Inventors:
Helen Mary Owens - Philadelphia PA, US
Stephen A. Staud - Springfield PA, US
Michael W. Malinowski - Lumberton NJ, US
Emily Sprik - Media PA, US
Assignee:
THE BOEING COMPANY - Chicago IL
International Classification:
B23B 47/28, B23B 35/00, B23B 41/00
Abstract:
A tool is provided for drilling holes through first and second structural members having a layer of liquid shim disposed between the first and second structural members. The tool comprises a drill jig having apertures defining a location for the holes to be drilled in the structural members and a heat blanket coupled to at least a portion of a bottom surface of the drill jig, said tool being coupled to one of said structural members in an area proximate the liquid shim. A method of drilling holes in first and second structural members having a layer of liquid shim disposed therebetween is also provided. The method comprises providing a tool for drilling comprising a drill jig having holes corresponding to the holes to be drilled in the structural members, said drill jig being coupled to a heat blanket covering at least a portion of the a bottom surface of the drill jig, coupling said tool to one of said structural members in an area proximate the liquid shim, activating said heat blanket to raise the temperature of the liquid shim past a curing temperature for a pre-determined period of time, drilling holes, through said holes in said drill jig, into said structural members and said liquid shim.