Abstract:
A tool for use in locating a blind hole defined in a workpiece is provided. The tool includes a first leg including a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and an aperture defined therethrough and proximate the first end of the first leg. The tool further includes a second leg substantially parallel to the first leg and defining a space therebetween, the second leg including a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a pin aligned with the aperture and proximate the first end of the second leg, the pin configured for insertion into the blind hole, and at least one sensor proximate the pin and configured to detect a contact with the workpiece. The tool further includes a body portion extending between and coupling the second end of the first leg to the second end of the second leg.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     The field of the disclosure relates generally to fabricating workpieces, and more specifically, to locating blind holes in workpieces. 
     Many industries, such as the aerospace industry, involve fabricating, and/or reworking various workpieces to build a finished product and/or device. For the purposes of assembling the finished product and/or device, it is often desirable to locate one or more blind holes in the workpieces. For example, it may be necessary to drill a hole through one workpiece that is aligned with a blind hole in another workpiece. It may also be necessary to drill a blind hole in one side of a workpiece that is aligned with a blind hole on an opposite side of the same workpiece. 
     However, depending on the size, shape, and/or orientation of particular workpieces, determining the location and orientation of a blind hole may be relatively difficult. Further, while at least some known tools aid a user in locating a blind hole, at least some known tools must be removed before a new hole is drilled. After the blind hole location tool is removed the position of the workpiece may shift before the new hole is drilled. Accordingly, using at least some known tools, even when a user initially determines the location of a blind hole, the user may still drill the new hole in the wrong location after the tool is removed. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION 
     In one aspect, a tool for use in locating a blind hole defined in a workpiece is provided. The tool includes a first leg including a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and an aperture defined therethrough and proximate the first end of the first leg. The tool further includes a second leg substantially parallel to the first leg and defining a space therebetween, the second leg including a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a pin aligned with the aperture and proximate the first end of the second leg, the pin configured for insertion into the blind hole, and at least one sensor proximate the pin and configured to detect a contact with the workpiece, contact between the sensor and the workpiece thereby indicating the pin is operatively placed within the blind hole. The tool further includes a body portion extending between and coupling the second end of the first leg to the second end of the second leg. 
     In another aspect, a method for locating a blind hole defined in a workpiece is provided. The method includes aligning a pin of a tool with the blind hole in the workpiece, the tool including a first leg that includes an aperture aligned with the pin and defined through the first leg proximate a first end of the first leg, and a second leg substantially parallel to the first leg and defining a space therebetween, the second leg including the pin proximate a first end of the second leg, the tool further including a body portion coupling a second end of the first leg to a second end of the second leg. The method further includes inserting the pin into the blind hole such that at least one sensor located proximate the pin comes into contact with a surface of the workpiece, and receiving an indication, based on the sensor contact, that the pin is operatively positioned within the blind hole. 
     In yet another aspect a method for assembling a tool for use in locating a blind hole in a workpiece is provided. The method includes coupling a first end of a first leg to a first end of a second leg with a body portion, such that the first leg is substantially parallel to the second leg and defines a space therebetween, the first leg including an aperture defined therethrough and proximate a second end of the first leg, coupling a pin to a surface of the second leg proximate to a second end of the second leg such that the pin is aligned with the aperture, and coupling at least one sensor to the surface of the second leg proximate to the second leg second end, the at least one sensor configured to detect a contact with the workpiece thereby indicating the pin is operatively placed within the blind hole. 
     The features, functions, and advantages that have been discussed can be achieved independently in various embodiments or may be combined in yet other embodiments, further details of which can be seen with reference to the following description and drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic cross-sectional view of an exemplary tool. 
         FIG. 2  is a partial perspective view of the tool shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic cross-sectional view of an alternative tool. 
         FIG. 4  is a flowchart of an exemplary method for assembling a tool that may be used to assemble the tool shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The systems and methods described herein facilitate locating a blind hole in a workpiece. A tool for locating the blind hole includes a first leg and a substantially parallel second leg. The second leg includes a pin that inserts into the blind hole. The second leg also includes at least one sensor that detects a contact with the workpiece that indicates when the pin is properly inserted into the blind hole. When the pin is properly inserted into the blind hole, an aperture defined through the first leg facilitates drilling a hole that is aligned with the blind hole, either in the workpiece including the blind hole, or a separate workpiece. 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic cross-sectional view of an exemplary blind hole location tool  100 . Tool  100  includes a first leg  102 , a second leg  104  and a body portion  106  that extends between and connects first leg  102  and second leg  104 . First leg  102  includes an exterior surface  108  and an interior surface  110  opposite exterior surface  108 . Similarly, second leg  104  includes an interior surface  112  and an exterior surface  114  opposite interior surface  112 . First leg  102  includes a first foot  116 , and second leg  104  includes a second foot  118 . In the exemplary embodiment, tool  100  is substantially u-shaped. 
     First leg  102  is substantially parallel to second leg  104 , such that exterior surface  108 , interior surface  110 , interior surface  112 , and exterior surface  114  are all substantially parallel to one another. Interior surface  110  of first leg  102 , body portion  106 , and interior surface  112  of second leg  104  form a slot  120 . Slot  120  receives a first workpiece  122  through which a hole is to be drilled, as described in detail below. First workpiece  122  is any material and/or component through which a hole can be drilled, including, but not limited to a metal, plastic, and/or ceramic material. Tool  100  facilitates drilling a hole (not shown) through first workpiece  122  such that the hole in first workpiece  122  is aligned with a blind hole  124  defined in a second workpiece  126 , as described in detail below. 
     In the exemplary embodiment, second foot  118  includes a pin  130  extending from exterior surface  114 . Pin  130  may be formed integrally with second foot  118  or may be a separate component coupled to exterior surface  114 . Pin  130  inserts into blind hole  124  in second workpiece  126 . An axis  132  is defined through the center of pin  130 . Pin  130  is substantially cylindrical in the exemplary embodiment. Alternatively, pin  130  has any shape that enables tool  100  to function as described herein. 
     On first leg  102 , an aperture  134  is defined through first foot  116 . Aperture  134  extends from exterior surface  108  to interior surface  110 . Further, aperture  134  is aligned with axis  132 . Accordingly, aperture  134  is aligned with pin  130 . In the exemplary embodiment, first foot  116  includes a bushing  136  extending from exterior surface  108 . Bushing  136  may be formed integrally with first foot  116  or may be a separate component coupled to exterior surface  108 . Bushing  136  includes a bushing aperture  138  defined therethrough. Bushing aperture  138  is aligned with aperture  134  and axis  132 . Bushing aperture  138  provides a guide for a drilling tool, as described in detail below. 
     Second foot  118  includes a plurality of sensors  140  on exterior surface  114 . In the exemplary embodiment, second foot  118  includes three sensors  140 . As three sensors  140  on exterior surface  114  define a plane, sensors  140  facilitate detecting a planar contact with surface  142 . As blind hole  124  is defined in surface  142 , when surface  142  contacts all three sensors  140 , pin  130  is substantially orthogonal to surface  142 , and pin  130  is therefore properly inserted into and aligned in blind hole  124 . While tool  100  includes three sensors  140  in the exemplary embodiment, second foot  118  may alternatively include any number of sensors  140  that enable tool  100  to function as described herein. 
     In the exemplary embodiment, sensors  140  are pressure sensors, such as piezoelectric, piezoresistive, capacitive, and/or elastoresistive sensors. Alternatively, sensors  140  are any type of sensor that enables tool  100  to function as described herein. Sensors  140  are electrically coupled to an indicator  144 . When surface  142  of second workpiece  126  contacts sensors  140 , indicator  144  facilitates alerting a user of the contact. In the exemplary embodiment, indicator  144  is a light-emitting diode (LED) that turns on when sensors  140  are triggered. Alternatively, indicator  144  is any device that facilitates alerting a user that sensors  140  are in contact with surface  142  of second workpiece  126 , and accordingly, that pin  130  is substantially orthogonal to surface  142  and is properly inserted in blind hole  142 . For example, in some embodiments, indicator  144  is a speaker that emits a predetermined sound when exterior surface  114  contacts surface  142 . Indicator  144  is coupled to exterior surface  108  of first leg  102  in the exemplary embodiment. Alternatively, indicator  144  may be located at any position on tool  100  that enables tool  100  to function as described herein. 
     In the exemplary embodiment, where second foot  118  includes three sensors  140 , indicator  144  only turns on when all of sensors  140  are triggered. Accordingly, if only one of three sensors  140  are triggered (i.e., pin  130  is not properly inserted into blind hole  124 ), indicator  144  is not activated. Alternatively, in some embodiments, indicator  144  is activated when any of sensors  140  are triggered. Further, in some embodiments, each sensor  140  includes a separate indicator  144  that indicates whether the associated sensor  140  is triggered. 
     In operation, tool  100  facilitates locating blind hole  124  in second workpiece  126  and drilling a hole (not shown) through first workpiece  122  that is aligned with blind hole  124 . Specifically, tool  100  and/or second workpiece  126  are positioned with respect to one another such that pin  130  is inserted into blind hole  124  on second workpiece  126 . Once pin  130  is inserted into blind hole  124 , tool  100  and/or second workpiece  126  are positioned such that surface  142  contacts sensors  140 . A user can determine whether pin  130  is properly inserted within blind hole  124  by observing indicator  144 . With pin  130  inserted into blind hole  124  and substantially orthogonal to surface  142  such that pin  130  is properly inserted in blind hole  124 , the hole can be drilled in first workpiece  122 . 
     Bushing  136  provides a guide for a drilling tool used to drill the hole in first workpiece  122 . Specifically, at least part of a drilling tool, such as a drill bit, is inserted through bushing aperture  138  and aperture  134  to drill into first workpiece  122 . As bushing aperture  138  and aperture  134  in first foot  116  are aligned with pin  130  along axis  132 , the hole drilled in first workpiece  122  is aligned with blind hole  124 . 
       FIG. 2  is a partial perspective view of tool  100 . In the exemplary embodiment, first foot  116  and second foot  118  each have a semi-circular shape. Alternatively, first foot  116  and second foot  118  have any shape that enables tool  100  to function as described herein and indicator  144  is activated, as described above. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , sensors  140  are arranged on exterior surface  114  around pin  130 . In the exemplary embodiment, sensors  140  are substantially equidistant from each other in a triangular arrangement. Alternatively, sensors  140  may be arranged in any suitable arrangement that enables tool  100  to function as described herein. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , each sensor includes a switch  160 . When switch  160  is activated, for example, by contact with surface  142  of second workpiece  126 , the corresponding sensor  140  is triggered. 
       FIG. 3  is a schematic cross-sectional view of an alternative tool  200 . Like reference numerals in  FIG. 3  refer to like parts in tool  100  (shown in  FIG. 1 ). Similar to tool  100 , tool  200  includes pin  130  and sensors  140 . However, pin  130  and sensors  140  extend from interior surface  112  of second foot  118 . Accordingly, when a workpiece  202  is inserted into slot  120 , pin  130  fits into a blind hole  204  defined in a lower surface  206  of slot  120 . Sensors  140  and indicator  144  indicate whether pin  130  is substantially orthogonal to lower surface  206 . While in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , only one workpiece  202  is inserted into slot  120 , in some embodiments, two or more workpieces may be inserted into slot  120 . 
     When pin  130  is inserted into blind hole  204  and lower surface  206  contacts sensors  140 , first leg  102  facilitates drilling a hole (not shown) in an upper surface  208  of workpiece  202  such that the drilled hole is aligned with blind hole  204 . Specifically, to drill into workpiece  202 , at least part of a drilling tool, such as a drill bit, is inserted through bushing aperture  138  and aperture  134 . As bushing aperture  138  and aperture  134  in first foot  116  are aligned with pin  130  along axis  132 , the hole drilled in upper surface  208  of workpiece  202  is aligned with blind hole  204  defined in lower surface  206 . In the exemplary embodiment, aperture  134  and bushing aperture  138  are substantially cylindrical. Alternatively, aperture  134  and bushing aperture  138  are any shape that enables tool  100  to function as described herein. 
       FIG. 4  is a flowchart of an exemplary method  400  of assembling a tool for use in locating a blind hole, such as tool  100  and blind hole  124 . Method  400  includes providing  402  a first leg and a second leg, such as first leg  102  and second leg  104 . The first leg includes an aperture defined therethrough, such as aperture  134 . The first leg is coupled  404  to the second leg with a body portion, such as body portion  106 , such that the first leg and the second leg are substantially parallel to one another and define a space therebetween. A pin, such as pin  130  is coupled  406  to a surface of the second leg, such as interior surface  112  or exterior surface  114 . The pin is aligned with the aperture in the first leg. At least one sensor, such as sensor  140 , is coupled  408  to the surface of the second leg. The sensor detects a contact with a surface of a workpiece, such as surface  142  of workpiece  126 . The detected contact indicates the pin is operatively placed within the blind hole. Using the systems and methods described herein, the assembled tool facilitates locating a blind hole and drilling a hole that is aligned with the blind hole. 
     The embodiments described herein facilitate locating a blind hole in a workpiece. A tool for locating the blind hole includes a first leg and a substantially parallel second leg. The second leg includes a pin that inserts into the blind hole. The second leg also includes at least one sensor that detects a contact with the workpiece that indicates when the pin is properly inserted into the blind hole. When the pin is properly inserted into the blind hole, an aperture defined through the first leg facilitates drilling a hole that is aligned with the blind hole, either in the workpiece including the blind hole, or a separate workpiece. 
     Although specific features of various embodiments of the invention may be shown in some drawings and not in others, this is for convenience only. In accordance with the principles of the invention, any feature of a drawing may be referenced and/or claimed in combination with any feature of any other drawing. 
     This written description uses examples to disclose various embodiments, which include the best mode, to enable any person skilled in the art to practice those embodiments, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.