Aerospace ApplicationsFor the Aerospace industry, there are a number of inventions we have developed that could be utilized in improving several aspects of this vast arena. In the field of vehicles; Space and Land based: First is the Fastener, formerly known as the "ZipNut®", where there is an (almost) unlimited aspect to the usages, applications, or variations of this revolutionary device. Examples of this are as a robot implemented fastener; the future moon base fabrications; other space based manufacturing (buildings); various aircraft (power plant installation expedition, instrument panels, airframe hardware fastening) fabrication applications, Space robot (parts of) and remote controlled manufacturing ventures (implementation of the nut using the robot or remote controlled fabricator; where only mechanical arms are used to facilitate in the fabrication/repair process), of outer atmosphere (or undersea) structures or vessels. Second, are Snap-Nut's; a completely different device and application. This is a device that will, possibly, replace the necessity, and use, of safety wire in the aircraft industry (Military and the many Commercial applications). Since this device is a fastener, as is the other Fullerton Designed fastener, the applications are as varied as the previous device. The aircraft industry is presently "very interested" in regards to integrating this device into the repertoire of standards (fully tested and understood); as there is a significant cost savings and a testable, mathematically verifiable, improvement in safety factor with the installation. As and example: The FAA is interested in this device, because of the discovered fact that aircraft engines (axial turbines) need no longer use safety wire and the fact that lock washers are eliminated, as lock washers do not provide adequate torque values satisfactory to the requirements of the FAA and cause damage and stress risers to the material that they impact.
First used by NASA in 1989, when Fullerton Design developed the Space nut application tool for Shuttle Flight STS-29; the HUBBLE Telescope repair flight. Based on that success, the Fullerton Design nut was then selected to be a key mechanical element for the robotic assembly of the International Space Station.
In 1992 NASA adopted the technology for the Hubble Space Telescope Repair.
This history, and the current widespread space application, was formally recognized by NASA in its Spin-off 1998.
Robert L. Fullerton is the original inventor/designer/developer of the "ZipNut®" NASA Applications:International Space Station EVA/Robotic Assembly
Hubble Space TelescopeAll Repair & Servicing Missions Tool for Replacement of Wide Field and Planetary Camera and Fine Guidance Sensor Swales Aerospace ¼-28 and 10-32 fasteners for EVA use Swales Aerospace. All Future Space MissionsThe Fullerton Designed nut is a "Recommended Technique for Effective Maintainability" in " Selection of Robotically Compatible Fasteners and Handling Mechanisms" (NTM 4628) in NASA's official Policy for Safety and Mission Success (NPD 8700.1). To read N.A.S.A.'s document. Swales Aerospace originally worked with Fullerton Design, in 1993, when Swales engineers working on the Hubble Space Telescope Repair Mission when Goddard Space Flight Center asked for the development of the Fullerton Design Double activation nut tool to be used to repair the deficient Hubble camera. Swales guided Fullerton Design in the hardware applications resulting in the subsequent two repair missions utilizing in the use of the new device. Fullerton Design then worked with the engineers for tooling for the next repair mission. - http://www.swales.com/services/hardware/hst_crew_aids.html. The most recent Hubble Repair in December, 1999 used two Fullerton Designed nut based tools; thanks to the assistance of Swales: The Future, as well as applications, with a techical description of my "NASA SCREW GUN" |