United States Patent [191 ‘[1 1] Patent Number: 4,736,519 Roberts [45] Date of Patent: Apr. 12, 1988

[54] NUTPLATE INSTALLATION TOOL Primary Examiner—-Howard N. Goldberg _ Assistant Examiner-Ronald S. Wallace

[75] Inventor‘ Robert M‘ Roberts’ Glenolden’ Pa’ Attorney, Agent, or Firm—J ones, Tullar & Cooper [73] Assignee: The Boeing Company, Wash.

[21] Appl. No.: 913,273 [57] ABSTRACT

[22] Filed: sep. 30’ 1986 A tool for installing nutplatesto a structural part. The tool 18 portable or useable with a robot. The tool in

[51] Int. Cl.4 ............................................ .. B23P 21/00 cludes a Supply of nutplates and a rivet feeding and [52] U.S. Cl. ...................................... .. 29/771; 2299781113; insertion mechanism’ The rivets are inserted in the

_ structural part, followed by the positioning of a nutplate Fleld of Search ............... ‘a into engagement the rivets and ?nally clamping

’ of the rivets to retain the nutplate in assembly with the [56] References Cited clamped rivets.

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS

326,141 9/1885 Oaks ................................ .. 29/771 X 20 Claims, 6 Drawing Sheets

US. Patent Apr. 12,1988 - Sheet 1 of6 4,736,519

US. Patent Apr. 12,1988 Sheet 2 of6 4,736,519

US. Patent Apr. 12, 1988 Sheet 3 of6 4,736,519

US. Patent Apr. 12,1988 Sheet 4 0f 6' 4,736,519

US. ‘Patent- - Apr. .12, 1988 Sheet 5 0f6 4,736,519

US. Patent Apr. 12,1988 Sheet 6 of6 4,736,519