensors in those three positions;
FIG. 9
is a circuit diagram showing the positioning sensor circuit used with the positioning sensors for illuminating LED indicators on the hand-held tool to guide an operator in moving the tool into alignment with the end effector and electromagnet;
FIG. 10
is a depiction of a visual display in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the invention for guiding the operator in aligning the hand-held tool; and
FIGS. 11A through 11F
depict various alternative embodiments of visual displays for guiding the operator in aligning the hand-held tool.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.
With reference to
FIGS. 1-4
, an apparatus
10
for installing fasteners in a workpiece in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown.
FIGS. 1 and 2
show the apparatus
10
in use in a fuselage barrel of an airframe structure, and
FIG. 3
shows the apparatus in use on a wing box.
FIG. 4
is a diagrammatic depiction of the apparatus
10
. The apparatus
10
includes an automated machine
12
disposed on one side of the workpiece and a hand-held tool
14
disposed on the other side of the workpiece. The automated machine
12
is supported on a guide structure
16
that advantageously can be releasably attached to the workpiece. In the illustrated embodiment, the guide structure
16
comprises a pair of parallel guide rails
18
affixed to the surface of the workpiece by suction cups
20
. The guide structure could instead be affixed to the workpiece by bolts or the like, or could be supported without being attached to the workpiece, as long as the guide structure is fixed relative to the workpiece. The automated machine
12
includes a platform or carriage
22
that rides along the rails
18
. The carriage
22
supports an end effector
24
that is operable to perform operations on the workpiece such as drilling a hole through the workpiece and installing a fastener into the hole. The end effector advantageously includes a drill
24
a
, and a riveter
24
b
such as an electromagnetic riveter (EMR) or the like. The end effector may also include an impact hammer
24
c
or the like for forcing a lock bolt or similar type of fastener through a hole drilled through the workpiece. Any one of the various tools
24
a-c
of the end effector can be moved into a working position aligned with a target location on a workpiece where a fastener is to be installed, while the other tools are held in stand-by positions, and the selected tool can be operated to perform an operation on the workpiece. After this operation is complete, the selected tool can be moved into a stand-by position and another of the tools can be moved to a working position aligned with the target location. Such end effectors are known, and thus will not be further described herein.
The automated machine
12
also includes an electromagnet
26
disposed adjacent the end effector
24
and located so that it can be placed against the surface of the workpiece, as best seen in
FIGS. 5 and 5A
. The electromagnet
26
is operable to generate a magnetic field, and preferably is operable to generate either a relatively weak magnetic field that is used for positioning of the hand-held tool
14
or a relatively strong magnetic field that is used for clamping purposes, as further described below.
The hand-held tool
14
includes a magnetic clamping block
30
, such as a block of steel or similar magnetic material. The clamping block
30
is located so that it can be placed against the surface of the workpiece on the side thereof opposite from the automated machine
12
. Accordingly, when the electromagnet
26
generates a sufficiently strong magnetic field, the clamping block
30
is attracted to the electromagnet and the workpiece is clamped therebetween. As an example, the electromagnet
26
and clamping block
30
may clamp a flange of a stringer against a fuselage skin or wing skin so that a rivet can be installed to join the stringer to the skin, or a joint can be formed between two overlapping portions of two skins by clamping the overlapping portions between the electromagnet
26
and the clamping block
30
and installing a rivet to join the portions together.
In order to be able to drill a hole entirely through the workpiece, the drill bit of the end effector
24
must be able to exit through the surface against which the clamping block
30
is placed. To this end, the clamping block
30
preferably includes a hole or receptacle
31
(
FIG. 5A
) for receiving the end of the drill bit so that it can exit from the workpiece. For the clamping block
30
to function properly, this hole or receptacle must be aligned with the tooling of the end effector. Additionally, where the end effector
24
includes a riveter for installing a rivet into the hole drilled through the workpiece, the hand-held tool
14
may include an anvil (not shown) for upsetting the rivet, and this anvil must be aligned with the rivet. In order to align the hand-held tool
14
with the end effector, the hand-held tool includes a detector
32
that is operable to detect a relatively weak magnetic field generated by the electromagnet
26
. This relatively weak magnetic field is insufficiently strong to attract the clamping block
30
with sufficient force to clamp the workpiece, and thus the worker is able to move the hand-held tool
14
along the surface of the workpiece while this magnetic field is present. The detector
32
is operable to generate guidance information telling the worker where to move the hand-held tool
14
to align it with the end effector
24
, and more specifically with the electromagnet
26
. The detector
32
may comprise, for example, a magnetic compass or a sensor that operates based on the Hall effect.
Advantageously, the detector
32
comprises an array of Hall effect sensors
32
a
-
32
d
as shown in
FIG. 6
, which is an end view of the clamping block
30
. The Hall effect sensors
32
a
-
32
d
are embedded in the surface of the clamping block
30
and are arranged in a square array symmetrically about the receptacle
31
into which the end effector drill passes when drilling a hole through the workpiece. Thus, the sensors
32
a
and
32
b
are aligned along a first axis X that passes through the center of the receptacle
31
and are equally spaced from the receptacle
31
on opposite sides thereof. Similarly, the sensors
32
c
and
32
d
are aligned along a second axis Y that passes through the center of the receptacle
31
and is perpendicular to the X-axis, and are equally spaced from the receptacle on opposite sides thereof. The Hall effect sensors
32
a
-
32
d
detect small variations in flux density of a magnetic field in which they are placed. The sensors convert the magnetic flux density into a DC output voltage. Thus, when the array of sensors
32
a
-
32
d
is placed in a magnetic field whose flux density is spatially non-uniform, in general the output voltages from the various sensors will be different from one another. These output voltages can be used for determining a relative positioning of the sensors with respect to the magnetic field.
More particularly, the electromagnet
26
is advantageously operable to generate a magnetic field that is symmetric along all axes that are perpendicular to the center axis of the electromagnet (i.e., the axis along which the end effector tools are aligned in use).
FIG. 7
is a schematic plot representing a spatial distribution of magnetic flux produced by the electromagnet
26
along one such perpendicular axis; the distribution has a similar symmetry along any other axis perpendicular to the center axis. The horizontal axis represents distance away from the center axis, and the vertical axis represents magnetic flux density (or, equivalently, DC output voltage of a Hall effect sensor immersed in the magnetic field). It will be noted that the flux density is generally greatest at the center axis, and falls off with distance away from the center axis.
FIGS. 8A through 8C
show how the sensor array can be used for aligning the center of the sensor array (and thus the center of the receptacle
31
) with the center axis of the electromagnet, which corresponds to the location of the peak of the magnetic flux density distribution.
FIG. 8A
shows a situation in which the sensors
32
a
and
32
b
are displaced toward the right relative to the center axis of the electromagnet
26
such that the sensor
32
a
is located in a relatively stronger flux-density region of the magnetic field, and the sensor
32
b
is located in a relatively weaker flux-density region of the field. Accordingly, the voltage output V
A
from the sensor
32
a
will exceed the voltage output V
B
from the sensor
32
b
. Conversely, in
FIG. 8B
, the sensors are displaced toward the left such that the output voltage V
A
is less than the output voltage V
B
.
FIG. 8C
shows the situation in which the sensors
32
a
and
32
b
are equally spaced on opposite sides of the center axis of the magnetic field, and thus (because the field is symmetric) the output voltages V
A
and V
B
are equal. It should thus be apparent that the relative output voltages of the sensors
32
a
and
32
b
can be used as an indication of how much and in which direction the sensors are misaligned relative to the center axis of the electromagnet. For example, if V
A
is much greater than V
B
, it can be inferred that the misalignment is toward the right and is relatively great; if V
A
is only slightly greater than V
B
, it can be inferred that the misalignment is toward the right and is relatively small; and so forth. Of course, it will be understood that the sensors
32
a
and
32
b
are used for detecting misalignment in the X-axis direction, and that the sensors
32
c
and
32
d
can be used in the same way for detecting misalignment in the Y-axis direction. Accordingly, the center axis of the clamping block receptacle
31
can be precisely aligned with the center axis of the electromagnet and end effector tooling.
Preferably, the hand-held tool
14
includes a visual display
34
for graphically displaying the guidance information generated by the detector
32
. A processor
35
receives the signals generated by the detector
32
and processes the signals to determine directional information indicating in which direction the electromagnet
26
is located relative to the clamping block
30
and the proximity of the clamping block to the electromagnet. The processor
35
creates signals that are usable by the visual display
34
so that directional and proximity information are graphically displayed. The display
34
may comprise a liquid crystal display or a light-emitting diode display.
The processor
35
, when the detector
32
comprises the square array of Hall effect sensors
32
a
-
32
d
as described above, advantageously includes a circuit
100
as depicted in
FIG. 9
for processing the voltage output signals from the sensors and for illuminating various LEDs of a visual display
34
, such as the display shown in
FIG. 10
, based on relative magnitudes of the voltage signals.
A number of alternative visual displays
34
are depicted in
FIGS. 11A through 11F
. It is advantageous for the display
34
to operate in two different modes, one providing a coarse-tuning function for guiding the worker to roughly align the hand-held tool with the electromagnet
26
, for example within about plus or minus 3 inches, and the other mode providing a fine-tuning function for guiding the worker to more precisely align the hand-held tool with the electromagnet, for example within about plus or minus 0.1 inch. Two separate displays may be used for the coarse-tuning and fine-tuning modes, or a single display may be used for alternately displaying coarse-tuning and fine-tuning guidance information.
FIG. 11A
depicts a visual display
34
operating in a coarse-tuning mode. The display includes indicia
36
indicating in which direction the hand-held tool should be moved to bring it into closer alignment with the electromagnet
26
. As shown, the indicia
36
may be an arrow or other directional indication.
FIGS. 11B through 11F
depict various visual displays operating in fine-tuning modes. In the display shown in
FIGS. 11B and 11C
, indicia
38
including a circle and a cross-hair are used for respectively indicating the relative positions of the electromagnet
26
and the hand-held tool
14
; the hand-held too is properly aligned when the cross-hair is centered in the circle, as shown in FIG.
1
C.
FIGS. 11D through 11F
depict another type of visual display employing an array of differently colored LEDs. Four red LEDs
40
are located in a square array at the four corners of the square, and a green LED
42
is located at the center of the square. If one of the red LEDs is illuminated while the other LEDs are not, the worker moves the hand-held tool in the direction defined by a line passing from the center green LED
42
through the illuminated red LED
40
. If two adjacent red LEDs
40
are illuminated as shown in
FIG. 11E
, the worker moves the hand-held tool in a direction defined by a line passing from the center green LED
42
through a point midway between the two illuminated red LEDs
40
. When the hand-held tool is aligned with the electromagnet
26
within a predetermined tolerance, the green LED
42
is illuminated and the red LEDs
40
are not, as shown in FIG.
11
F.
The display
34
shown in
FIG. 10
is a variation on that of
FIGS. 11D-F
, and includes four red LEDs along each of the X and Y axes. Along the X axis, there are two red LEDs
40
and
40
′ on either side of the center green LED
42
. The red LEDs
40
′ spaced farther from the center green LED
42
are illuminated when there is a relatively greater degree of misalignment between the center of the hand-held tool and the central axis of the electromagnet along the X-axis direction, whereas the red LEDs
40
closer to the center green LED
42
are illuminated when there is a relatively smaller misalignment. Similarly, there are two red LEDs
44
and
44
′ on either side of the center green LED
42
along the Y axis, which operate in a similar manner to indicate relatively degrees of misalignment along the Y-axis direction.
Preferably, the hand-held tool
14
includes a command signal generator
46
(
FIG. 4
) that can be activated by the worker, such as by pulling a trigger or operating a similar type of switch device. The command signal generator
46
generates a command signal that is received by the automated machine, and more specifically by a controller
48
associated with the automated machine. For example, the command signal generator
46
may transmit an RF signal, and the controller
48
may include a receiver for receiving the RF signal. The command signal generator
46
is activated by the worker once the hand-held tool
14
has been properly aligned with the electromagnet
26
of the automated machine. If desired, the signal generator
46
may continuously generate the command signal as long as the worker pulls the trigger or operates the switch device on the tool. Upon receipt of the command signal, the controller
48
activates the electromagnet
26
to generate a magnetic field for clamping the workpiece between the electromagnet and the clamping block
30
. Next, the controller
48
activates the end effector
24
to drill a hole through the workpiece, and then to install a rivet or other fastener through the hole. When the fastener installation is completed, the controller
48
can signal the worker to deactivate the electromagnet
26
so that the automated machine
12
can be moved along the rails
18
to the next location at which a fastener is to be installed. For example, the signal generator
46
may also comprise a receiver, and the controller
48
can transmit an RF signal that is received by the signal generator/receiver
46
, which can initiate an audible alert and/or illuminate an LED or the like, telling the worker that the installation of the fastener has been completed. The worker can then deactivate the electromagnet
26
, for example by releasing the trigger or operating the switch device so that the command signal that signals the controller to activate the electromagnet is discontinued. Alternatively, the controller
48
can automatically deactivate the electromagnet upon completion of a fastener installation, with or without an audible or visible alert to the worker.
Upon deactivation of the electromagnet
26
, the automated machine
12
is moved to a new location of the workpiece at which another fastener is to be installed. The automated machine
12
preferably includes a powered drive device
50
(
FIG. 4
) for moving the machine along the rails
18
to the new location. The powered drive device
50
advantageously is controlled by the controller
48
so as to accurately position the machine
12
in a predetermined location along the workpiece. For example, the controller
48
may comprise a computer numerical control (CNC) device. The controller
48
preferably stores a predetermined series of coordinates defining the locations at which fasteners are to be installed, and moves the machine
12
to each of these locations in a sequential fashion, stopping at each location so that the end effector
24
can drill a hole and install a fastener as previously described. The design of a suitable drive system and controller for moving the automated machine
12
is well within the capabilities of a machine designer of ordinary skill in the art of automated machine design.
Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which this invention pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. For example, while the invention has been described as advantageously including an automated machine
12
that is moved in an automated (e.g., numerically controlled) fashion along one side of a workpiece, in some applications it may be desirable to employ a machine that is moved in a non-automated fashion but yet includes the electromagnetic clamping device and the above-described features for generating a positioning signal, and also includes at least one tool such as a drill or riveter. As an example, it may be desirable for a worker to manually position the machine, while a second worker operates the hand-held tool
14
on the other side of the workpiece. Therefore, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.
Claims
- 1. A method for installing a fastener in a workpiece, comprisingdisposing a drilling and fastener installation machine adjacent a first surface of the workpiece such that an electromagnetic clamping device of the machine is against the first surface; placing a hand-held tool adjacent an opposite second surface of the workpiece such that a magnetic clamping block of the tool is against the second surface; sending a positioning signal from the drilling and fastener installation machine to the hand-held tool; detecting the positioning signal at the hand-held tool; aligning the hand-held tool with the electromagnetic clamping device based on the detected positioning signal; activating the electromagnetic clamping device after the hand-held tool has been aligned, so as to cause the magnetic clamping block and the electromagnetic clamping device to be attracted toward each other and clamp the workpiece therebetween; and operating the drilling and fastener installation machine to drill a hole through the workpiece and install a fastener into the hole.
- 2. The method of claim 1, wherein sending the positioning signal comprises activating the electromagnetic clamping device to generate a magnetic field of insufficient strength to cause clamping of the workpiece.
- 3. The method of claim 2, wherein detecting the positioning signal comprises using a sensor disposed on the hand-held tool to sense the magnetic field.
- 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the sensor generates guidance information intelligible by a human operator informing the operator where to move the hand-held tool so as to align the tool with the electromagnetic clamping device.
- 5. The method of claim 4, further comprising visually displaying the guidance information so that it can be viewed by the operator.
- 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the activation of the electromagnetic clamping device is accomplished by sending a command signal from the hand-held tool, receiving the command signal at the drilling and fastener installation machine, and activating the electromagnetic clamping device in response to the command signal.
- 7. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending a signal from the drilling and fastener installation machine to the hand-held tool indicating that a fastener installation has been completed.
- 8. TIhe method of claim 7 further comprising deactivating the electromagnetic clamping device in response to the signal sent from the drilling and fastener installation machine to the hand-held tool.
- 9. The method of claim 1, further comprising supporting the drilling acid fastener installation machine on a guide structure extending along the first surface of the workpiece, and moving the machine along the guide structure to position the machine at a location where a fastener is to be installed.
- 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the machine is moved along the guide structure by a powered drive system.
US Referenced Citations (20)