Variable-angle lifting device for cylinder section of aircraft fuselage and use method of variable-angle lifting device

Abstract

The height of a supporting frame is set according to the height limit position of a lifting sliding table, reinforcing steel plates which are welded and fixed are arranged on the front face and the inner side face of the supporting frame, and mounting holes used for being fixed to a tool base body or the ground through bolts are formed in the bottom of the supporting frame. The lifting sliding table comprises two guide rails which are vertically arranged in parallel and are fixed on a reinforcing steel plate on the side surface of the supporting frame through bolts, a sliding flat plate, a spiral elevator and a box-shaped support; the box-shaped support is fixed to a cross beam of the supporting frame through bolts, and a turbine base body of the spiral elevator is installed in the box-shaped support. The supporting frame is of a square-frame-shaped welding structure, the height is set according to the stroke limit of the lifting sliding table, it is guaranteed that no structural interference exists in the whole stroke range, the reinforcing steel plates arranged on the front face and the inner side face of the supporting frame provide high-strength installation faces for the guide rail and the support, and lifting clamping stagnation or unbalance loading caused by installation errors is fundamentally eliminated.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of aviation manufacturing technology, specifically a variable-angle lifting device for an aircraft fuselage section and its usage method. Background Technology

[0002] Lifting devices are an important component of the assembly tooling for large aircraft parts. They play a vital role in improving work efficiency and quality, and reducing the labor intensity of operators. The design requirements for these devices should consider the following factors: The device should meet the operator's requirements for operability, accessibility, and comfort. It should also have sufficient strength, rigidity, and stability, and ensure the safety of personnel and the protection of the product during use.

[0003] Conventional fixed aircraft lifting devices are located on the exterior of aircraft components and mainly consist of a frame, platform, and guardrails. Fixed devices cannot adapt to work environments requiring adjustable height. Commonly used lifting work ladders consist of an electric or hydraulic lifting mechanism, a work platform, and guardrails, allowing for height adjustment. However, these ladders can only adjust the height within a limited range and cannot meet the requirements of work environments requiring angle adjustment. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In view of the above situation and to overcome the defects of the prior art, the present invention provides a variable angle lifting device for an aircraft fuselage section and a method of using it, so as to at least partially solve the above technical problems.

[0005] The technical solution adopted in this invention is as follows: This invention proposes a variable-angle lifting device for an aircraft fuselage section, comprising: The support frame has a height set according to the height limit position of the lifting slide. The front and inner sides of the support frame are provided with welded and fixed reinforcing steel plates. The bottom of the support frame is provided with mounting holes for fixing to the tooling base or the ground by bolts. The lifting slide includes two vertically parallel guide rails bolted to the side reinforcing steel plates of the support frame, a sliding plate, a screw jack, and a box-shaped support. The box-shaped support is bolted to the crossbeam of the support frame. The turbine seat of the screw jack is installed inside the box-shaped support, and its output end is fixed to the sliding plate via a transmission joint. Slider blocks are provided on both sides of the sliding plate, and the sliders slide in cooperation with the guide rails, allowing the sliding plate to move up and down along the guide rails. The main body of the device is a planar frame structure, consisting of a main frame and a detachable side frame, with two spaced-apart ear connectors on one side. The hinge shaft has a diameter that matches the hole diameter of the lug joint and the fork joint on the lifting slide. The hinge shaft passes through the lug joint and forms a rotating pair with the fork joint. The hinge shaft is provided with a pin hole perpendicular to the axis for inserting a cotter pin to prevent axial dislodgement. The retraction mechanism includes a support, a sleeve, a ring handwheel, a lead screw, and a connector fixed to the frame of the device body, all fixed on the sliding plate. One end of the lead screw is connected to the ring handwheel and passes through the sleeve, while the other end is hinged to the connector. Rotating the ring handwheel drives the lead screw to extend and retract axially, thereby causing the device body to rotate around the hinge axis. The auxiliary support includes a support fixed to the inner side of the support frame column by bolts and a triangular bracket that can rotate around a pivot pin; after the sliding plate moves to the working position, the triangular bracket can rotate to its top end abutting the open end face of the sliding plate to form a rigid support.

[0006] In one embodiment of the present invention, the device body is provided with horizontally retractable telescopic support rods on both sides. The telescopic support rods are locked to the side frame of the main structure by clamping screws, and the top of the telescopic support rods is provided with a support surface for laying movable wooden boards. The movable wooden boards are fixed to the telescopic support rods by clamping screws.

[0007] In one embodiment of the present invention, the mounting surface of the guide rail and the reinforcing steel plate of the support frame are positioned and installed by means of drilled bolt holes.

[0008] In one embodiment of the present invention, the screw jack is configured as a worm gear type manual lifting mechanism, and its input end is provided with a handle handwheel, which is located on the outside of the support frame in a position that is convenient for manual operation.

[0009] In one embodiment of the present invention, the lug connector and the fork connector are provided with a wear-resistant copper sleeve at the hinge portion, and the copper sleeve is interference-fitted into the hinge hole of the lug connector.

[0010] In one embodiment of the present invention, the lead screw in the take-up and take-down mechanism is a trapezoidal threaded lead screw, and the lead screw is connected to the connector seat by a spherical plain bearing to compensate for the small angular deviation generated by the device body during rotation.

[0011] In one embodiment of the present invention, the open end face of the sliding plate is provided with a positioning groove, and the top of the triangular bracket is provided with a boss that matches the positioning groove.

[0012] In one embodiment of the present invention, the square frame structure of the support frame is provided with oblique reinforcing ribs at the four corners, and the reinforcing ribs are connected to the main profile by a full penetration weld.

[0013] In one embodiment of the present invention, when the device body is in the retracted state, its planar frame forms a 90° angle with the ground, and at this time the telescopic support rod is completely retracted into the main structure, and the overall outline does not exceed the outer boundary of the support frame.

[0014] In one embodiment of the present invention, the method of using the variable-angle lifting device of the aircraft fuselage section includes the following steps: S1: Before hoisting the aircraft components, operate the ring handwheel of the retraction mechanism to retract the lead screw, causing the device body to rotate upward around the hinge axis to the retracted state perpendicular to the ground; at the same time, operate the handle of the screw jack to lower the sliding plate to the lowest position. S2: Vertically hoist the aircraft components into the assembly fixture and complete the positioning; S3: Reverse the operation of the ring handwheel of the retraction mechanism to extend the lead screw and push the device body to rotate downward around the hinge axis to the predetermined working angle; S4: Operate the screw jack to raise the sliding plate to the target height, so that the working surface of the device body is aligned with the current construction area; S5: Rotate the auxiliary support triangular bracket around the pivot pin so that its top end presses against the open end face of the sliding plate and forms a rigid support; S6: Operators climb onto the main body of the device via a dedicated work ladder to perform assembly work; S7: When it is necessary to switch to a higher construction area, the operator should leave, release the tripod, and repeat steps S4 to S6. S8: After assembly, first lower the sliding plate to its lowest position, then operate the retraction mechanism to restore the device body to a retracted state perpendicular to the ground, and then vertically lift the aircraft component away from the tooling.

[0015] The beneficial effects of the technical solution of this invention are as follows: This invention employs a square-frame welded structure for the support frame, with its height set according to the travel limit of the lifting slide. This ensures no structural interference throughout the entire travel range. The reinforcing steel plates on the front and inner sides not only provide high-strength mounting surfaces for the guide rails and supports but also enable parallel installation of the guide rails through drilled bolt holes, fundamentally eliminating lifting jamming or uneven loading caused by installation errors. Simultaneously, the diagonal reinforcing ribs added at the four corners of the support frame are connected to the main profile using full-penetration welds, enhancing the frame's resistance to bending, torsion, and fatigue in three-dimensional space. This allows the support frame to maintain geometrical instability even under repeated overturning moments from the cantilever platform, impact loads from personnel movement, and dynamic stresses caused by frequent lifting, thus guaranteeing the long-term accuracy and reliability of the entire structure.

[0016] In this invention, two vertical guide rails are fixed to the reinforcing steel plate of the support frame through a high-rigidity connection. The sliding plate forms a low-friction sliding pair with it through a slider. Driven by a worm gear manual lifting machine, it achieves stable and wobbly vertical movement. The worm gear mechanism itself has a self-locking characteristic, which can prevent the platform from accidentally sliding down even under full load. The handwheel is arranged in an open area on the outside of the support frame, which is convenient for single-person operation and does not require an additional power source.

[0017] This invention utilizes a double-eared joint to form a double-point hinge with a fork-shaped joint on the lifting slide, connected by a shouldered hinge shaft and a cotter pin anti-disengagement structure to ensure structural integrity during rotation. An interference-fit, wear-resistant copper sleeve is embedded in the hinge hole to effectively reduce friction and wear, extending service life. The retraction mechanism uses a trapezoidal threaded screw as the drive element, whose high load-bearing capacity and good self-locking properties are suitable for manual fine adjustment. Simultaneously, the end of the screw is connected to the device body via a spherical plain bearing, which automatically compensates for minor angular deviations caused by manufacturing tolerances, assembly clearances, or changes in the machine body's curvature, preventing the screw from bearing additional bending moments. This ensures that handwheel operation is always smooth and easy, and the platform's unfolding posture is stable and reliable.

[0018] When the sliding plate is raised to the working position, the triangular bracket rotates around the pivot pin, and its top boss is precisely embedded in the positioning groove at the front end of the sliding plate, forming a mechanical interlock. The concave-convex cooperation not only provides clear feedback on the positioning position, but also directly transmits the supporting force to the support frame column, thus constructing a second load-bearing path that does not rely on the screw jack.

[0019] Additional aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. Attached Figure Description

[0020] The above and / or additional aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent and readily understood from the following description of the embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 This is a front view of the variable-angle lifting device for an aircraft fuselage section according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a top view of the variable-angle lifting device for the aircraft fuselage section proposed in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a first axonometric view of the variable-angle lifting device for an aircraft fuselage section proposed in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 This is a front view of the lifting slide structure of the variable-angle lifting device for an aircraft fuselage section according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5 This is a second axonometric view of the variable-angle lifting device for the aircraft fuselage section proposed in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 6 This is a front view of the retraction mechanism of the variable-angle lifting device for an aircraft fuselage section according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 7 This is a front view of the hinge axis of the variable-angle lifting device for an aircraft fuselage section according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 8 This is a front view of the auxiliary support for the variable-angle lifting device of the aircraft fuselage section proposed in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] In the diagram: 1. Support frame; 2. Lifting slide; 3. Device body; 4. Retraction mechanism; 5. Hinge shaft; 6. Auxiliary support; 7. Guide rail; 8. Box-shaped support; 9. Turbine base; 10. Screw jack; 11. Transmission joint; 12. Sliding plate; 13. Handwheel with handle; 14. Slider; 15. Fork joint; 16. Main device; 18. Clamping screw; 19. Telescopic strut; 20. Ear joint; 21. Support; 22. Sleeve; 23. Annular handwheel; 24. Lead screw; 25. Joint seat; 26. Triangular bracket; 27. Support; 28. Shaft pin. Detailed Implementation

[0022] Embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions throughout. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and intended to explain the present invention, and should not be construed as limiting the present invention.

[0023] The following describes, with reference to the accompanying drawings, an embodiment of the present invention: a variable-angle lifting device for an aircraft fuselage section and its method of use.

[0024] like Figures 1 to 8 As shown, this embodiment of the invention provides a variable angle lifting device for an aircraft fuselage section, including: a support frame 1, the height of the support frame 1 is set according to the height limit position of the lifting slide 2, the front and inner sides of the support frame 1 are provided with welded and fixed reinforcing steel plates, and the bottom of the support frame 1 is provided with mounting holes for fixing to the tooling base or the ground by bolts. The lifting slide 2 includes two vertically parallel guide rails 7 and bolts fixed to the side reinforcing steel plate of the support frame 1, a sliding plate 12, a screw jack 10, and a box-shaped support 8. The box-shaped support 8 is bolted to the crossbeam of the support frame 1. The turbine seat 9 of the screw jack 10 is installed inside the box-shaped support 8, and its output end is fixed to the sliding plate 12 through a transmission joint 11. Slider blocks 14 are provided on both sides of the sliding plate 12. The slider blocks 14 slide with the guide rails 7, so that the sliding plate 12 moves up and down along the guide rails 7. The main body 3 is a planar frame structure, consisting of a main frame 16 and a detachably connected side frame 17. Two spaced-apart ear joints 20 are provided on one side. The hinge shaft 5 has a diameter that matches the hole diameter of the ear joints 20 and the fork joints 15 on the lifting slide 2. The hinge shaft 5 passes through the ear joints 20 and forms a rotating pair with the fork joints 15. The hinge shaft 5 is provided with a pin hole perpendicular to the axis for inserting a cotter pin to prevent axial dislodgement. The retraction mechanism 4 includes a support 21, a sleeve 22, an annular handwheel 23, a lead screw 24, and a connector seat 25 fixed to the frame of the device body 3, all fixed on the sliding plate 12. One end of the lead screw 24 is connected to the annular handwheel 23 and passes through the sleeve 22, while the other end is hinged to the connector seat 25. Rotating the annular handwheel 23 drives the lead screw 24 to extend and retract axially, thereby causing the device body 3 to rotate around the hinge axis 5. The auxiliary support 6 includes a support 27 fixed to the inner side of the support frame 1 column by bolts and a triangular bracket 26 that can rotate around the pivot pin 28. After the sliding plate 12 moves to the working position, the triangular bracket 26 can rotate to its top end abutting the open end face of the sliding plate 12 to form a rigid support.

[0025] In specific applications of this invention, before aircraft components (such as lower wall panels, side wall panels, or upper wall panels) are installed in the assembly fixture, the entire device body 3 must first be retracted to an upright position perpendicular to the ground to provide unobstructed space for the subsequent vertical hoisting of aircraft components. At this time, the operator rotates the annular handwheel 23 on the retraction mechanism 4, causing the lead screw 24 to retract into the sleeve 22. Since the other end of the lead screw 24 is hinged to the connector seat 25 on the frame of the device body 3, its axial shortening will pull the device body 3 to rotate upward around the hinge axis 5 until its planar frame is completely in contact with the outside of the support frame 1 and is in a 90° vertical position. At the same time, by rotating the handwheel of the screw lift 10, the internal worm gear is driven to move the turbine seat 9, which in turn lowers the sliding plate 12 along the guide rail 7 to the lowest position through the transmission joint 11, so that the entire lifting slide 2 is at the lower limit of its stroke, thereby minimizing the overall profile height of the device.

[0026] Once the aircraft components are vertically hoisted into the assembly fixture and positioned, the work platform can be deployed. The operator reverses the rotation of the ring handwheel 23, causing the lead screw 24 to gradually extend from the sleeve 22, pushing the connector seat 25 forward, thereby causing the device body 3 to rotate downward around the hinge shaft 5. The hinge shaft 5, as a rotating connecting component, has its two ends passing through the fork-shaped connector 15 on the lifting slide 2 and the two lug connectors 20 on the device body 3, forming a stable double-point hinge structure. This structure not only ensures rigid constraint during rotation but also effectively prevents axial movement or detachment of the hinge shaft 5 under stress through the cooperation of the pin hole and cotter pin. As the lead screw 24 continues to extend, the device body 3 gradually lowers from a vertical position to an inclination angle that matches the current construction surface of the aircraft cylinder section's inner wall. The angle can be flexibly set according to different aircraft models or assembly areas without replacing any parts.

[0027] After the initial angle adjustment, the working height is further adjusted. The operator continues to rotate the handwheel of the screw jack 10, causing the turbine base 9 to move upward. The thrust is transmitted to the sliding plate 12 through the transmission joint 11. The sliders 14 on both sides of the sliding plate 12 rise smoothly along two parallel guide rails 7. The guide rails 7 are firmly installed on the reinforcing steel plate on the side of the support frame 1 by bolts. The reinforcing steel plate itself is machined to ensure the flatness and parallelism of the mounting surface, thereby ensuring that the sliding process is free from jamming and swaying. The rise of the sliding plate 12 drives the entire lifting slide 2 and the device body 3 connected to it to rise synchronously, so that the working surface is aligned with the required construction area (such as riveting points, drilling positions). When the height is adjusted to the most comfortable and ergonomic position for the operator to stand and work, the lifting operation is stopped.

[0028] To ensure absolute safety during high-altitude operations, the sliding plate 12 must be rigidly locked. At this time, the operator rotates the triangular bracket 26 in the auxiliary support 6 outwards around the pivot pin 28, so that its top end abuts against the open end face of the front end of the sliding plate 12. The end face typically has a positioning groove or a stop structure, which engages with the boss at the top of the triangular bracket 26 to form a triangular stable support system. The support 27 is pre-fixed to the inner side of the support frame 1 column with bolts, ensuring that the triangular bracket 26 can effectively support the load regardless of the height of the sliding plate 12, preventing the sliding plate 12 from sliding down due to accidental failure of the screw jack 10 or vibration.

[0029] After completing the above positioning and support, the operator climbs onto the main body 3 of the device via a dedicated work ladder. If it is necessary to expand the working area, the telescopic support rods 19 on both sides can be pulled out horizontally, and movable wooden boards can be laid on top of them, then locked with clamping screws 18 to form a widened working platform. After the assembly work in the current area is completed, if it is necessary to move to a higher or more inclined area, the operator must first evacuate the platform, loosen the triangular bracket 26, and then repeat the above-mentioned joint adjustment process of angle and height: first, fine-tune the pitch angle of the main body 3 of the device through the extension and retraction mechanism 4, then adjust the overall height through the screw lift 10, and finally relock the auxiliary support 6.

[0030] In one specific embodiment, the device body 3 has horizontally retractable telescopic support rods 19 on both sides. The telescopic support rods 19 are locked to the side frame of the main structure 16 by clamping screws 18, and the top of the telescopic support rods 19 is provided with a support surface for laying movable wooden boards. The movable wooden boards are fixed to the telescopic support rods 19 by clamping screws 18.

[0031] In specific applications of this invention, after the device body 3 completes angle expansion via hinge shaft 5 and retraction mechanism 4 and is adjusted to the target height via lifting slide 2, if the current construction area exceeds the lateral boundary of the original plane of the main structure 16 (e.g., near the edge of the inner wall of the machine body or where it needs to cross the joint of adjacent wall panels), the operator can manually pull the telescopic support rod 19 horizontally out of the side frame of the main structure 16 as needed. The telescopic support rod 19 slides smoothly along the preset guide groove or slide rail, and its stroke can be adjusted in segments according to the working conditions to ensure that the extension length can cover the blind spot of the operation without affecting the structural stability due to excessive extension.

[0032] After being pulled out into position, the operator places the pre-prepared movable wooden board on the support surface at the top of the telescopic support rod 19. The support surface is flattened, has sufficient bearing area and anti-slip texture, and can stably support the pedals made of wood or composite materials. Then, by tightening the clamping screw 18, the movable wooden board is firmly pressed onto the telescopic support rod 19. At the same time, the clamping screw 18 also serves as the locking mechanism of the telescopic support rod 19. That is, while pressing the wooden board, its threaded end abuts against the inner wall or limit block of the side frame of the main structure 16, thereby completely fixing the telescopic support rod 19 and preventing it from retracting or shaking when people step on it or tools move.

[0033] Specifically, because the telescopic struts 19 are symmetrically arranged on both sides of the device body 3, they not only allow a single operator to move freely within a larger range without frequently adjusting the overall position of the machine, but also support multiple workers to work together, such as one person riveting while another simultaneously calibrates holes or delivers parts. More importantly, in areas with significant curvature changes inside the cylindrical body (such as near the transition area between the upper and lower wall panels), the locally widened platform can effectively compensate for the edge suspension problem caused by the tilt adjustment of the device body 3, ensuring that the operator always stands on a solid and flat support surface, fundamentally eliminating the risk of stepping into a hole or slipping.

[0034] Throughout the entire work cycle, when the current area construction is completed and it is necessary to move to another height or angle, the operator first removes the movable wooden plank and loosens the clamping screws 18, then pushes the telescopic support rod 19 completely back into the main frame 16, causing its overall outline to shrink to its minimum state. This retraction action ensures that the subsequent vertical movement of the lifting slide 2 and the angle reset of the device body 3 not only avoids interference between the protruding parts and the support frame 1, guide rail 7, or other tooling structures, but also ensures that when the device is retracted to the vertical state, its overall shape is completely embedded within the projection range of the support frame 1, leaving sufficient clearance for the vertical hoisting of aircraft components.

[0035] In one specific embodiment, the mounting surface of the guide rail 7 and the reinforcing steel plate of the support frame 1 are positioned and installed through drilled bolt holes. The square frame structure of the support frame 1 has oblique reinforcing ribs at the four corners. The reinforcing ribs are connected to the main profile by full penetration welds. The lug joint 20 and the fork joint 15 are provided with wear-resistant copper sleeves at the hinge parts. The copper sleeves are interference-fitted into the hinge holes of the lug joint 20.

[0036] In practical applications of this invention, before work begins, the device is initially in a retracted state. At this time, the trajectory accuracy of the sliding plate 12 moving up and down along the guide rail 7 directly determines the repeatability and safety of subsequent platform positioning. Instead of fixing it to the side of the support frame 1 with ordinary bolt holes, a matching drill is used between the reinforcing steel plate of the support frame 1 and the mounting surface of the guide rail 7. That is, the guide rail 7 is temporarily positioned first, and then holes are drilled simultaneously on both, thereby ensuring that all connecting holes are completely coaxial. The matching drill method eliminates installation misalignment caused by the accumulation of manufacturing tolerances, ensuring that the two guide rails 7 are strictly parallel in the vertical direction, and preventing the sliding plate 12 from jamming, tilting, or experiencing additional lateral forces during lifting and lowering.

[0037] Meanwhile, the support frame 1 adopts a square-frame welded structure, with diagonally arranged reinforcing ribs added at the four corners. These ribs are not simply welded on, but connected to the main profile using full-penetration welds. The full-penetration welds enhance the bending, torsional, and fatigue resistance of the joint area. Under conditions where the device frequently experiences dynamic loads (such as personnel movement, tool impacts, and leverage forces during platform deployment), the welding method effectively prevents weld cracking or local buckling, ensuring that the support frame 1 does not undergo permanent deformation during long-term use. This maintains the stability of the guide rail 7 mounting reference surface, indirectly guaranteeing the reliability of the lifting movement.

[0038] After the sliding plate 12 is raised or lowered to the target height, the device body 3 needs to rotate around the hinge axis 5 to a working angle that matches the curvature of the inner wall of the machine body. This rotation is driven by the retraction mechanism 4 and is achieved through the hinge pair between the lug joint 20 and the fork joint 15. Since the hinge point is subjected to large alternating shear force and bending moment during each posture adjustment, a wear-resistant copper sleeve is press-fitted into the hinge hole of the lug joint 20. The copper sleeve has excellent self-lubricating properties, low coefficient of friction, and good embedding properties, and can work stably for a long time without external lubrication; its interference fit ensures that the copper sleeve will not loosen or fall off under repeated stress. The fork joint 15 directly forms a sliding fit with the inner hole of the copper sleeve, making the entire rotation process smooth and without jamming, and maintaining a small fit clearance even after long-term use.

[0039] In one specific embodiment, the lead screw 24 in the take-up and release mechanism 4 is a trapezoidal threaded lead screw, and the lead screw 24 is connected to the connector seat 25 through a spherical joint bearing to compensate for the small angular deviation generated by the device body 3 during rotation. The open end face of the sliding plate 12 is provided with a positioning groove, and the top of the triangular bracket 26 is provided with a boss that matches the positioning groove.

[0040] In a specific application of this invention, when the device body 3 needs to be lowered from a vertical retracted state to a working angle, the operator rotates the handwheel of the retraction mechanism 4, driving the internal trapezoidal threaded screw 24 to extend axially. Trapezoidal threads, due to their large tooth angle, strong load-bearing capacity, and good self-locking performance, are particularly suitable for manually adjusted conditions requiring significant thrust. As the screw 24 slowly advances, its front end is not directly rigidly connected to the device body 3, but rather connected to the connector seat 25 via a spherical plain bearing. Because the actual motion trajectory of the device body 3 during rotation around the hinge axis 5 is affected by manufacturing tolerances, assembly clearances, and the adaptation requirements of the machine body's curved surface, it will inevitably produce slight angular deviations or non-ideal planar movements. If ordinary pins or rigid connectors are used, this deviation will cause the screw 24 to bear additional bending moments, leading to jamming, thread wear, or even structural deformation.

[0041] As the lead screw 24 continues to push, the device body 3 smoothly rotates to the predetermined tilt angle. At this time, the sliding plate 12 has been adjusted to the target height by the lifting slide 2, and the entire platform is in a cantilevered state. To prevent the platform from sliding down due to accidental loosening, vibration, or external impact of the screw jack 10, the auxiliary support 6 must be activated immediately. The operator flips the triangular bracket 26 outward around its bottom pivot pin 28, so that its top end is aligned with the open end face of the front end of the sliding plate 12. The end face has a pre-machined positioning groove, and the top of the triangular bracket 26 has a precisely matching boss. When the triangular bracket 26 is fully extended and pressed into place, the boss is embedded in the groove, forming a mechanical interlocking structure. At the same time, the structure transforms the original point contact or line contact support method into a surface-to-surface interlocking rigid support, improving shear resistance and overturning resistance. Since the extension and retraction mechanism 4 allows for minute angle adjustments through the spherical joint bearing, the front end position of the sliding plate 12 varies by millimeters under different height and angle combinations. However, the positioning groove takes this tolerance range into full consideration, and its size is slightly larger than that of the boss, which ensures reliable embedding and avoids failure to be positioned due to interference.

[0042] In one specific embodiment, the screw jack 10 is configured as a worm gear type manual lifting mechanism, with a handle-operated handwheel 13 at its input end. The handle-operated handwheel 13 is located on the outside of the support frame 1 in a position convenient for manual operation. When the device body 3 is in the retracted state, its planar frame forms a 90° angle with the ground, and at this time, the telescopic support rod 19 is completely retracted into the main structure 16, and the overall outline does not exceed the outer boundary of the support frame 1.

[0043] In practical applications of this invention, when the height of the work platform needs to be adjusted, the operator can directly access the handle-operated handwheel 13 located on the outside of the support frame 1 while standing on the ground. The handwheel is connected to a worm gear type manual lifting mechanism, whose internal transmission has a natural self-locking characteristic. That is, even if the platform is carrying the weight of personnel or tools, it cannot drive the worm gear to rotate in the opposite direction when there is no external driving force, thus ensuring that the sliding plate 12 can be reliably locked at any height position, eliminating the risk of accidental slippage. The operator only needs to rotate the handwheel at a constant speed to drive the worm gear to drive the turbine and output shaft to rise or fall smoothly, thereby pushing the sliding plate 12 fixed to it to move along the guide rail 7.

[0044] After completing the assembly work in the current area, if it is necessary to lift the aircraft parts out of the tooling as a whole, the entire lifting device must first be restored to its minimum occupancy state. At this time, the operator first turns the handwheel to lower the sliding plate 12 of the screw jack 10 to its lowest point of travel; at the same time, the device body 3 is slowly rotated upward through the retraction mechanism 4 until its planar frame is completely upright, forming a strict 90° angle with the ground. In this retracted posture, the device body 3 is close to the outer side of the support frame 1, and all auxiliary structures are simultaneously retracted: the telescopic support rods 19 on both sides are completely pushed into the main structure, the movable wooden boards have been removed or folded and stored in advance, and the overall shape is strictly controlled within the horizontal and vertical boundaries of the support frame 1, without any parts protruding outward.

[0045] By vertically retracting the main body 3 of the device and ensuring that all movable parts are embedded, the entire lifting structure, after being retracted, resembles the flat side plate of the support frame 1, completely avoiding the central hoisting channel. This not only avoids the tedious process of disassembling the platform but also shortens the tooling preparation cycle. Switching from "operating state" to "hoisting ready state" only requires a few minutes of manual operation, without the need for the intervention of lifting equipment or the disassembly of structural components.

[0046] In one specific embodiment, the method of using the variable-angle lifting device of the aircraft fuselage section includes the following steps: S1: Before hoisting the aircraft components, operate the ring handwheel 23 of the retraction mechanism 4 to retract the lead screw 24, which will drive the device body 3 to rotate upward around the hinge axis 5 to the retracted state perpendicular to the ground; at the same time, operate the handle of the screw jack 10 to lower the sliding plate 12 to the lowest position. S2: Vertically hoist the aircraft components into the assembly fixture and complete the positioning; S3: Reverse the operation of the ring handwheel 23 of the retraction mechanism 4 to extend the lead screw 24 and push the device body 3 to rotate downward around the hinge axis 5 to the predetermined working angle. S4: Operate the screw jack 10 to lift the sliding plate 12 to the target height, so that the working surface of the device body 3 is aligned with the current construction area; S5: Rotate the triangular bracket 26 of the auxiliary support 6 around the shaft pin 28 so that its top end abuts against the open end face of the sliding plate 12 and forms a rigid support. S6: Operators climb onto the main body 3 of the device via a dedicated work ladder to perform assembly work; S7: When it is necessary to switch to a higher construction area, the operator should leave, loosen the tripod 26, and repeat steps S4 to S6. S8: After assembly, first lower the sliding plate 12 to its lowest position, then operate the retraction mechanism 4 to restore the device body 3 to the retracted state perpendicular to the ground, and then vertically lift the aircraft component away from the tooling.

[0047] In specific applications of this invention, before the aircraft components (such as the cylindrical section composed of the lower wall panel, side wall panel, or upper wall panel) are installed in the tooling, the primary task is to create an unobstructed space for vertical hoisting. At this time, the operator first rotates the handwheel of the retraction mechanism 4, driving the lead screw 24 to retract, causing the device body 3 to slowly rotate upwards around the hinge axis 5 until its planar frame is completely flush with the outside of the support frame 1, forming a 90° vertical position. Simultaneously, another operator or the same operator rotates the handle of the manual lifting mechanism, lowering the carrying platform along with the sliding plate 12 to the lowest point of its travel. Although these two actions can be performed separately, in actual operation they are often completed quickly and continuously to ensure the entire machine retracts to its smallest outline in the shortest possible time. At this point, all movable parts (including the telescopic support rod 19 and the movable pedal) are embedded within the boundary of the support frame 1, without protruding any part, thus completely avoiding the hoisting path of the aircraft cylindrical section falling vertically from above and preventing any collision risks.

[0048] Once the aircraft components are smoothly lifted into the assembly fixture by the crane and precisely positioned and clamped, the deployment procedure of the work platform can be initiated. The operator rotates the handwheel in the opposite direction, causing the lead screw 24 to extend gradually, pushing the device body 3 to rotate downwards around the hinge axis 5. Because the hinge part uses wear-resistant copper sleeves in conjunction with spherical plain bearings, the rotation process remains smooth and without jamming even with minor assembly errors or changes in the fuselage curvature. The final stopping angle of the device body 3 is not a fixed value, but is dynamically set according to the circumferential position and tilt angle of the current construction area on the inner wall of the cylinder section. For example, the platform is nearly horizontal when near the top area, while it needs to be tilted 15°~30° when near the transition area of ​​the side wall to ensure that the operator's standing posture is natural, the line of sight is clear, and the arm working range is optimal.

[0049] After the initial angle is in place, the height adjustment stage begins. The operator continues to rotate the manual lifting handle, driving the worm gear mechanism to move the sliding plate 12 smoothly up along the high-precision guide rail 7. Since the guide rail 7 is rigidly connected to the support frame 1 reinforced steel plate through drilled holes, and the support frame 1 has oblique reinforcing ribs with full penetration welds at the four corners, the entire lifting process is free from shaking and swaying, and the platform height can be controlled within the millimeter range.

[0050] At this point, the safety locking procedure is immediately initiated: the operator flips the triangular bracket 26 of the auxiliary support 6 outward around the bottom pivot pin 28, so that the boss at its top is accurately embedded in the positioning groove at the front end of the sliding plate 12. Even if the worm gear experiences minor wear due to long-term use, or encounters sudden vibration, the triangular bracket 26 can still bear all static and dynamic loads, preventing the platform from accidentally sliding down.

[0051] After confirming the support is stable, operators climb onto the platform using a dedicated work ladder. If the work area exceeds the width of the main frame, the telescopic support rod 19 can be temporarily pulled out, wooden planks laid and locked to achieve lateral expansion. After completing the drilling, riveting, or inspection tasks in the current area, if it is necessary to move to a higher or more inclined position, the safety procedure of "evacuate first, then adjust" must be strictly followed: personnel descend from the platform, the triangular support 26 is released, and then the combined adjustment of height and angle is repeated (i.e., S4–S5 is executed again) to ensure that each new work position is repositioned and resupported, and to prevent the high-risk operation of "adjusting posture with personnel in tow".

[0052] After all assembly processes are completed, the reset phase begins. The operator first lowers the sliding plate 12 to its lowest position, then retracts the device body 3 to a vertical position. At this point, the entire structure returns to its initial clearance configuration, the central passage is completely unobstructed, and the crane then vertically lifts the assembled aircraft tube section, smoothly removing it from the tooling.

[0053] It should be noted that, in this document, relational terms such as "first" and "second" are used only to distinguish one entity or operation from another, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Furthermore, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus.

[0054] The present invention and its embodiments have been described above. This description is not restrictive, and the accompanying drawings are only one embodiment of the present invention; the actual structure is not limited thereto. In conclusion, if those skilled in the art are inspired by this description and design similar structures and embodiments without departing from the spirit of the invention, such designs should fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A variable-angle lifting device for an aircraft fuselage section, characterized in that, include: Support frame (1), the height of the support frame (1) is set according to the height limit position of the lifting slide (2), the front and inner sides of the support frame (1) are provided with welded and fixed reinforcing steel plates, and the bottom of the support frame (1) is provided with mounting holes for fixing to the tooling base or the ground by bolts. The lifting slide (2) includes two vertically parallel guide rails (7) and bolts fixed to the side reinforcing steel plate of the support frame (1), a sliding plate (12), a screw jack (10), and a box-shaped support (8); the box-shaped support (8) is bolted to the crossbeam of the support frame (1), the turbine seat (9) of the screw jack (10) is installed inside the box-shaped support (8), and its output end is fixed to the sliding plate (12) through a transmission joint (11); the sliding plate (12) is provided with sliders (14) on both sides, and the sliders (14) slide with the guide rails (7) to make the sliding plate (12) move up and down along the guide rails (7); The device body (3) is a planar frame structure, consisting of a main frame (16) and a detachable side frame (17), with two spaced ear connectors (20) on one side. The hinge shaft (5) has a diameter that matches the hole diameter of the ear plate joint (20) and the fork joint (15) on the lifting slide (2). The hinge shaft (5) passes through the ear plate joint (20) and forms a rotating pair with the fork joint (15). The hinge shaft (5) is provided with a pin hole perpendicular to the axis for inserting a cotter pin to prevent axial dislodgement. The retraction mechanism (4) includes a support (21) fixed on the sliding plate (12), a sleeve (22), an annular handwheel (23), a lead screw (24), and a connector seat (25) fixed to the frame of the device body (3); one end of the lead screw (24) is connected to the annular handwheel (23) and passes through the sleeve (22), and the other end is hinged to the connector seat (25). Rotating the annular handwheel (23) drives the lead screw (24) to extend and retract axially, thereby driving the device body (3) to rotate around the hinge axis (5); The auxiliary support (6) includes a support (27) fixed to the inner side of the support frame (1) column by bolts and a triangular bracket (26) that can rotate around the pivot pin (28). After the sliding plate (12) moves to the working position, the triangular bracket (26) can rotate to its top end abutting the open end face of the sliding plate (12) to form a rigid support.

2. The variable-angle lifting device for an aircraft fuselage section according to claim 1, characterized in that, The device body (3) has horizontally retractable telescopic support rods (19) on both sides. The telescopic support rods (19) are locked to the side frame of the main structure (16) by clamping screws (18). The top of the telescopic support rods (19) is provided with a support surface for laying movable wooden boards. The movable wooden boards are fixed to the telescopic support rods (19) by clamping screws (18).

3. The variable-angle lifting device for an aircraft fuselage section according to claim 1, characterized in that, The mounting surface of the guide rail (7) and the reinforcing steel plate of the support frame (1) are positioned and installed by means of drilled bolt holes.

4. The variable-angle lifting device for an aircraft fuselage section according to claim 1, characterized in that, The screw jack (10) is configured as a worm gear manual lifting mechanism, and its input end is provided with a handle handwheel (13). The handle handwheel (13) is located on the outside of the support frame (1) in a position that is convenient for manual operation.

5. The variable-angle lifting device for an aircraft fuselage section according to claim 1, characterized in that, The lug connector (20) and the fork connector (15) are provided with wear-resistant copper sleeves at the hinge points, and the copper sleeves are inserted into the hinge holes of the lug connector (20) with an interference fit.

6. The variable-angle lifting device for an aircraft fuselage section according to claim 1, characterized in that, The lead screw (24) in the take-up and take-down mechanism (4) is a trapezoidal threaded lead screw, and the lead screw (24) is connected to the connector seat (25) by a spherical joint bearing to compensate for the small angular deviation generated by the device body (3) during rotation.

7. The variable-angle lifting device for an aircraft fuselage section according to claim 1, characterized in that, The sliding plate (12) has a positioning groove on its open end face, and the top of the triangular bracket (26) has a boss that matches the positioning groove.

8. The variable-angle lifting device for an aircraft fuselage section according to claim 1, characterized in that, The support frame (1) has oblique reinforcing ribs at the four corners of its square frame structure, and the reinforcing ribs are connected to the main profile by full penetration welds.

9. The variable-angle lifting device for an aircraft fuselage section according to claim 1, characterized in that, When the device body (3) is in the retracted state, its planar frame forms a 90° angle with the ground, and at this time the telescopic support rod (19) is completely retracted into the main structure (16), and the overall outline does not exceed the outer boundary of the support frame (1).

10. A method of using a variable-angle lifting device for an aircraft fuselage section according to any one of claims 1-9, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: S1: Before hoisting the aircraft components, operate the ring handwheel (23) of the retraction mechanism (4) to retract the lead screw (24) and drive the device body (3) to rotate upward around the hinge axis (5) to the retracted state perpendicular to the ground; at the same time, operate the handle of the screw jack (10) to lower the sliding plate (12) to the lowest position. S2: Vertically hoist the aircraft components into the assembly fixture and complete the positioning; S3: Reverse the operation of the ring handwheel (23) of the retraction mechanism (4) to extend the lead screw (24) and push the device body (3) to rotate downward around the hinge axis (5) to the predetermined working angle; S4: Operate the screw jack (10) to lift the sliding plate (12) to the target height, so that the working surface of the device body (3) is aligned with the current construction area; S5: Rotate the triangular bracket (26) of the auxiliary support (6) around the pivot pin (28) so that its top end abuts against the open end face of the sliding plate (12) and forms a rigid support; S6: The operator climbs onto the main body of the device (3) via a special working ladder to carry out the assembly work; S7: When it is necessary to switch to a higher construction area, the operator should leave, release the tripod (26), and repeat steps S4 to S6; S8: After assembly, first lower the sliding plate (12) to the lowest position, then operate the retraction mechanism (4) to restore the device body (3) to the retracted state perpendicular to the ground, and then vertically lift the aircraft component away from the tooling.

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