US 12,138,719 B2
End effector and methods of use
Harinder Singh Oberoi, Snohomish, WA (US); Kevin Marion Barrick, Kingston, WA (US); Yuanxin Charles Hu, Newcastle, WA (US); Melissa A. Johnson, Puyallup, WA (US); Laura Carolyn Foster, Brier, WA (US); Hwangyu Shin, Gyeongsangnam-Do (KR); Gi Jun Hong, Pusan (KR); and Youngwoo Koh, Busan (KR)
Assigned to The Boeing Company, Arlington, VA (US); and Korean Air Lines Co., Ltd., Seoul (KR)
Filed by The Boeing Company, Arlington, VA (US); and Korean Air Lines Co., Ltd., Seoul (KR)
Filed on Aug. 10, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/447,485.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/373,303, filed on Aug. 23, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2024/0066647 A1, Feb. 29, 2024
Int. Cl. B23P 19/06 (2006.01); B23P 23/02 (2006.01); B64F 5/10 (2017.01)
CPC B23P 19/06 (2013.01) [B23P 23/02 (2013.01); B23P 2700/01 (2013.01); B64F 5/10 (2017.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method comprising:
moving a torque wrench of an end effector toward a first surface of a structure while the torque wrench contains a collar;
contacting the first surface of the structure with a contact pad of the torque wrench;
pulling a vacuum through an opening of the contact pad while the contact pad is in contact with the first surface of the structure; and
installing the collar onto a fastener extending through the first surface of the structure while the vacuum is pulled through the opening of the contact pad.