A fastener application device comprising an hydraulically-operated tool head held by an operator and having an actuator trigger, a base structure having an air-operated power cylinder operatively attached to an hydraulic cylinder to supply hydraulic pressure to the tool head in response to operation of the actuator trigger. The tool head and base structure are connected only by air and oil lines that are long enough to allow the base structure to be supported on, for example, a workbench, requiring the tool operator to support only the weight of the tool head during a fastener installation sequence.

A method of connecting a first component and a second component with the aid of an auxiliary joining part, wherein the auxiliary joining part is formed from a pin and a plate. A position of intended fracture is present between the plate and the pin. The first component, the second component and the auxiliary joining part are brought into a stacked arrangement such that the plate contacts the first component and the pin projects away from the side of the plate remote from the first component. A force is exerted on the pin of the auxiliary joining part in the direction towards the stacked components which leads to a fracture at a position of intended fracture and the pin is used in order to pierce slugs from the stacked components. The end of the pin which is pressed through the second component, and/or a washer which is optionally provided there, is deformed in order to provide a form-locked connection to the second component or to a washer which is provided there. Furthermore, an auxiliary joining part is claimed.

A method and system for installing a fastener system. A collar in the fastener system is automatically positioned on a hole on a first side of a structure prior to an insertion of a pin in the fastener system into the hole from a second side of the structure in which the pin has a pin tail. The pin with the pin tail is inserted through the collar in which the pin extends through the hole and the collar. A force is applied on at least one of the collar or the pin tail along a centerline extending centrally though the collar until the pin tail becomes separated from the pin such that the collar engages an engagement feature on the pin when the pin with pin tail is inserted into the hole from the second side.

Systems and methods are provided for inspecting fastener installation. One embodiment is a method for inspecting installation of a fastener. The method includes determining an initial distance between a nose of a swage tool and an Inner Mold Line (IML) of a part, operating the swage tool to swage a collar onto a fastener that protrudes through the IML of the part, determining a terminal distance of the nose to the IML during swaging, prior to a pintail of the fastener breaking, and arriving at a conclusion indicating a state of a fastener installation, based on the terminal distance.

Systems and methods are provided for inspecting fastener installation. One embodiment is a method for inspecting installation of a fastener. The method includes determining an initial distance between a nose of a swage tool and an Inner Mold Line (IML) of a part, operating the swage tool to swage a collar onto a fastener that protrudes through the IML of the part, determining a terminal distance of the nose to the IML during swaging, prior to a pintail of the fastener breaking, and arriving at a conclusion indicating a state of a fastener installation, based on the terminal distance.

An installation tool for a fastener of the pull screw type, comprising a breakable gripping element includes a body, a first sleeve movable axially and rotationally in the body that can drive the gripping element, a second sleeve movable axially in the body and immovable in rotation, and a driving device provided with a turning shaft. The shaft comprises a first free wheel for driving the first sleeve in rotation, a second free wheel, and a driving element positioned coaxially around the second free wheel. The driving element cooperates using a helical link with the second sleeve. The first free wheel drives the first sleeve in rotation in a first rotation direction of the shaft. The second free wheel brings the driving element in rotation in a second rotation direction of the shaft to move the second sleeve axially, allowing full setting in a single operating sequence.

A fastening system includes a plurality of fasteners having different sizes, and is provided with a pressurizing pump which pressurizes a fluid to a prescribed pressure, a plurality of pressurizing units which each have a pressure receiving surface, are each disposed in a position capable of pressurizing each respective fastener, and which receive the fluid on the pressure receiving surface to pressurize each fastener. A supply system includes a base end connected to the pressurizing pump and a plurality of branch ends connected to each pressurizing unit, which branches from the base end toward the branch ends, and which is capable of supplying the fluid from the base end throughout the branch ends. Each pressure receiving surface has an individual pressure receiving surface area corresponding to the corresponding size, and the fluid is supplied at the prescribed pressure from the base end throughout the pressure receiving surfaces.

A method for installing a fastener system. A position on a structure relative to an overhang on the structure is automatically sensed for installing a fastener system in a hole using an offset collar installer. The offset collar installer is moved about a rotation axis to the position such that a collar in the fastener system is held in the position over the hole. The offset collar installer is connected to a platform and rotatable about the rotation axis. The collar is fastened to an engagement feature for a bolt in the hole.

A compound contour vacuum track, and an automated fastening machine using the track, for automation of final assembly inside an aircraft fuselage. The track is mounted at an angle to a surface, such as an inside surface of the fuselage, wherein the surface has one or more holes through which fasteners are inserted. The automated fastening machine is mounted on the track to traverse the track while performing fastening functions and steps. The automated fastening machine includes a carriage, arm, and end effector, wherein the arm is mounted on the carriage and the end effector is mounted on the arm. The carriage is attached to the track for positioning the arm and end effector, the arm is attached to the carriage for positioning the end effector, and the end effector is attached to the arm for installing the fasteners into the holes of the surface.

A method is presented for operating a power tool during installation of a deformable fastener. The method includes: receiving measures of current supplied to a motor of the power tool during operation of the power tool; determining rate of change of the current during operation of the power tool; determining occurrence of the power tool engaging the fastener based on the magnitude of the current supplied to the motor; determining occurrence of the power tool swaging the fastener based on the rate of change of the current; determining completion of the power tool swaging the fastener based on the magnitude of the current and the rate of change of the current; and verifying quality of the installation of the fastener using the determination of the occurrence of the power tool engaging the fastener and the determination of the completion of the power tool swaging the fastener.