Frangible Fastener Installation Tool with Vacuum Debris Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
The installation of frangible fasteners often results in separated removable portions and debris contaminating work areas and machinery, requiring time-consuming clean-up efforts.
Innovation Solution
A frangible fastener installation system that includes a drive tool with a fastener interface and a vacuum generator, which rotates the frangible fastener to separate the removable nut portion and uses induced vacuum to collect and remove the debris through a removal tube, preventing contamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a frangible fastener is installed by rotating the separable nut portion to separate it from the body, then the fastening function is achieved, but the separated nut portion and debris contaminate the work area and machinery
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful separated nut portion and debris are extracted from the work area using a vacuum generator that creates negative pressure to suction the remnants through a removal tube, preventing contamination of the work area and machinery while maintaining the fastening function
Solution Approach 2:
A vacuum generator acts as an intermediary system between the fastening operation and the work area environment, using vacuum pressure as a mediator to capture and remove contaminants without interfering with the primary fastening function
2Ease of operation
If the separated nut portion and debris are allowed to fall onto the workplace floor and machinery, then the installation process is simple, but time-consuming clean-up efforts are required
Solution Approach 1:
The vacuum generator operates continuously during and after the fastening process to continuously capture and remove debris as it is generated, eliminating the need for separate clean-up operations and maintaining continuous productive action
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-cleaning by automatically capturing and removing its own waste products (separated nut portions and debris) through the vacuum generation system, eliminating the need for external clean-up efforts
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Effectively eliminates the contamination of work areas and machinery by capturing and containing the separated frangible fastener remnants, reducing labor and downtime associated with clean-up.
Implementation Method 1
a vacuum generator in fluid communication with the removal tube and configured to cause the separable nut portion to be removed from the interior and through the removal tool
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatus to remove frangible fastener remnants are disclosed. A disclosed example apparatus to install a frangible fastener includes a drive tool having a drive socket operable to rotate a separable nut portion of the frangible fastener, and a fastener interface defining an interior for receiving at least the nut portion, the fastener interface being disposed on a drive end of the drive tool, where the drive socket is movable within the fastener interface and operable to rotate the frangible fastener, and where the separable nut portion of the frangible fastener is removed when the frangible fastener is installed. The apparatus also includes a nut-portion removal tube depending from the interior of the fastener interface, and a vacuum generator in fluid communication with the removal tube and configured to cause the separable nut portion to be removed from the interior and through the removal tube.