Lock Collar Feeder Assembly for Swaging in Confined Spaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Swaging operations in confined spaces, such as those found in aircraft assembly, are challenging due to space constraints, making it difficult to perform swaging operations effectively without manual access.
Innovation Solution
A feeder system for swage guns that includes a collar magazine, guide-block assembly, feed tunnel, dispensing bulkhead, and gripping assembly, enabling automated delivery and orientation of lock collars for swaging operations in confined areas, allowing for incremental feeding and precise positioning of lock collars.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual access is used to perform swaging operations in confined spaces, then flexibility and adaptability are maintained, but productivity decreases and labor intensity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The feeder system is divided into distinct functional modules: collar magazine for storage, guide-block assembly for positioning, feed tunnel for transport, dispensing bulkhead for controlled release, and gripping assembly for final delivery. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while working together to automate lock collar delivery in confined spaces, significantly improving productivity without requiring overly complex integrated systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The feeder system employs a nested structure where the guide-block assembly is positioned within the feed tunnel, which is contained within the dispensing bulkhead, which in turn is housed within the collar magazine. This nested arrangement maximizes space utilization in confined areas and allows the automated system to deliver lock collars to tight spaces that would be difficult to access manually, thereby improving productivity while maintaining compact dimensions.
2Productivity
If automated delivery system is implemented, then productivity increases and labor intensity decreases, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The collar magazine pre-stores multiple lock collars in ready-to-feed positions, and the guide-block assembly pre-positions each collar as it is fed through the tunnel. This preliminary action ensures that when a lock collar is needed at the dispensing bulkhead, it is already prepared and positioned for immediate delivery to the swaging operation, enabling high-speed automated delivery without requiring complex real-time processing mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The feed tunnel and guide-block assembly work together in a self-service manner where the guide-block automatically advances lock collars through the feed tunnel using simple mechanical actuation. The system uses the inherent geometry of the components and gravity-assisted feeding mechanisms rather than complex active control systems, achieving reliable automated delivery while minimizing device complexity.
3Manufacturing precision
If precise positioning mechanism is used, then manufacturing precision improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guide-block assembly provides localized precision positioning at the critical interface where lock collars transition from the feed tunnel to the dispensing bulkhead. The guide-block's geometry and positioning features are specifically designed to ensure accurate alignment only at this critical location, rather than requiring the entire feeder system to be highly complex. This localized quality approach achieves the necessary positioning accuracy while keeping overall device complexity manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The feed tunnel and guide-block assembly are designed to maintain consistent geometric relationships and alignment throughout their length, creating an equipotential positioning environment. This ensures that lock collars maintain their orientation and position relative to the dispensing bulkhead and swaging tool throughout the feeding process, achieving manufacturing precision through consistent geometric design rather than complex active positioning mechanisms.
4Measurement precision
If incremental feeding mechanism is implemented, then control precision improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The actuator system operates in periodic cycles, advancing the guide-block assembly by fixed increments to feed one lock collar at a time through the feed tunnel. This periodic action provides precise control over the feeding rate and timing, ensuring that lock collars are delivered to the dispensing bulkhead in controlled sequences. The simplicity of periodic actuation avoids the need for complex continuous control systems while maintaining accurate feed control.
Data Source
AI summary
A feeder for a swage gun comprises a collar magazine and a guide-block assembly. The guide-block assembly comprises a guide block that comprises a slot, configured to receive the lock collar from the collar magazine at a first guide-block position along the slot. The guide-block assembly also comprises an actuator, operable to move the lock collar along the slot from the first guide-block position to a second guide-block position. Feeder further comprises a feed tunnel, coupled with the guide-block assembly, and a dispensing bulkhead, coupled with the feed tunnel. Feeder also comprises a gripping assembly, coupled with the dispensing bulkhead.