Metal working – Means to assemble or disassemble – Overedge assembling means
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-25
2001-05-22
Smith, James G. (Department: 3723)
Metal working
Means to assemble or disassemble
Overedge assembling means
C029S276000, C029S257000, C029S243570, C029S238000, C269S006000, C269S003000, C269S143000, C269S249000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06233803
ABSTRACT:
CROSS-REFERENCED TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
(Not Applicable)
STATEMENT RE: FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT
(Not Applicable)
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to rivet devices, and more particularly to an attachment for a rivet device for maintaining the jaw thereof at an angle relative to the rest of the rivet device.
Riveting devices and in particular rivet squeezers are of increasing importance, especially in the aerospace industry. Conditions frequently arise in riveting operations in which a straight line riveting tool can not be brought into proper alignment along a line coincident with the axis of the rivet. This may often be the case where a riveting operation is required within closely confined regions, such as within an aircraft wing for example. As a result of using the tool while misaligned, an imperfect head is formed on the rivet. This may result in decreased effectiveness of the rivet.
It is therefore evident that there exists a need in the art for a rivet device which facilitates proper alignment with a rivet in comparison to the prior art devices.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a riveting device. The riveting device is provided with a body defined by a body longitudinal axis and having a pressure port formed therein. The riveting device is further provided with a jaw defined by a jaw plane. The jaw has first and second jaw extensions with the first jaw extension having a jaw plunger orifice extending therethrough. The riveting device is further provided with an angular attachment having an attachment plunger orifice extending therethrough. The angular attachment is attached to the first jaw extension with the attachment plunger orifice being axially aligned with the jaw plunger orifice. The angular attachment is further attached to the body and formed to maintain the jaw plane at an angular orientation relative to the body longitudinal axis. The riveting device is further provided with a rivet plunger having opposing rivet and base ends. The rivet plunger is engaged in slidable communication with the attachment plunger orifice and the jaw plunger orifice with the rivet end extending towards the second jaw extension and the base end in mechanical communication with the pressure port for moving the rivet plunger towards the second jaw extension.
Preferably, the riveting device is further provided with a cam having opposing first and second cam surfaces and a cam pivot. The first cam surface is disposed in contact with the base end of the rivet plunger and the second cam surface is disposed in mechanical communication with a base plunger. The base plunger has a cam end and a body end. The body end is disposed within the pressure port of the body. The cam is sized and configured such that rotation of the cam about the cam pivot causes axial movement of the rivet plunger. As such, movement of the base plunger causes rotation of the cam which in turn causes movement of the rivet plunger.
Advantageously, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the jaw is sized and configured to rotate relative to the angular attachment about rivet plunger. In this regard, the riveting device is further provided with a bushing coupling for attaching the jaw to the angular attachment. The bushing coupling is formed to receive the rivet plunger in slidable communication therethrough, and the jaw plunger orifice is formed to axially receive the bushing coupling therein. The bushing coupling has a bushing shank formed to radially engage the angular attachment within the attachment plunger orifice. The bushing coupling has a retaining lip radially extending therefrom for capturing the second extension of the jaw with the angular attachment.
Furthermore, it is contemplated that the above described components may be integrated or otherwise retrofitted with an existing riveting device to improve the ability to align the rivet device. In such an embodiment, the present invention would take the form of an adapter kit.
As such, based on the foregoing, the present invention mitigates the inefficiencies and limitations associated with prior art rivet devices. As mentioned above, the angular attachment is particularly formed to maintain the jaw plane at an angular orientation relative to the body longitudinal axis. In this regard, it is contemplated that the angular attachment may facilitate the alignment of the rivet plunger with a rivet in such circumstances where a straight-line arrangement is prohibited by adjacent structures. Furthermore, in an embodiment of the invention, rotation of the jaw about the rivet plunger is contemplated to further enhance proper alignment of the rivet plunger. Moreover, the present invention is particularly suited to be integrated with an existing straight-line rivet device. As such, it is contemplated that the angular attachment may be selectively incorporated with such an existing rivet device in an as-needed based. In addition, the inclusion of the cam is contemplated to provide an effective mechanical method of transferring forces from the pressure port of the body of the device. Advantageously, such an arrangement avoids any hydraulic or pneumatic based configurations which have associated leakage and safety concerns.
Accordingly, the present invention represents a significant advance in the art.
REFERENCES:
patent: D. 383655 (1997-09-01), Juhlin et al.
patent: 2245856 (1941-06-01), Glas
patent: 2297160 (1942-09-01), Nally
patent: 2350002 (1944-05-01), Sittert et al.
patent: 2365537 (1944-12-01), Fischer et al.
patent: 2365538 (1944-12-01), Fischer
patent: 2844978 (1958-07-01), Wyland et al.
patent: 4365401 (1982-12-01), Ogren
patent: 5040278 (1991-08-01), Eckold et al.
patent: 5125158 (1992-06-01), Casebolt et al.
Smith James G.
Stetina Brunda Garred & Brucker
Vought Aircraft Industries, Inc.
Wilson Lee
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