US 12,290,912 B2
Method for installing a fastener in a through-orifice of a box-type structure open at at least one end, and tooling for carrying out the method
Brice Albert, Toulouse (FR); Benjamin Trarieux, Toulouse (FR); Stéphane Daure, Toulouse (FR); Julien Bigot, Toulouse (FR); and Damien Battistella, Toulouse (FR)
Assigned to Airbus Operations SAS, Toulouse (FR)
Filed by Airbus Operations SAS, Toulouse (FR)
Filed on Mar. 2, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/684,646.
Claims priority of application No. 2102144 (FR), filed on Mar. 5, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0281097 A1, Sep. 8, 2022
Int. Cl. B25G 3/02 (2006.01); B25B 11/00 (2006.01); B25B 23/00 (2006.01); B25G 1/04 (2006.01)
CPC B25G 3/02 (2013.01) [B25B 11/002 (2013.01); B25B 23/0021 (2013.01); B25G 1/04 (2013.01); Y10T 29/49948 (2015.01)] 4 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for installing a fastener in at least one through-orifice of a box-type structure, the fastener comprising at least first and second parts, the first part comprising a shank that extends between first and second ends and a head secured to the first end of the shank, the second part cooperating with the second end of the shank when in an assembled state, the through-orifice being provided in a wall of the box-type structure separating an internal region from an external region, the internal region opening at at least one end of the box-type structure; the method comprising:
inserting a body of a first tool into the through-orifice from the external region to position the body in the internal region,
moving the body of the first tool towards the at least one end of the box-type structure, as far as a position that makes it accessible from the at least one end of the box-type structure,
securing the first part of the fastener to the body, the first tool comprising a link connected to the body which remains accessible from the external region during the inserting, moving and securing steps, the link being flexible or semi-rigid to be able to bend elastically to slide into the internal region as far as the at least one end of the box-type structure,
pulling on the link from the external region to move the body and the first part of the fastener towards the first through-orifice until the shank of the first part of the fastener is positioned in the through-orifice,
separating the body from the first part of the fastener,
wherein, during the moving step, a second tool comprising a rigid shaft and a system for grasping the body, the system being attached to one end of the shaft, is manipulated from the at least one end of the box-type structure to move the body of the first tool towards the at least one end of the box-type structure.