[VAC] Re: Explain Cleco Clamps

["Carol and Oliver Filippi" <ofilippi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Cleco clamps are basically a spring loaded temporary rivet which is placed
in the hole into which the rivet will go eventually.  The tip of the Cleco
has small spring loaded "fingers" which retract into the clamp's shank, (to
permit insertion into the rivet hole) and then expand to grip the back
surface of the blind hole, while the outer spring loaded cylinder presses on
the outside surface of the joint, thus pulling the pieces together through
the rivet hole from the outside.

The spring mechanism of the Cleco holds the parts together in lieu of the
rivet.  Since the spring in the Cleco clamp (it really is a clamp) is quite
strong, the special pliers are used to compress the spring so that the tip
of the Cleco clamp can be inserted into the " to be riveted" hole.  Once the
Cleco clamp is installed in the rivet hole, the pliers are no longer needed
on that clamp (until you want to remove the clamp), so it is easily
detatched for use on the next Cleco clamp.

Temporarily installing a panel to its intended destination with Clecos will
properly position the panel so that it doesn't move (or shift) during the
actual riveting operation.

Clecos are typically inserted into enough of the rivet holes to properly
position the panel and prevent its movement during the actual riveting
process.  As the rivets are installed and permanently fastened, the Clecos
are removed, as necessary, to gain access to the rivet hole(s) for insertion
of the next rivet.

Also, using Clecos during a repair will allow you to make certain that the
new panel will fit properly before doing the actual riveting.

Clecos can also be used to hold a repair panel in place (which has not been
fully drilled for all the rivets - but just enough to position it)  so that
the rest of the mating rivet holes can be drilled into the repair panel.

I hope this is clear.

Oliver Filippi