A hole drilling system

Abstract

Hole drilling system (1) comprising a body (2) on an air vehicle; at least two parts (3) to be assembled together by a manufacturer, which are located opposite and in contact with each other on the body (2); at least one connector (4) used to join the parts (3); at least one drilling plate (5) placed on the part (3) and providing guidance for the holes to be drilled in order to assemble the parts (3) to each other; a photogrammetry device (6) that enables 3D scanning of the parts (3) in a digital environment, wherein the drilling plate (5) is removably attached to the parts (3) by the user; the photogrammetry device (6) subjects the drilling plate (5) and the parts (3) to 3D scanning together; a model (7) is created in a virtual environment and obtained as a result of the scanning, thereby allowing detection of the positions of the holes to be drilled on the parts (3), when the assembly takes place.

Description

[0001] A HOLE DRILLING SYSTEM

[0002] This invention relates to a hole drilling system used in an assembly operation of an air vehicle.

[0003] One of the most important operations of assembly activities on air vehicle platforms is the precision drilling process. Drilling processes in the aviation industry are directly affected by factors such as aerodynamic requirements, complex requirements on the affected geometric elements, and the use of high-strength materials. Hole drilling operations are performed for the structural elements to be joined gradually or all at once, using special equipment and tools, before the connector is installed. Serious errors are encountered when drilling holes in difficult-to-access areas or when trying to determine the hole axis correctly. These errors can lead to long assembly times and costly assembly scraps.

[0004] US11132479B1, which is included in the known-state of the art, discloses methods, systems and devices for assembling components. Real-time virtual assembly tools comprise automatically adding the location information of the fitting, hole, rivet to the program from the CAD and / or scan of the component.

[0005] Thanks to a hole drilling system according to the present invention, errors that may occur before a hole drilling process in the air vehicle, are prevented.

[0006] Another object of the present invention is to prevent the disadvantages of long assembly periods and high-cost assembly scraps in drilling processes of air vehicle assembly operations.

[0007] Another object of the present invention is to perform air vehicle hole drilling operations quickly, error-free and effectively.

[0008] The hole drilling system realized to achieve the object of the invention, which is defined in the first claim and other claims dependent thereon, comprises a body on an air vehicle; at least two parts to be assembled together by a manufacturer. The parts are located opposite each other on the body, in contact with each other. The parts are assembled to each other using connectors. In order for the parts to be assembled together, a drill plate is placed on the part on the body. The holes to be drilled on the parts are guided by the drilling plate. Three-dimensional scanning of the parts is carried out in a virtual environment with a photogrammetry device.

[0009] The hole drilling system according to the invention comprises the drilling plate that is removably attached to the parts by a user. The drilling plate and all the parts to be assembled together are subjected to 3D scanning by the photogrammetry device. As a result of the scanning, a single integrated three-dimensional model is obtained in the virtual environment. By means of the model, positions and coordinates of the holes to be drilled in the parts can be determined when the assembly is completed. In this way, holes that may be faulty, such as holes leading to the corner point or the radius area in the lower part, are prevented before drilling. As a result, costly assembly errors and long-period assembly processes are prevented in the aviation industry.

[0010] In an embodiment of the invention, the hole drilling system comprises a plurality of reference holes provided on the part in order to determine a position for the placement of drilling plate on one of the parts to be assembled together. Reference holes may exist concretely on one of the parts and provided to another part by means of the drilling plate. In another embodiment, the reference holes may not be concretely drilled, indicating only the location. The drilling plate is aligned with the reference holes so as to be placed on the part.

[0011] In an embodiment of the invention, the hole drilling system comprises the model that indicates in which positions, coordinates and directions the connectors will be when inserted through the holes in the virtual environment. Connectors are provided on the holes on the drilling plate, by means of the model in the virtual environment. It is determined which points the connectors will fall on the parts. Thus, the suitability of the assembly is ensured and possible errors are prevented.

[0012] In an embodiment of the invention, the hole drilling system comprises at least one cleco fastener for removable attachment of the parts to the drilling plate. The cleco fastener is used in manufacturing and repair of an air vehicle to temporarily attach parts to each other and hold them together before permanent assembly. The parts and the drilling plate are held together by means of the cleco fasteners to create a three-dimensional scan and model before assembly. Thus, distortion of the parts is prevented while maintaining the desired alignment. Cleco fasteners are preferably pins and nuts.

[0013] In an embodiment of the invention, the hole drilling system comprises the cleco fasteners temporarily fastening the drilling plate and the parts together, which are overlapped by the user. The parts and the drilling plate are scanned together by a photogrammetry device. The scanned parts and the drilling plate are overlapped. After the overlapping process, a point cloud is created. The point cloud creates a digital twin, which is a single computer- aided design (CAD) model. Position and / or coordinates are determined on the model for the holes to be drilled on the part contacting the drilling plate. The coordinates where the holes detected on the part contacting the drilling plate will correspond on the other part are determined by assigning a perpendicular vector from the determined part to the other part. If the holes correspond to the radius region or corner areas, or if they correspond to other sections that may cause undesirable drilling process errors, the determined position of the hole is changed. Thanks to the model, faulty holes can be detected before drilling, so as to change their positions.

[0014] In an embodiment of the invention, the hole drilling system comprises a database containing a plurality of drilling plate models provided in different locations, with different numbers of holes. Different drilling plates can be transferred onto the model in the virtual environment. Therefore, the most suitable hole positions can be determined to perform the hole drilling process required for assembly.

[0015] In an embodiment of the invention, the hole drilling system comprises a control unit that matches the drilling plate and parts by means of the database. The control unit determines tolerance values of the holes and positions of the connectors on the parts. In this way, the ideal drilling plate is determined so as to be used in the process.

[0016] In an embodiment of the invention, the hole drilling system comprises reference holes drilled by an automatic drilling unit. Thus, error-free, efficient and faster drilling processes are realized. In an embodiment of the invention, the hole drilling system comprises a camera that enables the user to capture a predetermined number of images of the parts temporarily connected to each other by cleco fasteners, and of the drilling plate placed on the parts. The images are transferred by the control unit to a software to create a three-dimensional model. In the created model, positions of the mounting holes are determined using a photogrammetry device.

[0017] The hole drilling system realized to achieve the object of the present invention is illustrated in the attached drawings, in which:

[0018] Figure 1 is a perspective view of the hole drilling system.

[0019] Figure 2 is a flow chart of the hole drilling system in an embodiment of the invention. Figure 3 is a flow chart of the hole drilling system in an embodiment of the invention.

[0020] All the parts illustrated in figures are individually assigned a reference numeral and the corresponding terms of these numbers are listed below:

[0021] 1. Hole drilling system

[0022] 2. Body

[0023] 3. Part

[0024] 4. Connector

[0025] 5. Drilling plate

[0026] 6. Photogrammetry device

[0027] 7. Model

[0028] 8. Reference holes

[0029] 9. Cleco fastener

[0030] 10. Database

[0031] 11. Control unit

[0032] 12. Camera

[0033] The hole drilling system (1) comprises a body (2) on an air vehicle; at least two parts (3) to be assembled together by a manufacturer, which are located opposite and in contact with each other on the body (2); at least one connector (4) used to join the parts (3); at least one drilling plate (5) placed on the part (3) and providing guidance for the holes to be drilled in order to assemble the parts (3) to each other; a photogrammetry device (6) that enables 3D scanning of the parts (3) in a digital environment (Figure 1).

[0034] The hole drilling system (1) according to the invention comprises the drilling plate (5) removably attached to the parts (3) by the user; the photogrammetry device (6) by which the drilling plate (5) and the parts (3) are subjected to 3D scanning together; a model (7) created in a virtual environment and obtained as a result of the scanning, thereby allowing detection of the positions of the holes to be drilled on the parts (3), when the assembly takes place.

[0035] The hole drilling system (1) comprises a body (2) on an air vehicle. There are at least two parts (3) to be assembled by the manufacturer. The parts (3) are located opposite and in contact with each other on the body (2). The parts (3) are connected to each other via the connector (4). At least one drilling plate (5) is placed on one of the parts (3). The drilling plate (5) is used to determine the holes to be drilled so that the parts (3) can be assembled to each other. The parts (3) are scanned in a three-dimensional digital environment by means of a photogrammetry device (6).

[0036] The hole drilling system (1) according to the invention comprises the drilling plate (5) removably attached to the parts (3) by the user. The drilling plate (5) and the parts (3) are subjected to 3D scanning by the photogrammetry device (6). As a result of the scanning, a three-dimensional model (7) is created in the virtual environment. When the assembly is carried out with the model (7), the positions of the holes to be drilled on the parts (3) are determined. Thus, positions of possible unwanted and / or faulty holes are changed before they are drilled.

[0037] In an embodiment of the invention, the hole drilling system (1) comprises a plurality of reference holes (8) located on the parts (3) to determine a position for the placement of the drilling plate (5); the drilling plate (5) which is placed to be aligned with the reference holes (8). Reference holes (8) are determined on one of the parts (3) and used to determine a position of the drilling plate (5) to be placed on that part (3). The drilling plate (5) is aligned with the reference holes (8) and placed on the part (3) (Figure 1). In an embodiment of the invention, the hole drilling system (1) comprises the model (7) indicating position and direction of the connector on the parts (4) by placing, in virtual environment, a connector (4) onto at least one hole on the drilling plate (5). It comprises the model (7) that indicates where the connectors (4) will be in terms of position, coordinates and direction when placed in the holes in the virtual environment. In the model (7), connectors (4) are placed onto the holes on the drilling plate (5). Correspondent positions of the connectors (4) on the parts (3) are determined. Thus, incorrect hole drilling is prevented during assembly.

[0038] In an embodiment of the invention, the hole drilling system (1) comprises at least one cleco fastener (9) that enables removable fastening of the parts (3) with the drilling plate (5). Cleco fastener (9) is used to temporarily fasten the parts (3) to each other. Before the assembly, 3D scanning is performed to create the model (7). The parts (3) and the drilling plate (5) are held together by means of the cleco fasteners (9). Thus, alignment is achieved. Cleco fasteners (9) are preferably pins and nuts.

[0039] In an embodiment of the invention, the hole drilling system (1) comprises a photogrammetry device (6) which allows: fastening the parts (3) overlapped by the user with the drilling plate (5) attached to the parts (3), by means of the cleco fastener (9) (101); scanning the fastened parts (3) and the drilling plate (5) together by the photogrammetry device (6) (102); creating a point cloud by overlapping the scanned parts (3) and the drilling plate (5) and creating a single computer-aided design (CAD) model (7), detecting, in the created model, the positions of the holes to be drilled on the part (3) in contact with the drilling plate (5) (103), by assigning a vertical vector, determining the coordinates where the holes detected on the part (3) contacting the drilling plate (5) will correspond on another part (3) (104); changing possible faulty hole positions (105) (Figure 2).

[0040] In an embodiment of the invention, the hole drilling system (1) comprises a database (10) containing a plurality of drilling plate (5) models (7) with different hole combinations. There is a database (10) containing a plurality of drilling plate (5) models (7) with different hole distributions. Different drilling plates (5) can be placed on the model (7) in the digital environment. Thus, ideal hole positions can be determined to perform the hole drilling process required for assembly.

[0041] In an embodiment of the invention, the hole drilling system (1) comprises a control unit (11) which matches the drilling plate (5) and the parts (3) through the database (10), determines the drilling tolerance values, and determines the positions where the connectors (4) will correspond to the parts (3), thereby determining the ideal drilling plate (5). The control unit (11) determines the tolerance values of the holes and the positions of the connectors (4) in the parts (3). In this way, the ideal drilling plate is determined to be used in the process (Figure 1).

[0042] In an embodiment of the invention, the hole drilling system (1) comprises reference holes (8) drilled by an automatic drilling unit.

[0043] In an embodiment of the invention, the hole drilling system (1) comprises the control unit (11) which allows: capturing images of the parts (3) and the drilling plate (5) that are temporarily fastened to each other by cleco fasteners (9), by means of a camera (12) that captures a number of images predetermined by the user (201); creating a three-dimensional model (7) via a software of the control unit (11) by using the images (202), determining the positions of the mounting holes on the created model (7) by the photogrammetry device (6) (203) (Figure 3).

Claims

CLAIMS1. A hole drilling system (1) comprising a body (2) on an air vehicle; at least two parts (3) to be assembled together by a manufacturer, which are located opposite and in contact with each other on the body (2); at least one connector (4) used to join the parts (3); at least one drilling plate (5) placed on the part (3) and providing guidance for the holes to be drilled in order to assemble the parts (3) to each other; a photogrammetry device (6) that enables 3D scanning of the parts (3) in a digital environment, characterized by the drilling plate (5) removably attached to the parts (3) by the user; the photogrammetry device (6) by which the drilling plate (5) and the parts (3) are subjected to 3D scanning together; a model (7) created in a virtual environment and obtained as a result of the scanning, thereby allowing detection of the positions of the holes to be drilled on the parts (3), when the assembly takes place.

2. A hole drilling system (1) according to claim 1 , characterized by a plurality of reference holes (8) located on the parts (3) to determine a position for the placement of the drilling plate (5); the drilling plate (5) which is placed to be aligned with the reference holes (8).

3. A hole drilling system (1) according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized by the model (7) indicating position and direction of the connector on the parts (4) by placing, in virtual environment, a connector (4) onto at least one hole on the drilling plate (5).

4. A hole drilling system (1) according to any of the above claims, characterized by at least one cleco fastener (9) that enables removable fastening of the parts (3) with the drilling plate (5).

5. A hole drilling system (1) according to claim 4, characterized by the photogrammetry device (6) which allows: fastening the parts (3) overlapped by the user with the drilling plate (5) attached to the parts (3), by means of the cleco fastener (9) (101);scanning the fastened parts (3) and the drilling plate (5) together by the photogrammetry device (6) (102); creating a point cloud by overlapping the scanned parts (3) and the drilling plate (5), and creating a single computer-aided design (CAD) model (7), detecting, in the created model, the positions of the holes to be drilled on the part (3) in contact with the drilling plate (5) (103), by assigning a vertical vector, determining the coordinates where the holes detected on the part (3) contacting the drilling plate (5) will correspond on another part (3) (104); changing possible faulty hole positions (105).

6. A hole drilling system (1) according to any of the above claims, characterized by a database (10) containing a plurality of drilling plate (5) models (7) with different hole combinations.

7. A hole drilling system (1) according to claim 6, characterized by a control unit (11) which matches the drilling plate (5) and the parts (3) through the database (10), determines the drilling tolerance values, and determines the positions where the connectors (4) will correspond to the parts (3), thereby determining the ideal drilling plate (5).

8. A hole drilling system (1) according to any of the claims 2 to 7, characterized by reference holes (8) drilled by an automatic drilling unit.

9. A hole drilling system (1) according to claim 7 or claim 8, characterized by the control unit (11) which allows: capturing images of the parts (3) and the drilling plate (5) that are temporarily fastened to each other by cleco fasteners (9), by means of a camera (12) that captures a number of images predetermined by the user (201); creating a three-dimensional model (7) via a software of the control unit (11) by using the images (202), determining the positions of the mounting holes on the created model (7) by the photogrammetry device (6) (203).

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