Rivet bucking assembly and method

Claim 2

A rivet bucking assembly for providing back-up support for a reciprocating rivet gun operating to rivet a workpiece, the assembly comprising: a. a support member, b. an anvil member mounted in movable relation to the support member, c. gas inflatable resilient means transversely disposed between the anvil member and the support member and exerting a thrust on the anvil member, d. means supporting the workpiece, e. control means selectively controlling the thrust of the inflatable resilient means to urge the anvil member outwardly of the support, and f. the control means regulating the supply of gas to the inflatable resilient means to urge the anvil member to a first condition providing low pressure back-up to the rivet for the formation of an incipient head and a second condition providing high pressure back-up for the formation of a complete head.

Claim 3

A rivet bucking assembly as defined in claim 1, in which: g. the inflatable resilient means includes a pneumatic bladder, h. an air supply is connected to the bladder, and i. the control means regulates the supply of air to the bladder, j. the control means including a low pressure regulator, a time delay means and a high pressure regulator adjusting the supply of air to the bladder and urging the anvil member sequentially into a first condition having a duration predetermined by the time delay means, the bladder providing a low pressure back-up to the rivet for the formation of an incipient head, and a second condition, the bladder providing high pressure back-up for the formation of a complete head.

Claim 4

a plurality of individually movable anvil pin members mounted in movable relation to the support housing,

Claim 5

a plurality of individually movable anvil pin members mounted in movable relation to the support housing,

Claim 6

an anvil member mounted in movable relation to the support housing,

Claim 7

an anvil member mounted in movable relation to the support housing,

Claim 8

a pneumatic bladder disposed in the housing and selectively supporting the anvil member,

Claim 9

a pneumatic bladder disposed in the housing and selectively supporting the anvil member,

Claim 10

a pneumatic bladder diSposed in the housing and selectively supporting the pin members individually,

Claim 11

a pneumatic bladder diSposed in the housing and selectively supporting the pin members individually,

Claim 12

A rivet bucking assembly as defined in claim 1, in which: g. a pin, alignable with the rivet during forming, and including a shank portion and a head portion, provides the anvil member, and h. the support member includes a housing for the inflatable resilient means, the housing including an aperture mounting the shank of the pin in outwardly projecting movable relation, and the housing including an abutment engageable with the head portion to limit outward movement of the shank under thrust from the inflatable resilient means.

Claim 13

A riveting system for riveting a workpiece comprising: a. an air supply, b. a pneumatic reciprocating rivet gun connected to the air supply, and c. a bucking assembly including: c. a bucking assembly including:

Claim 14

A riveting system for riveting a workpiece comprising: a. an air supply, b. a pneumatic reciprocating rivet gun connected to the air supply, and c. a bucking assembly including: c. a bucking assembly including:

Claim 15

means supporting the workpiece in selected spaced relation from the anvil member, and

Claim 16

means supporting the workpiece in selected spaced relation from the anvil member, and

Claim 17

control means selectively regulating the pressure in the pneumatic bladder to urge the anvil member outwardly from the support housing, the anvil member providing back-up for rivet deformation by the reciprocating gun, d. the support housing including a U-shaped portion and a closure portion extending between the arms thereof, e. the closure portion including an aperture receiving the anvil member in slidable relation, f. the anvil member including a body portion projecting outwardly of the closure portion and a head portion engaging the closure portion to limit outward movement of the anvil member relative to the closure portion, g. the support housing including spacer means projecting beyond the remote end of the anvil and seating the workpiece, and h. the rivet head being formed in the space between the remote end of the anvil member and the outer portion of the spacer.

Claim 18

control means selectively regulating the pressure in the pneumatic bladder to urge the anvil member outwardly from the support housing, the anvil member providing back-up for rivet deformation by the reciprocating gun, d. the support housing including a U-shaped portion and a closure portion extending between the arms thereof, e. the closure portion including an aperture receiving the anvil member in slidable relation, f. the anvil member including a body portion projecting outwardly of the closure portion and a head portion engaging the closure portion to limit outward movement of the anvil member relative to the closure portion, g. the support housing including spacer means projecting beyond the remote end of the anvil and seating the workpiece, and h. the rivet head being formed in the space between the remote end of the anvil member and the outer portion of the spacer.

Claim 19

control means selectively regulating the pressure in the pneumatic bladder to urge the pin members outwardly from the support housing, the pin members providing back-up for rivet deformation by the reciprocating gun, and d. the control means regulating air pressure in the bladder for urging the pin members to a first condition providing low pressure back-up to the rivet for the formation of an incipient head, and a second condition providing high pressure back-up for the formation of a complete head.

Claim 20

control means selectively regulating the pressure in the pneumatic bladder to urge the pin members outwardly from the support housing, the pin members providing back-up for rivet deformation by the reciprocating gun, and d. the control means regulating air pressure in the bladder for urging the pin members to a first condition providing low pressure back-up to the rivet for the formation of an incipient head, and a second condition providing high pressure back-up for the formation of a complete head.

Claim 21

A riveting system for riveting a workpiece comprising: a. an air supply, b. a pneumatic reciprocating rivet gun connected to the air supply, and c. a bucking assembly including:

Claim 22

A riveting system for riveting a workpiece comprising: a. an air supply, b. a pneumatic reciprocating rivet gun connected to the air supply, and c. a bucking assembly including: