An impact-compensating bucking bar and its use to reduce impacts during riveting, where the bucking bar includes a body; a strike surface on a distal portion of the body, a compensating inertial mass coupled to the body by a flexible and resilient mass support, and a handgrip coupled to the body and configured for the user to urge the strike surface of the bucking bar against a tail of a rivet to facilitate upsetting the rivet tail during riveting. A relative movement of the compensating inertial mass of the bucking bar in response to a strike on the rivet head at least partially dissipates energy imparted to the body during riveting, reducing impact stresses on the bucking bar user.

A receiver-fastener apparatus (200) comprises a receiver-fastener housing (270), a receiver-fastener turret (202), an indexing-collet assembly (203), an anvil (204), a receiver-fastener delivery assembly (205), and a swager assembly (206). The receiver-fastener turret (202) is selectively rotatable relative to the receiver-fastener housing (270) about a receiver-fastener-turret rotation axis (Z). The indexing-collet assembly (203) is selectively movable relative to the receiver-fastener housing (270) between an indexing-collet-assembly extended position and an indexing-collet-assembly retracted position along an indexing-collet-assembly axis (Y) that is parallel to the receiver-fastener-turret rotation axis (Z). The anvil (204) is selectively movable relative to the receiver-fastener turret (202) along an anvil axis (X) that is parallel to the receiver-fastener-turret rotation axis (Z). The receiver-fastener delivery assembly (205) is configured to operatively position receiver fasteners (506) for operative placement on shank fasteners (504), corresponding to the receiver fasteners (506). The swager assembly (206) is movable relative to the receiver-fastener turret (202) along a swaging axis (W) that is parallel to the receiver-fastener-turret rotation axis (Z).

A dual-interface coupler includes a utilities unit, a number of utility cables configured to provide a number of utilities to the utilities unit, a first coupling unit associated with the utilities unit, and a second coupling unit associated with the utilities unit. The first coupling unit is configured to mechanically couple the utilities unit to a first corresponding coupling unit and comprises a utility interface. The number of utilities are configured to flow from the utilities unit through the utilities interface. The second coupling unit is configured to mechanically couple the second coupling unit to a second corresponding coupling unit.

A dual-interface coupler includes a utilities unit, a number of utility cables configured to provide a number of utilities to the utilities unit, a first coupling unit associated with the utilities unit, and a second coupling unit associated with the utilities unit. The first coupling unit is configured to mechanically couple the utilities unit to a first corresponding coupling unit and comprises a utility interface. The number of utilities are configured to flow from the utilities unit through the utilities interface. The second coupling unit is configured to mechanically couple the second coupling unit to a second corresponding coupling unit.

An end effector may be configured to be modular in nature such that the weight of the end effector may be adjusted for specific applications. The end effector may further be configured to accept interchangeable dollies, wherein a dolly may be configured with a jacket on a contact end of the dolly, which contact end is configured to engage a distal end of a rivet during use.

An end effector may be configured to be modular in nature such that the weight of the end effector may be adjusted for specific applications. The end effector may further be configured to accept interchangeable dollies, wherein a dolly may be configured with a jacket on a contact end of the dolly, which contact end is configured to engage a distal end of a rivet during use.

A method for coupling a number of utilities between a first system and a second system is provided. A first interface that couples the number of utilities between the first system and the second system is created between the first system and a utilities unit. The first interface is activated. A second interface between the second system and the utilities unit is deactivated, while the first interface remains activated.

A method for coupling a number of utilities between a first system and a second system is provided. A first interface that couples the number of utilities between the first system and the second system is created between the first system and a utilities unit. The first interface is activated. A second interface between the second system and the utilities unit is deactivated, while the first interface remains activated.

An apparatus for accessing an interior of a fuselage assembly. A tower having a number of platform levels may be driven into a selected tower position within an assembly area. The interior of the fuselage assembly may be accessed using the number of platform levels.

An apparatus for accessing an interior of a fuselage assembly. A tower having a number of platform levels may be driven into a selected tower position within an assembly area. The interior of the fuselage assembly may be accessed using the number of platform levels.