1 Title of the Invention
Method and Tool for Insertion of Grommet,
2 Field of the Invention
The invention relates to field of aerostructure panel of an aircraft in general
and more particularly to method and tool for insertion of grommet.
3 Background of the Invention
The aerostructure panelsof an aircraft at present made use of carbon fibre
composite materials predominantly, due to higher strength to weight ratio
and easier to manufacture more complicated contour panels. However,
the carbon fibre composite material is prone to delamination while
screwing/unscrewing of fasteners to open/close the panels. Therefore, the
grommets are first installea in the counter sunk hole of the panels. The
method of grommet insertion operates on manual holding component and
expanding the grommet using base and mandrel with hammer.
3.1 Prior Art
As per JP2003039256A; Invention relates to a grommet insertion method
for inserting a grommet, which is a non-slip member, into a hole or a
concave portion and an apparatus. In this grommet insertion method,
firstly a hammer member is provided above a hole or a concave portion for
inserting a grommet. After being placed close to the grommet, the
grommet accdmmodated in the grommet accommodating member is
pushed out and placed on the hole or the concave portion, and then the
hammer member is operated to move the grommet into the hole or the
hoIe. Second, the hammer member is moved two-dimensionally and
placed above the hole or recess for inserting a desired grommet. Thirdly.
the support block in which the hammer mémber and the grommet housing
member are disposed is moved horizontally so as to be disposed above
the hole or the concave portion. It is obtained so as to rotate along. In
order to achieve the above object, this invention provides a grommet
insertion device, in which, firstly, means for arranging a hammer member
above a hole or a concave portion for inserting a grommet, means for
pushing out the grommet contained in the grommet accommodating
member and placing the grommet on the hole or the recess after the
hammer member is disposed close to above the hole or the recess. The
second is a device equipped with a means for moving the hammer
member two-dimensionally and the means for vertically moving the
hammer member. The third is a suppon provided with the hammer
member and the grommet accommodating member. It is equipped with a
means for rotating the block along a horizontal plane.
The present invention describes portable roller support for the panels at
both ends. The rollers support comprises tri wheel with ground lock
mechanism. The rollers are made up of nylon material to avoid damage to
the aircraft panels. Also. present invention also describes the grommet
insertion tool wherein consisting of fixed jaw and a movable jaw. The fixed
jaw houses the grommet and the movable jaw has a forming tool which
can moved using screw threaded mechanism. Both the fixed and
removable jaws are interchangeable for holding different size of the
grommets.
4 Brief Summary of the Invention
The present invention comprises portable roller support tool and grommet
insertion tool and the roller support tool provides guided. support for
grommet insertion. This roller can be adjusted macro and micro using
threaded and pin mechanism. This roller helps in feeding the various sizes
of panels feeding to the grommet insertion tool in large numbers with less
human effort. The grommet insertion tool provides changeable unit for
different sizes of grommet.Detail Description of the Drawings
Figure 1: Describes the portable roller support tool at both ends for aircraft
panel(10) to feed into the grommet insertion tool (fig 2) with the help of
rollers(1).
Figure 2: Describes the grommet insertion tool for insertion of grommet
(11) consisting of vice with fixed jaw containing base and holder with
phenolic guide(9) and where as the movable jaw has a replacement
holder(5) with countersink with pilot(6).
6 Detail Description of the Invention
The aerostructure panels (10) of an aircraft at present are made use of
carbon fiber composite materials predominantly, due to higher strength to
weight ratio and also easier to manufacture more complicated contour
panels (10). The panels(10) of aerostructure varies 250mm to 1500mm in
length and has deep contours. However, the carbon fiber composite
material is prone to delamination while screwing/unscrewing of fasteners
to open/close the panels(10). Therefore, the carbon fiber composite
panels (10) are installed with grommets (11) which are usually stainlesssteel
material having-corrosion resistance and strength which protects
delamination of the clarbon composite fiber material and avoids direct
contact of fasteners with the panels(10). The present modern aircrafts are
designed with composite materials due to their high strength to weight
ratio. However, these panels(10) are having limitation to equal strength in
all directions, therefore, to overcome the limitation particularly during
installation of panels(10) on the aircraft using fasteners, grommets(11) are
used. These, grommets(11) form integral part of the panel(10) and
provides high strength in the fastener’s installation area.
Thus, the present invention of Method and tool for insertion, of grommet
(11) eliminates human effort and provides guided ,support for grommet(11)
insertion of aircraft composite panels(10). The present invention comprises roller feed(fig1) and grommet insertion tool (fig 2), the roller(1)
at the both ends h>e|ps n feeding the different sizes of aircraft panel(10) to
grommet insertion tool(fig 2)
The following specification particularly describes the invention of tool for
grommet insertion.
Referring to fig 1, portable roller support tool for aircraft panel at
both ends: _ ,
Is mainly a support base(4) of the tool at both ends for feeding panels(10)
into grommet insertion tool(fig 2) for insertion.
The portable support comprises four major parts namely:
> Roller (1)
> Micro adjustment(2)
> Height adjustment (3)
> Tri wheel support and ground lock (4)
The rollers (1) are supported by tri wheel with ground lock (4) mechanism.
The height adjustment (3) can be done by locking the upper part to lower
part with ball lock pin which provides macro adjustment. The Screw
threaded support (2) to the roller (1) and the upper part provides micro
adjustment. The rollers(1) are made up of nylon material to avoid damage
to the aircraft panels (10).
Referring to fig 2, Grommet insertion tool :
ls mainly a vice with a support and can be moved vertically using screw
threaded for insertion of grommet(11).
The Insertion tool comprises two major parts namely:
> Fixed Jaw‘
> Movable Jaw
The Fixed jaw further comprises:
> Holder(8) with base(7) to hold grdmmet(11)
> Penolic guide(9)
The Movable Jaw further comprises:
> Replacement holder(5) attached counter sink with pilot(7).
5 The fixed jaw houses the grommet(11) and movable jaw consist forming
tool which can be moved using screw threaded mechanism. Both the fixed
and movable jaw are interchangeable for holding different size of the
grommets(11). The holder(8) provides support for the panels durjng
insertion of grommets. These holders(8) are made of nylon which protects
10 the panel(10) from damages. The holders(8) are threaded adjustments
with the knob provided at the end of the support.
The following specification particularly describes the invention of method
for grommet insertion (Fig 2).
15 The panel having counter sunk holes with the grommet (11) for insertion is
'placed on portable roller(1) support at both ends. The panel(10) on
roller§(1) is fed to grommet insertion tooI(Fig 2). The grommet insertion
tool(fig 2) has a support base(7) having a holder(8) attached to the
movable jaw. To this holder (5) attached a counter sink with pilot(6). The
20 panel(10) with grommet (11) which is fed on the base of holder(7), with the
help of roIIers(1), attached to fixed jaw having counter sunk with pilot(6).
The movable jaw is pressed against the fixed jaw containing panel (10)
with grommet(1 1) for insertion.
Title: Method and Tool for Grommet Insertion
We Claim,
1. A Method and Tool for Grommet Insertion comprising:
a portable support tool with roller for aircraft panel (10) at both ends
and grommet insertion tool;
wherein the portable support tool with tri wheel with ground lock (4)
mechanism further comprising:
plurality of rollers (1 ) for feeding the panel to grommet insertion tool;
a height adjustment (3) for macro adjustments; and
a screw threaded suppon (2) to the roller (1) and the upper part for
micro adjustments; and
I
wherein, the grommet insertion tool further comprising:
a Fixed Jaw having Holder (7) with base to hold grommet (11); and
a Movable Jaw having Replacement holder (5) attached counter
sink with pilot (6).
2. A Method and Tool for Insertion of grommet as said in Claim 1. wherein
the portable support tool with rollers, large variety of sizes and
shape/contour of aircraft composite panels (10) can be fed to grommet
insertion tool - with less human effort.
3. A Method and Tool for Insertion of grommet as said in Claim 1, wherein
the rollers (1) are made up of nylon material to avoid damages to the
aircraft panels (10). Wherein the rollers (1) are adjusted macro and
micro using threaded and pin (3) mechanism.
4. A Method and Tool for Insertion of grommet as said in Claim 1,
provides changeable units for different sizes of grommets (11) and
guided support (9) for proper insertion’of grommet (11) with less
human effort.