GB2522042A

GB2522042A - Sensor insertion and removal tool

Info

Publication number: GB2522042A
Application number: GB1400424.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Steven Robert Catt; David John
Original assignee: Thales Holdings UK PLC
Current assignee: Thales Holdings UK PLC
Priority date: 2014-01-10
Filing date: 2014-01-10
Publication date: 2015-07-15
Anticipated expiration: 2034-01-10
Also published as: WO2015104533A1; GB2522042B; EP3092110A1; GB201400424D0

Abstract

A tool (10, figure 4) for handling components installed in, or to be installed in, the skin of a vehicle, comprising: an engagement head 18 defining a planar surface suitable for abutting against a component 14 and at least one elongate engagement pin 20 protruding from the surface of the engagement head, the pin longitudinally moveable between an extended position and partially withdrawn into the surface, the or each pin has a deformable collar 22 enclosing a shaft of the pin and is captive between the surface and a tapered clutch formation 32 defined on the shaft of the pin; and a clamping mechanism 42, 44 engaged with the or each pin operable to withdrawn the pin from the extended to the withdrawn positions, to urge the clutch formation into abutment against the collar, thereby causing the collar to deform and expand laterally with respect to the pin (figures 6-8). This hand tool is intended to engage with the fixture bores of the component which would otherwise accommodate fixture means; it can be used for sensor in the external skin of an aircraft. The clamping means consists of manually actuated elements such as win nuts 42, 44 and threaded elements.

Description

Sensor Insertion and Removal Tool

FIELD

Embodiments described herein generally relate to mechanical tooling and handling. In particular, some embodiments may provide tools and methods for attaching, detaching and handling sensors for use with aircraft.

BACKGROUND

Certain sensors used on aircraft are fitted to, or in, the external skin of the aircraft.

These sensors are often fitted flush, or near flush, to the external surface of the skin.

As such, it can be difficult to obtain sufficient mechanical purchase on the sensors during fitting, removal or other handling operations. This problem is further exacerbated when aerodynamic sealant is used during the installation of such sensors.

There is a need for a tool which enables a user to easily and robustly manipulate the sensor or other device when installing, detaching or aligning it within the skin of the aircraft or other vehicle. Present methods of handling the sensor generally require the rear of the sensor to be accessible and/or levers to be inserted between the sensor and the aircraft. The former often involves removing a portion of the fairing which takes a significant amount of time; additionally, a team of two is often required, with one operator pushing the sensor from inside the aircraft and the other pulling the sensor from the outside -this work is intricate and risks damaging the sensor and aircraft, as well as injuring the operators. The latter method, involving levering the sensor from the aircraft, almost inevitably results in damage to the skin and sensor.

The handling of sensors and similar devices for installation in the skin of aircraft or other vehicles would be greatly improved were a tool able to provide sufficient mechanical purchase on the device while the device is in position in the skin of the vehicle.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a tool according to an embodiment described herein in use.

Figure 2 is a further perspective view of the tool of figure 1, showing the underside of the tool, illustrating a described collar and pin arrangement.

Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective view of one pin and collar of the tool of figure 2.

Figure 4 is a side view of the tool of figure 1.

Figure 5 is an enlarged partial section view of figure 4, showing a pin and collar.

Figures 6 to 10 are enlarged partial section views, illustrating the operation of the tool of figure 1.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

While the present disclosure focuses on the manipulation of sensors used on aircraft, it is to be understood that the present disclosure is in no way limited as such. The skilled reader would readily appreciate that embodiments may, without requiring any undue effort, be used to manipulate, for example: antennas, lights, hydrostatic fuses, blanking plates, access panels and hatches among other components. Additionally, embodiments are in no way limited to use with aircraft, as embodiments may be used for manipulation of devices on or near the surface of any missile, building, system, ship, land vehicle or submersible.

Where the present disclosure refers to a sensor or aircraft, it is hereby stated that, unless it is immediately apparent from the context of use, "sensor" can be substituted for any other equivalent component which may be installed flush or near flush in an external skin of a vehicle, building or system -including but not limited to, the components listed above. The term skin can be used to describe any surface, including but not limited to, external panels, sheets and windows.

Further, "aircraft' can be substituted for any vehicle in the outer skin of which a component may be installed flush or near flush -including but not limited to, any of the vehicles listed above. It is also stated that components, as described above, may alternatively be installed within a system, vehicle or building, rather than installed in an external surface thereof.

An embodiment described herein comprises a tool for handling components installed in, or to be installed in the skin of a vehicle, the tool comprising: a handle portion; and a head, the head comprising: an engaging surface; at least one actuating device, at least one engaging device, protruding from the engaging surface of the head; and wherein each engaging device comprises: a collar; and a pin; wherein: the pin is elongate and suitable for longitudinal movement relative to the collar; each pin comprises a body portion and a tip portion, the diameter of the tip portion varying along its length; each collar is substantially annular and at least partially encloses the circumference of the body of a pin; the tip of each pin extends out from the collar; and each actuating device is suitable for moving at least a portion of the tip of the pin towards and away from the collar.

Each actuating device may be suitable for moving at least a portion of the tip of the pin into and out of the collar.

The tool may be a handheld device for use by a single operator. The size and exact shape of the tool is largely dependent on the specific use required. In some embodiments according to the present disclosure, the tool comprises two main portions: a handle portion, allowing the user to hold and manipulate the tool, and a head, which houses, supports or locates the components used to interact with the sensor.

The handle portion may be connected to, and extend from, the head.

The handle portion may be substantially cylindrical.

The handle portion may extend substantially perpendicularly to the engaging surface.

The design of the handle portion may depend upon the use of the tool. For example, when installing, aligning or removing sensors located inside alcoves or other hard to read areas, a longer, thin handle may be required; whereas, when components which require larger forces or torques to install, align or remove are being handled, a shorter, fatter handle may be advantageous.

The head may be substantially any shape, and is largely dependent upon the design of the component with which it is intended to interact. A feature of some embodiments is that the tool can grip and manipulate sensors and other components using the fixings and features already present on the components. As such, the components can be more effectively handled without requiring modification to their existing design.

The head, therefore, may mirror the shape of the sensor with which it interacts.

Similarly, the engaging surface (the surface of the head which may directly contact, or be adjacent to the sensor) should also be designed to mirror the design of the sensor.

In some embodiments, the engaging surface may be shaped to be the same as a surface on the sensor in which the sensors fixing means or devices (by means of which it is attached to the aircraft) are installed.

The head may be substantially cylindrical. Such a head shape may be used to easily accommodate circular sensors and components.

Some embodiments have an engaging surface and engaging devices arranged so as to have some degree of rotational symmetry. Such an arrangement may allow the tool to be applied, and coupled, to a suitable sensor in a number of orientations, thus simplifying use.

The head may have an outer diameter substantially equal to the diameter of a component to be handled.

The head may comprise a recess for accommodating a raised surface on the component's upper face. This may potentially prevent a viewing pane on the sensor from being damaged by use of the tool.

The engaging surface may be a flat surface defined by the outer edge of the recess and an edge of the head.

The engaging surface may be ring-shaped.

Some sensors have fixings -by means of which they may be attached to the aircraft skin -located in a circle around the circumference of the upper face of the circular sensor. The tool may, therefore, have an engaging surface matching the ring-shape in which the fixings are located. Engaging devices may therefore protrude from the ring-shaped engaging surface to interact with the sensor-holes.

In a described embodiment, the tool comprises four engaging devices. Any number of engaging means is possible, the tool may comprise two, three, four or more engaging means. The tool according to described embodiments may even comprise six, eight, ten or more engaging means.

The engaging means may be mounted in a square, rectangular or other profile, or even a seemingly random pattern in order to match the sensors mounting pattern.

In some embodiments, the tool is able to grip and be attached to the upper surface of the sensor (that which is accessible once the sensor is installed). This greatly eases manipulation and removal of sensors already installed. Whereas previously a portion of the aircraft or vehicle skin or shell might have to be removed, in some embodiments, the user only needs access to the upper surface of the sensor. Additionally, this ensures that a single user may be able to manipulate or remove the sensor, as a second user to access the rear of the sensor to push it out the skin is not required.

This may significantly speed up sensor handling times.

The tool may be able to engage the sensor from the upper (or front) surface. As such, the collars may be able to engage the sensor-holes from the upper or front face. This is the face which would normally be exposed and which is often either flush, or near-flush with the aircraft skin. Should the tool be able to engage with this exposed surface, and acquire mechanical purchase thereon, an operator would be able re-align or remove the sensor quickly and efficiently, without requiring access to the rear side of the sensor and thus having to remove a part of the fairing or aircraft skin.

The engaging devices may comprise the components which directly interact with the fixings on the sensor to provide the mechanical purchase or grip to allow the sensor to be handled. The engaging devices may be located on, in or protruding from the engaging surface.

In a described embodiment, the engaging devices may be arranged on the engaging suiface to align directly with the fixings of a sensor or other component. This may allow the tool to be used with existing sensor and component designs.

In the described embodiment the engaging devices comprise a collar and a pin. A collar and pin may be inserted directly into, or paitially into, each, or some of, the holes in the sensor. Mechanical purchase may be achieved by the outside surface of the collar gripping the inside surface of the holes in the sensor once the actuating device is used.

To that end, the collar may be designed to allow it to effectively expand, thus forcing its outer circumference against the inner surface of the hole. This may be achieved in a number of ways. In some embodiments, the collar may be made of a material softer and/or more flexible or elastic than the pin and the sensor hole surface material. The collar may form a complete annulus. The collar may be stretched by the pin, thus expanding until the outer circumferential surface of the collar is abutting the inside suiface of the hole.

The collar may be substantially tubular, comprising an incomplete annulus, the collar may further comprise a base portion and a sleeve portion, the inside diameter of the base portion may be the same as the sleeve portion, the base portion may have an outside diameter larger than that of the sleeve portion; and the collar may be suitable for snapping over a pin.

This will allow an old collar to be replaced, in the field, with a new collar which can be cheaply made and simply installed by snapping it over the pin.

The cross section of the collar may not form a complete annulus, but rather, it may define a portion of an annulus.

The collar may be elastic, and thus can deform to engage the inner surface of a sensor-hole, and then return to its previous, unstressed state, without permanent deformation having occurred.

Some embodiments may employ the use of a collar which does not form a complete annulus. The collar may have a slit through its thickness along its length. In these embodiments, the cross section of the collar may be substantially "C" shaped. Such a design may allow the collar to expand and increase its circumference more easily, with less risk of damage or fatigue. In such embodiments, the collar may undergo a combination of both stretching and bending.

The pin may be employed to facilitate the expansion or deformation of the collar. A number of pin designs may be employed to achieve this aim. In a described embodiment, the elongate pin comprises a tip, which protrudes from the end of the collar when the tool is not gripping a sensor. This tip may have a diameter which varies along its length.

When the whole tip protrudes from the end of the collar, and hence none of the tip is located within the collar and the tool is not engaging, or gripping, the sensor, the collar is in an unstressed state. This is because the collar is not deformed out of its equilibrium state. Once the tip entirely, or partially, enters the collar, the collar is deformed to engage, or grip, the inside of the sensor-hole; the collar is thus in a stressed state, as internal stresses are present in the collar material.

The pin body may be cylindrical and the tip may be tapered and expand from the diameter of the body to a larger diameter. The pin body may have a constant diameter.

The pin body may have any cross section. In a described embodiment the pin has a circular cross section.

In some embodiments, the tip may have a taper of constant gradient. The tip may, however, be of substantially any shape if a constant increase in cross-sectional diameter is provided. The tip may not have a constant, but rather an exponential, logarithmic or irregular increase in diameter. Once the tip and collar are located within a hole of the sensor, the pin may be withdrawn so as to draw the tip towards and/or into the collar. As more of the tip is drawn into the collar, and the diameter of the pin in the collar increases, the collar is forced to deform. The collar may simply stretch, or bend, or a combination of the two. The outside diameter of the collar may increase until it is eventually compressed against the inside surface of the sensor-hole.

The pin tip may be moved to be entirely located within the collar. This may occur during use -i.e. when the user uses the actuating device to move the pin in order to grip the sensor. Alternatively, the pin tip may be moved to only partially be located within the collar during use. Alternatively, the pin tip may not enter the collar at all, but may rather simply move towards, or adjacent to, the collar. The pin tip may abut the end face of the collar.

Other arrangements may be possible for the engaging device according to embodiments described herein. The collar may form a thin, flexible sleeve which entirely surrounds the circumference of the pin. The tip of the pin may be a plate of outer diameter equal to that of the collar. The plate may abut the end face of the sleeve, thus effectively forming an end plate. In such embodiments, as the tip is drawn towards the collar, the collar is longitudinally compressed and eventually buckles outward, forming a barrel shape. This, therefore, may greatly increase the collar's diameter, again enabling it to grip the inner surface of the hole.

The collar may be made of a softer material than the pin.

In the described embodiments, the collar may be soft. In particular, the collar may be softer than the inner surface of the sensor hole which it contacts. If the collar is soft, it ensures the inner bushings or threads of the sensor are not damaged during use due to the interaction with the collar. The collar may be soft to allow it to deform under the forces applied by the pin and/or tip.

Actuating devices may be employed to enable and facilitate the movement of the pin.

The actuating device may be integral with, attached to, or adjacent the head. The actuating device may comprise the pin, part of the pin, or a part integral with the pin.

The actuating device may comprise the collar, or part of the collar.

The pin may form one end of a rod which extends through a bore in the head.

This rod, integral with the pin, may be of a substantially constant cross section, equal to that of the pin. Alternatively, the rod may have a larger or smaller diameter or cross section shape to that of the pin, and thus may have step changes or gradients in diameter along its length.

The pin, which may protrude from an engaging surface, forms one end of the rod, with the pin tip as the tip. The other end of the rod, therefore, may extend away from the pin tip.

In the described embodiment, the pin is part of a longer rod. This rod may extend through the head and may form part of the actuating device. In some embodiments, the rod may be threaded. One or more wing nuts may be located on the thread and/or the head/handle portion of the tool. A user may then be able to achieve longitudinal movement of the pin by rotating one of the wing nuts and/or the rod.

In some embodiments, the other end of the rod to the pin may extend entirely through the head, by means of a bore, and extend away from the opposite side of the head to that of the engaging surface.

The actuating device may comprise the other end of the rod to the pin, which extends from the head.

The other end of the rod to the pin may be threaded.

The threaded end of the rod may engage with a thread on the inside of the bore.

Alternatively, or additionally, the threaded end of the rod may engage with, or be part of, the actuating device. A threaded rod may enable a user to achieve longitudinal motion of the rod (and therefore pin) by rotating the rod.

The actuating device may comprise at least one wing-nut.

One or more of the at least one wing nut may be fixed relative to the head. One or more of the at least one wing nut may be free to move relative to the head. One or more of the at least one wing nut may be fixed relative to the rod. One or more of the at least one wing nut may be fixed relative to the pin.

One or more of the at least one wing nut may be fixed relative to the rod by means of a hex nut abutting the wing nut or nuts.

Relative rotation between the rod and head may result in longitudinal movement of the pin. Relative rotation between the rod and one or more of the at least one wing nut may result in longitudinal movement of the pin.

Relative rotation between the wing-nut and the threaded end of the rod may result in the rod and the pin moving longitudinally relative to the head.

In other embodiments, the actuating device may comprise a spring to facilitate movement, pneumatics/hydraulics to facilitate movement. The rod or pin may have a friction fit with the head, bore or collar; the user may exert a longitudinal force on the pin to achieve longitudinal movement and the pin may be maintained in an engaging or non-engaging state by the friction between the rod and/or pin and the bore and/or collar.

The collar may comprise an inner diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the pin body. If the inner diameter of the collar is not substantially equal to the diameter of the pin body, which it surrounds when in an unstressed state, a more extreme increase in tip-diameter may be required, in order to sufficiently deform the collar when the tool enters an engaged state. With an unnecessarily large collar internal diameter it may be difficult to get the pin and collar into the hole in the sensor, as the collar external diameter may be approaching that of the hole.

In the described embodiment, when in an unstressed state (when the tip of the pin is not in the collar), the inside diameter of the collar is roughly equal to the diameter of the pin body. The outside diameter of the collar may be as small as possible while ensuring the collar is thick enough to sustain the required deformation forces, and sufficiently contact the inside of the sensor-hole.

When unstressed, the outside diameter of the collar may be equal to or smaller than the diameter of a hole in a component with which it engages.

The collar may comprise a base portion and a sleeve portion, the base portion having an outside diameter larger than that of the sleeve portion and being located adjacent the engaging surface.

The base portion may have larger diameter than a bore through the head, adjacent which it is located.

The bore, discussed in detail below, may accommodate the pin, or rod, extending through the head. In order to ensure the pin moves relative to the collar, and hence the pin tip enters the collar, the collar may not enter the bore. As such, a larger diameter base portion may be required, which -while being too large to enter a hole in a sensor -may abut the surface around the bore on the head and hence prevent the collar from slipping into the bore.

Embodiments may have a base portion which is of equal diameter to the sleeve portion, thus effectively forming one, single portion of constant cross-section.

The tool may allow a user to at least partially attach a sensor to the aircraft skin while the tool is engaged with the sensor. As such, the tool may provide access to at least one sensor-fixing, sensor fixing means or sensor fixing device while the tool is engaged with the sensor. The head may be shaped to allow access to at least one of the sensor fixings. The head may comprise at least one recess, or alcove in the outer circumference. This recess or alcove may allow a user to access one of the means or devices by which a sensor is attached to the aircraft skin -for example, a hole into which a screw, bolt or rivet may be inserted. Alternatively, the head may define at least one vacancy, through which at least one of the sensor-fixings is accessible. The tool, therefore, may not provide an engaging means to engage every sensor-hole or fixing.

As such, the tool may only engage a proportion of the sensor-holes.

Further according to some embodiments, there is provided a method of engaging a component comprising at least one hole, the method comprising: placing a tool according to an embodiment described herein adjacent the component, aligned so as to insert a pin and collar into each hole of the component; and using the actuating device to move the tip of the pin, or a part thereof, into the collar, thus expanding the collar; the collar becoming compressed between the pin tip and the inner surface of the hole.

Additionally according to some embodiments there is provided a method of releasing a component comprising at least one hole, engaged with a tool according to an embodiment described herein, the method comprising: using the actuating device or devices to move the tip of the pin or pins out of the collar or collars, thus allowing the collar or collars to contract and disengage the inside of a hole or holes; and withdrawing the pin and collar from the or each hole.

Additionally according to some embodiments there is provided an apparatus comprising a tool according to an embodiment described herein, engaged with a sensor comprising at least one hole, in each of which a collar and pin are located.

In general terms, an embodiment described herein provides a tool which offers a means of engaging with a device embedded in a laminar element. The tool is intended to engage with fixing bores of the device which would otherwise accommodate fixing means such as bolts. The tool comprises one or more engagement members and an engagement surface. The or each engagement member projects from the engagement surface. The or each engagement member comprises a retractable pin, and a resilient collar captively engaged on the pin. Retraction of the or each pin will cause the corresponding collar to be urged against the engagement surface, which will lead to deformation of the collar and a consequent urging radially of material of the collar, relative to the pin. This radial urging outwards can be used to engage the collar against the surface defining the fixing bore, to provide an interference fit which can then be used to pull the device away from the laminar element.

Figure 1 illustrates a tool 10 according to a described embodiment. The tool as shown in figure 1 is adjacent an aircraft skin 12 in which a sensor 14 is installed or to be installed. The sensor 14 may be located substantially adjacent both the tool 10 and the aircraft skin 12.

The tool 10 may comprise a handle portion 16 and a head 18. In a described embodiment, the head 18 comprises a substantially cylindrical section, one of the flat surfaces of which may receive or engage the sensor 14. The head 18 is shaped so as to accommodate the sensor 14 or component with which the tool is designed to interact by means of an engaging surface. The head 18 may be shaped so as to allow tool-fixings to align and interact with fixing components located on the sensor 14. As such, the head 18 may comprise a large variety of shapes and designs, corresponding to the dimensions of the component with which it is designed to interact. Heads 18 and engaging surfaces of substantially any shape, when designed with the described features and objectives described herein, are felt to be according to embodiments described herein.

The handle portion 16 of the described embodiment may extend perpendicularly from the other flat surface of the head 18, in a direction away from the aircraft skin 12. In the described embodiment, the handle portion 16 comprises a cylinder extending from the head 18 and hence aircraft skin 12. A user may grip the handle portion 16 to hold the tool 10 and manipulate the sensor 14 when the tool 10 is engaged with the sensor 14. The handle portion 16 may, however, be of any form suitable for allowing a user to grip, twist, pull, push and support the tool 10 and sensor 14. Such suitable shapes and arrangements would be immediately apparent to a skilled reader.

The elongate handle portion 16 of the described embodiment allows a user to manipulate the sensor 14 without having to be in direct contact with the aircraft skin 12 in which it is to be installed. As such, a user may manipulate and manoeuvre the sensor 14 from a distance, greatly increasing the ease with which sensors 14 can be installed, aligned and removed from vehicles.

The handle portion 16 can be ergonomically shaped to increase the comfort and ease of use. The handle portion 16 of the described embodiment has a large diameter -this increases the ease with which the sensor can be manoeuvred, specifically by reducing the amount of force required to be exerted by the user to reach a required torque, e.g. to rotate an already-installed sensor 14. A handle portion 16 as described in the present embodiment may additionally allow a user to obtain a comfortable yet strong grip on the tool.

Alternatively, the head 18 may be integral with the handle portion 16, or may even function as the handle portion 16. As such, a single body may perform the function of, and thus be considered as, the handle portion 16 and the head 18.

The handle portion 16 and head 18 may be made of any strong and rigid material suitable for withstanding the required loads. Examples of suitable materials would be apparent to a skilled reader, but may include (although are not limited to): plastics, metals, alloys (e.g. steels) and composites.

The handle 16 and head 18 portion may be machined, created using additive manufacturing techniques or die-cast/injection moulded.

Figure 2 and 3 illustrate the underside of the head 18 and the engaging surface -that which may interact with the sensor 14 during use. The head 18 may support the sensor 14 and facilitate its insertion, removal or alignment within the aircraft skin 12. In order to achieve the desired mechanical purchase on the sensor 14, the head 18 may releasably engage, grip or otherwise interact with the sensor 14 to allow the tool 10 (and hence user) to exert a force on the sensor 14.

In a described embodiment, the head 18 comprises a series of pins 20 and collars 22 protruding from the flat underside of the head 18, the engaging surface. These pins 20 and collars 22 may be evenly spaced around the circumference of the head 18 and extend perpendicularly from the flat surface.

Sensors 14 often comprise a mounting flange comprising a circumferential shoulder into which holes 30 or other fixings are installed. These holes 30 or other fixings may correspond to, and interact with, complementary attachment means on the aircraft skin 12, allowing the sensor 14 to be fixed to the skin 12. The collar 22 and pin 20 pairs located around the circumference of the underside of the head 18 may be positioned so as to be aligned with these holes 30 in the sensor 14. Collar 22 and pin 20 pairs may be provided for every one of these holes 30, or alternatively, for only some, or one, of these holes.

The central section of the underside of the head 18 may comprise a recessed area 24.

This recess 24 may accommodate a raised central section of the sensor 14, such as a convex glass face 26 from which a readout of the measured characteristic may be taken. The recess 24 ensures that any optical face of the sensor 14 is not damaged.

The depth "ci" of the head 18 may be at least large enough to accommodate this raised central section of the sensor and be strong enough to support any loads exerted on the tool 10 by the user.

The recess 24 in the present embodiment has a diameter which is smaller than the diameter of the head 18. As such, there may be a circumferential band between the recess 24 and the outer circumference of the head 18 which is not recessed. This circumferential band may be used to engage the sensor 14. This circumferential band may form a sensor engaging surface. The pin 20 and collar 22 components may protrude from this circumferential band and interact with the mounting flange on the sensor 14.

Turning now to figure 3, the pins 20 of the present embodiment may be substantially cylindrical and may extend from the flat, circumferential region of the head 18. Around each pin 20 a collar 22 may be located, which may enclose the whole, or a portion of, the pin's 20 circumference. The collar 22 may be made of a soft material. In the described embodiment the collar 22 is made of a soft, flexible material and does not enclose the entire circumference of the pin 20. If the collar 22 does not entirely surround the pin 20, the collar 22 is able to flex and expand or contract more easily.

The inner diameter of the collar 22 may be substantially equal to the outer diameter of the portion of the pin 20 which it surrounds when not engaging a sensor 14. The inner diameter of the collar 22 may, therefore, be substantially equal to the outer diameter or the portion of pin immediately adjacent the underside of the head 18 of the tool 10.

Collars 22 according to some embodiments may be made of a soft and/or flexible material. Examples of suitable materials may include but are not limited to rubber and plastics. This allows the collar 22 to maintain contact with the sensor 14 under significant force without damaging any of the threads, bushes or other parts with which it may be in contact.

Additionally, the collar 22 and/or pin 20 may be consumable parts. Due to the design of the pin 20 and collar 22 in the described embodiment, the components may be cheap to manufacture. Additionally, in the described embodiment the pin 20 and collar 22 are easily removed. As such, the pin 20 and collar 22 can be easily replaced, should they become damaged or worn during use. The pins 20 and collars 22 may, therefore, be mass produced.

Each collar 22 may comprise a base 40. The collar base 40 may be located adjacent the head 18 of the tool 10. In the present embodiment, the base 40 has a larger outer diameter than that of the rest of the collar 22. The outer diameter of the base 40 may be larger than a bore 38 in the head 18 through which the pin 20 extends, as described further below. As such, the base 40 may prevent the collar 40 from entering the head l8ofthetoollo.

The pin 20 may extend further from the head 18 of the tool 10 than the collar 22; as such, when the tool is not engaging a sensor, the tip 32 of the pin 20 may extend out from the collar 22 and may not be surrounded thereby. This pin tip 32, or a pad thereof, may be tapered. As such, the tip 32, or a pad thereof, may have a larger diameter than the portion of the pin 20 located within the collar 22. The tip 32, therefore, may have a larger diameter than the inner diameter of the collar 22. Many different tip 32 profiles are suitable for use with the present device, provided there is a gradual increase in pin-diameter as one moves towards the tip 32 of the pin 20. Such suitable forms would be immediately apparent to a skilled reader, but may include a taper of consistent gradient, a bulbous or spherical tip, or taper of exponential or logarithmic gradient.

With reference to figures 4 and 5, it can be seen that in the present embodiment each pin 20 may be the end segment of a rod 28.

The pin 20 and rod 28 may be integral and may be one single part. The pin 20 and rod 28 of the described embodiment are made of metal. The pin 20 and rod 28, however, may be made out of any material that is strong and stiff enough. Examples of suitable materials may include (but are not limited to): metals, alloys (e.g. steel), plastics and composites.

The pin 20 and rod 28 may be made of a material which is harder and/or stiffer than the collar 22.

The pin 20 and rod 28 may be machined or die-cast/injection moulded.

Each rod 28 may extend through a bore 38, through the head 18. The rods 28 may protrude fiom the top face of the head 18-extending parallel to the handle portion 16 of the described embodiment. This distal end of the rod 36 -that which does not comprise the pin 20 and instead protrudes from the top face of the head 18 -is threaded in the present embodiment. This thread 34, may extend from the distal end of the rod 36 to a point located within the head 18 of the tool 10.

The diameter of the threaded section 34 of the rod 28 may be roughly equal to the inner diameter of the bore 38 in the head 18. Alternatively, it may be smaller than the diameter of the bore 38 in the head 18. This bore 38 is larger than the diameter of the pin 20 and so the rod 28 tapers within the head 18 from the diameter of the threaded section 34 to the pin 20 diameter.

In the described embodiment, a first wing nut 42 is threaded on each rod 28 and is located abutting the top face of the head 18. A second wing nut 44 may be threaded on the rod's distal end 36, and may be restrained from advancing down the threaded section 34 of the rod 28 by a hex nut 46. As such, in the described embodiment, the second wing nut 44 is unable to turn independently of the rod 28. The first wing nut 42 may optionally be attached to the head 18 or otherwise maintained in contact with the top surface of the head 18 of the tool 10.

In this described embodiment, when a user turns the second wing nut 44 the rod 28 also turns relative to the tool 10. As the first wing nut 42 may abut the head and therefore may not rotate, the relative rotation of the threaded first wing nut 42 and threaded rod 28 results in a longitudinal movement of the rod 28 and therefore pin 20.

Rotating the first wing nut 42 therefore results in the pin 20 either being extended from the head 18 of the tool 10, or retracted partially within the head 18.

The exact arrangement of the first and second wing nuts 42 44 may be varied while still being within the scope of the present disclosure. It would be readily appreciated by a skilled reader that the wing nut arrangement of the described embodiment is simply to enable a user to control the longitudinal position of the rod 28 and pin 20. Any arrangement of features which enable such control are therefore felt to be according to embodiments described herein. Other potential equivalent features include a threaded rod running through a threaded bore in the tool 10 or a friction fit between the rod and the bore, allowing a user to apply a force to manoeuvre the rod 28.

It can be seen in figure 4 and figure 5 how the sensor 14 in the present embodiment is almost flush with the surface of the aircraft skin 12, thus making it difficult to acquire mechanical purchase without use of the tool 10. Additionally, the importance of the recess 24 of the present embodiment is seen, as the convex optical face protrudes slightly from the skin 12 and would be damaged were the recess 24 not present.

Figure 5 is a detail view of the rod 28 and surrounding components. In figure 5 the pin and collar 22 are located within the hole 30 of the sensor 14 and the pin 20 (and thus rod 28) is in an extended state, wherein the rod 28 has been rotated so that the tapered pin tip 32 is fully exposed from the end of the collar 22 and the collar 22 is unstressed. This will be discussed further with reference to figures 6 to 10.

Additionally, figure 5 illustrates a fixing means or device 48 on the underside of the aircraft skin 12. This fixing means or device 48 may cooperate with a bolt or part of the sensor 14 once the sensor 14 has been positioned by the tool 10 and the tool 10 has been withdrawn to lock the sensor 14 in place.

Turning now to figures 6 to 10, the method of use of an embodiment according to the present disclosure will be described. Figures 6 to 8 show how the tool 10 of the described embodiment engages the sensor 14. Figures 9 and 10 illustrate how the tool 10 of the described embodiment disengages the sensor 14.

Figure 6 is a detailed view of a pin 20 and collar 22 of the tool 10 being inserted into a hole 30 of a sensor 14. The pin 20 in the figure is in an extended state, and so the tapered pin tip 32 of the described embodiment is entirely exposed from the collar 22.

The outside diameter of the collar 22 when the pin 20 is in an extended state, as illustrated, may be slightly smaller than the smallest internal diameter of the hole 30 in the sensor 14. As such, the pin 20 and collar 22 can enter the hole 30, either entirely, or partially.

Once the pin 20 and collar 22 have been inserted into the sensor hole 30, as depicted in figure 7, the second wing nut 44 may be rotated. As described above, this results in a longitudinal movement of the rod 28 and thus pin 20. The second wing nut 44 may be rotated so as to start to retract the pin 20 into the head 18 of the tool 10. In the described embodiment, the base of the collar 40 has an outer diameter which is larger than the bore 38 in the head 18 of the tool 10. As such, the collar 22 abuts, and is unable to enter, the head 18.

As pin 20 is retracted towards the tool 10, the tapered pin tip 32 may come into contact with the end of the collar 22. As the collar 22 may be unable to move towards the tool due to the wide collar base 40, the pin tip 32 of the present embodiment enters the collar 22 and the taper forces the soft and/or flexible collar 22 to deform, increasing its external diameter. This is illustrated in figure 8.

The second wing nut 44 and rod 28 needs no further rotation once the pin tip 32 is entirely, or sufficiently, located within the collar 22. As the outside diameter of the collar 22 was only slightly smaller than the inside diameter of the hole 30 of the sensor when the tapered pin tip 32 was exposed from the collar, once the tip 32 is partially or wholly located within the collar 22, at least part of the collar 22 may be forcibly compressed between the outer surface of the pin 20 and the inner surface of the hole 30. The compression of the collar 22 between the pin 20 and the hole 30 means that each pin 20 and collar 22 may be effectively constrained within each hole 30 of the sensor. As such, the sensor may effectively be attached to the tool 10 and sufficient mechanical purchase is achieved to allow the sensor 14 to be inserted, removed or aligned by a single user with minimal effort and no damage to the sensor 14 or aircraft.

The collar 22 may be made of a soft material and, as such, may not damage any thread on the inside of the sensor hole 30.

Turning now to figure 9, the method of disengaging and withdrawing the tool 10 according to the described embodiment will be described. With the collar 22 compressed between the pin 20 and the inside surface of the sensor hole 30, the second wing nut 44 may be rotated in an opposite direction to that used to engage the sensor 14. This rotation may cause the pin 20 to extend further from the head 18 and the tapered pin tip 32 to extend out from the collar 22. As the tapered section of the pin 20 moves out from within the collar 22, the collar 22 may return to its unstressed diameter and does so due to its elasticity -hence the collar 22 may effectively contract, reducing its outer diameter. Should the collar 22 instead begin to move longitudinally with the pin, away from the tool 10, the large-diameter of the base 40 of the collar may eventually abut a countersunk surface 50 within the sensor hole 30. This ensures that the second wing nut 44 and rod 28 may be rotated sufficiently to entirely disengage the pin tip 32 from the collar 22, thus reducing the outer diameter of the collar 22 to less than the internal diameter of the hole 30 of the sensor 14. The tool 10 can now simply be withdrawn from the sensor 14, as shown in figure 10.

Certain features of embodiments according to the present disclosure may be compatible with standard tools to simplify and complement use of the tool according to embodiments described herein. For example, the distal end of the rod 36 may have a screw-head on its end surface to accommodate, for example a flat or Phillips-head screwdriver, or a key with hexagonal profile. Alternatively, the distal end 36 may be compatible with a socket-wrench. Such compatibilities will allow a user to employ other tools to increase the speed or efficiency with which embodiments according to the

present disclosure may be used.

The handle portion 16 may also be adapted to be used with a screw driver, key with hexagonal profile or wrench as described above in relation to the rod 28.

While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel methods and apparatuses described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the methods and apparatuses described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the inventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the inventions.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A tool for handling components installed in, or to be installed in, the skin of a vehicle, the tool comprising: an engagement head defining a generally planar engagement surface suitable for abutting against a component to be handled and at least one elongate engagement pin, protruding from the engagement surface of the engagement head, the pin being capable of being moved longitudinally from a first position to a second position in which it is at least partially withdrawn into the engagement surface, the or each engagement pin having a deformable collar enclosing a shaft of the engagement pin, the collar being captive between the engagement surface and a clutch formation defined on the shaft of the engagement pin; and a clamping mechanism engaged with the or each pin operable to withdraw the pin from the first position to the second position, to urge the clutch formation on the shaft of the engagement pin into abutment against the collar, thereby to cause the collar to deform to expand laterally with respect to the pin.
2. A tool according to claim 1, wherein the clamping mechanism comprises a manually actuable clamping component, actuation thereof causing longitudinal movement of the pin.
3. A tool according to claim 2 wherein a portion of the pin extends through a bore in the engagement head to another side opposed to the engagement surface, at least a part of that portion of the pin having a thread defined thereon, and wherein the clamping component comprises a threaded fastener engaged with said thread and operable to abut against said other side! so that actuation of said threaded fastener in one sense is operable to urge said pin from said first position towards said second position.
4. A tool according to claim 3 wherein actuation of said threaded fastener in a sense opposite to said aforementioned sense is operable to release said pin from being urged into said second position.
5. A tool according to any one of claims 3 and 4 wherein said threaded fastener comprises a wing nut.
6. A tool according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the collar defines an axial split therein, operable to promote laterally expansive deformation of said collar upon engagement of said clutch formation of said pin.
7. A tool according to claim 6 wherein the axial split is sufficiently large to enable removal and/or replacement of a collar in use of the tool.
8. A tool according to claim 6 or claim 7 wherein the axial split is sufficiently narrow that the collar is retained on the pin, in use.
9. A tool according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pin shaft is cylindrical.
10. A tool according to claim 9 wherein the clutch formation comprises a taper surface, the taper surface being defined as a transition between the radius of the shaft and a larger radius distal the engagement surface.
11. A tool according to any one of claims 6 to 10, wherein the collar defines a through bore having an inner diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the pin shaft.
12. A tool according to any one of claims 6 to 11, wherein the collar comprises a base portion and a sleeve portion, the base portion being position, in use, adjacent the engagement surface and having an external diameter larger than that of the sleeve portion.
13. A tool according to claim 12, wherein the base portion has a larger diameter than a bore through the head, adjacent which it is located.
14. A tool according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, in an initial condition, the sleeve portion of the collar presents a cylindrical clamping surface of a first diameter and, on urging of the pin into the second position, the sleeve portion of the collar is deformed, in use to a profile which presents an interference fit in a bore in which the sleeve portion, in said initial condition, would present a transition fit.
15. A tool according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the collar is made of a softer material than the pin.
16. A tool according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the head is substantially cylindrical.
17. A tool according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the head comprises a recess, to enable accommodation of a raised portion of a component.
18. A tool according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising four pins, with corresponding collars and clamping mechanisms.
19. A tool according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the or each collar is plastically deformable.
20. A tool according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the or each collar is removable and replaceable.
21. A method of engaging a component comprising at least one hole, the method comprising: placing a tool according to any of claims 1 to 20 adjacent the component, aligned so as to insert a pin and collar into each hole of the component; and actuating each clamping mechanism to urge each pin towards its respective second position, thus expanding the corresponding collar; the collar thereby establishing an interference fit with an inner surface of the hole.
22. A method of releasing a component comprising at least one hole, engaged with the tool using the method according to claim 21, the method comprising: actuating each clamping mechanism to release each pin from being urged towards the second position, thus at least partially releasing the interference fit between the collar and the inner surface of the hole; and withdrawing the pin and collar from the hole.