Spring Clip Removal Tool for Damage-Free Nut Plate Maintenance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current tools lack a dedicated solution for efficiently removing spring clips and barrel nuts from nut plate assemblies in aircraft manufacture, leading to foreign object debris and damage to the assembly during maintenance, as technicians often use rigid tools that can leave marks and require excessive time for repair.
Innovation Solution
A tool comprising an inner and outer sleeve with cleats and grip tabs that rotate to engage and compress the spring clip, allowing for its removal without damaging the nut plate assembly, along with a threaded bolt to secure the internally threaded nut, facilitating safe and efficient extraction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If rigid tools such as needle nose pliers are used to collapse the retaining spring, then the spring clip can be released from the nut plate, but the tools leave marks on the nut plate assembly base and create foreign object debris
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a dedicated removal tool as an intermediary device between the technician and the spring clip. This tool features a hollow body that receives and contains the spring clip during removal, preventing it from becoming foreign object debris. The tool also includes engagement features that interact with the spring clip's ends to apply controlled collapsing force without requiring rigid tools that damage the nut plate assembly base.
Solution Approach 2:
The removal tool is divided into functional segments: a hollow body for containment, engagement features for gripping the spring clip ends, and a rotation mechanism for applying controlled force. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently - containing the spring clip to prevent debris, gripping the ends for controlled manipulation, and rotating to collapse the spring without damaging the nut plate.
2Productivity
If rigid tools are used to remove the spring clip, then the spring clip can be released, but excessive time is required for repair due to damage to the nut plate assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The dedicated removal tool serves as an intermediary that enables quick spring clip removal while protecting the nut plate assembly from damage. The hollow body contains the spring clip during extraction, and the engagement features provide controlled force application, eliminating the need for damaging rigid tools and subsequent repair work.
Solution Approach 2:
The removal tool is designed to be self-contained with all necessary features integrated into the hollow body - engagement features for gripping the spring clip, rotation capability for collapsing the spring, and containment structure for safe extraction. This self-service design eliminates the need for multiple separate tools or follow-up repair operations.
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
The tool enables the simplified and efficient removal of spring clips and barrel nuts from nut plate assemblies, reducing foreign object debris and repair time by providing a dedicated mechanism that minimizes damage to the assembly.
Implementation Method 1
a torsion member operably engaged between the inner and outer sleeves and configured to normally bias the first cleat and the second cleat apart from each other
Implementation Method 2
movement of the first grip tab and the second grip tab towards each other rotates the inner sleeve relative to the outer sleeve, and causes the first cleat and the second cleat to rotate towards each other to engage the outer surfaces of the first and second ends of the spring clip
Data Source
AI summary
A tool for removal of a spring clip from a nut plate assembly includes an inner sleeve having a first cleat configured to engage a first end of a spring clip and an outer sleeve having a second cleat configured to engage a second end of the spring clip, the outer sleeve being rotatably disposed around a portion of the inner sleeve. The tool includes first and second grip tabs respectively extending radially from a longitudinally extending central axis of the inner sleeve and the outer sleeve. Movement of the first grip tab and the second grip tab towards each other rotates the inner sleeve relative to the outer sleeve, and causes the first cleat and the second cleat to rotate towards each other to engage the first and second ends of the spring clip and to enable the spring clip to be removed from an assembled nut plate.