A computer-aided connector placement system

Abstract

The invention relates to a digital model (M) that is analysed and / or designed in a virtual environment by the manufacturer and creates a three-dimensional virtual model, at least one first piece (2) that is located on the digital model, at least one second piece (3) that is positioned opposite to the first piece (2), a program (4) that allows the three-dimensional digital model (M) to be created in a digital environment by the manufacturer, a database (5) in which the design information and features of the digital models (M) are stored, more than one connector (6) that are used to combine the first piece (2) and the second piece (3) and are located in the solid model information database (5), at least one surface (7) on which the connectors (6) located on the digital model will be placed, at least one main point (8) that is created on the surface (7) by the manufacturer through the program (4), and at least one processor (9) that allows the program (5) to operate, the digital model (M) to be created and the adjustments to be made by the manufacturer.

Description

[0001] A COMPUTER-AIDED CONNECTOR PLACEMENT SYSTEM

[0002] This invention relates to a computer-aided connector placement system that enables the creation and placement of connectors used on digital models created in a virtual environment.

[0003] Many digital models are created in a virtual environment by the manufacturer and / or the user. If the created digital models are made for a comprehensive product, more than one digital model is created in the program. The connection of the digital models created in the program to each other is made with a connector. The connectors used are employed many times in the program, especially if there is an aircraft or a large number of digital models that need to be combined. The storage space occupied by the digital model made in the program in the computer memory increases due to a lot connectors that need to be used. In the case of joining each piece in the digital model, connectors of different sizes are used.

[0004] In the European patent application document numbered EP1923761 A2 in the state of the art, a method applied by the computer to place the connectors is mentioned. The points where the connectors will be placed on the three-dimensional model are defined. The connectors are placed at the specified locations. A break point on the component cluster is defined using a point defined from the cluster of points to create a location for the connector.

[0005] A computer-aided connector placement system developed with this invention provides the creation of a shell in the geometric form of the connectors on at least one point specified in the digital model by using the axis information from the database of the connectors planned to be used in the connection of the pieces on the digital model.

[0006] Another aim of this invention is to provide automatic placement of the shells created as the geometric form of the connectors used in the connection of the pieces created on the digital model.

[0007] A computer-aided connector placement system, which is realised to achieve the aim of the invention and defined in the first claim and the claims dependent on this claim, comprises a digital model that is analysed and / or designed by the manufacturer in a virtual environment and creates a three-dimensional virtual model. The digital model comprises a first piece designed by the manufacturer and at least a second piece positioned in a way that will contact and be opposite to the first piece. The invention comprises a software program that is used in the creation of the digital model and enables the creation of a two-dimensional or three-dimensional digital model. A database in which the digital models obtained by the manufacturer through past experiences are stored or in which the digital model information foreseen to be used in the future is included is used. There are more than one connector in the database used in the combination of the first piece and the second piece and in the solid model information. The digital model comprises at least one surface on which the connectors will be placed. The manufacturer and / or the personnel using the program can place a main point at any location in the design area on the program. The manufacturer can preferably place a point at any desired location on the piece while designing the digital model. At least one main point is created on the surface by the manufacturer through the program. At least one processor enables the manufacturer to run the program, create the digital model and make adjustments.

[0008] A computer-aided connector placement system, which is the subject of the invention, comprises a processor that enables the operation of computer and design analysis programs. The processor takes the connector x, y and z coordinate axis information and technical features of the connector such as length and diameter in the database, and allows the creation of a shell, which is the geometric visual of the connector, on the surface by overlapping at least one axis of the connector with the main point specified by the manufacturer on the program.

[0009] In one embodiment of the invention, the computer-aided connector placement system comprises at least one additional point positioned by the manufacturer on the digital model in a way that there is a distance between them and the main point. The invention comprises a processor that enables the creation of the connector geometry as a shell by taking the virtual coordinate axis information of the connector from the database and overlapping at least one axis on the additional point and the main point. Preferably, the main point is positioned on the surface of the first piece, while the additional point is positioned on the surface of the second piece that does not touch the first piece.

[0010] In one embodiment of the invention, the computer-aided connector placement system comprises at least one line drawn between the main point and the additional point by means of the program. The line is located so that it coincides with the main point and the additional point. The invention comprises a processor that allows the connector geometry to be created as a shell by placing the axis along which the connector extends from the connector axis data received from the database on the line.

[0011] In one embodiment of the invention, the computer-aided connector placement system comprises a connector head that is formed in a monolithic appearance by the manufacturer with the information received from the database to correspond to the area of the shell on the main point.

[0012] In one embodiment of the invention, the computer-aided connector placement system comprises a connector nut that is formed by taking technical measurements such as diameter and thickness from the database to the area corresponding to the additional point of the shell. The connector nut contacts the surface of the second piece and ensures that the first and second pieces that are located between the main point and the additional point are compressed.

[0013] In one embodiment of the invention, the computer-aided connector placement system comprises more than one opening on the first piece and / or the second piece created in the virtual environment. The line is created in a way that it will pass through the centre of the opening. In this way, at least one axis of the connector is overlapped and the connector geometry is created as a shell inside the opening by the processor.

[0014] In one embodiment of the invention, the computer-aided connector placement system comprises a processor that allows drawing lines of different lengths to the openings in pieces with different thicknesses from the digital model. Additional points are positioned opposite more than one main point on different surfaces of the piece with a distance between them. By combining the main point and the additional point, shells with the same line lengths can be placed on different surfaces with a single command from multiple lines of different lengths.

[0015] In one embodiment of the invention, the computer-aided connector placement system comprises a processor that provides access to the connector shells grouped from the command tree and access to the shells created as connectors in the same group with a single command, allowing axial movements on the program and displaying information predefined by the manufacturer on the shell. In one embodiment of the invention, the computer-aided connector placement system comprises a processor that allows the geometric shells of the connector to be displayed as a three-dimensional digital model within the program.

[0016] In one embodiment of the invention, the computer-aided connector placement system comprises a processor that allows the autonomous creation of the connector geometry as a shell with the three-dimensional technical information of the connector processed into the database.

[0017] In one embodiment of the invention, the computer-aided connector placement system comprises a first piece and a second piece used in aircraft.

[0018] The computer aided connector placement system implemented to achieve the aim of this invention is shown in the attached figures, and of these figures;

[0019] Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a computer-aided connector placement system.

[0020] Figure 2 is a perspective view of the digital model.

[0021] Figure 3 is a front view of the connector.

[0022] Figure 4 is a schematic view of a computer-aided connector placement system.

[0023] The parts in the figures are numbered one by one and the equivalents of these numbers are given below.

[0024] 1. A computer-aided connector placement system

[0025] 2. First piece

[0026] 3. Second piece

[0027] 4. Program

[0028] 5. Database

[0029] 6. Connector

[0030] 601 Connector head

[0031] 602 Connector nut

[0032] 7. Surface

[0033] 8. Main point

[0034] 9. Processor

[0035] 10-Shell 11. Additional point

[0036] 12. Line

[0037] 13. Opening

[0038] 14. Tree

[0039] (M) Digital model

[0040] The computer-aided connector placement system comprises a digital model (M) that is analysed and / or designed in a virtual environment by the manufacturer and creates a three-dimensional virtual model, at least one first piece (2) that is located on the digital model, at least one second piece (3) that is positioned opposite to the first piece (2), a program (4) that allows the three-dimensional digital model (M) to be created in a digital environment by the manufacturer, a database (5) in which the design information and features of the digital models (M) are stored, more than one connector (6) that are used to combine the first piece (2) and the second piece (3) and are located in the solid model information database (5), at least one surface (7) on which the connectors (6) located on the digital model will be placed, at least one main point (8) that is created on the surface (7) by the manufacturer through the program (4), and at least one processor (9) that allows the program (5) to operate, the digital model (M) to be created and the adjustments to be made by the manufacturer.

[0041] The computer-aided connector placement system (1 ) that is the subject of the invention comprises at least one shell (10) where the virtual coordinate axis information of the connector (6) is taken from the database (5) by the processor (9) and the geometry of the connector (6) is created on the surface (7) by making at least one axis of the connector (6) coincide with the main point (8).

[0042] A program (4) is used by the manufacturer to digitally model physical products in a virtual environment. A first piece (2) and a second piece (3) in the digital model (M) are modelled. The manufacturer processes the technical production information of digital models (M) such as the connector (6) created or planned to be created in a database. The manufacturer adds a main point to a surface that is located on the first piece and / or the second piece (3) in the digital model (M). At least one processor (9) enables the manufacturer to run the program (5), create the digital model (M) and make adjustments. In this way, the creation of a three-dimensional digital model of the physical pieces in a virtual environment is provided. (Figure - 1 )

[0043] A shell (10) is created on the main point by the processor (9). The manufacturer takes the virtual coordinate axis information of the connector (6) from the database (5) via the processor (9) and creates the shell (10) form of the connector (6) on the main point (8). The shell (10) is created by the processor (9) in the program (4) on the main point (8) in the dimensions and sizes specified in the database (5). The size of the connector (6) in the program (4) and / or processor (9) memory is reduced by creating the shell

[0044] (10). In this way, the processor can run multiple digital models faster. (Figure - 1 , Figure - 4)

[0045] In the application of the invention, the computer-aided connector placement system (1 ) comprises at least one additional point (11 ) that is positioned at a distance from the main point (8) created on the digital model by the manufacturer through the program (4), and a processor (9) that provides the creation of the connector (6) geometry as a shell (10) by taking the virtual coordinate axis information of the connector (6) from the database (5) and overlapping at least one axis on the additional point (11 ) and the main point (8). The manufacturer can obtain the shell (10) by placing the additional point

[0046] (11 ) and the main point (8) on the digital model (M) and overlapping the additional point (11 ) and the main point (8) with the connector (6) information the data of which is in the database (5). In this way, the shell (10) is created between the main point (8) and the additional point (11 ) determined by the manufacturer, regardless of the axis direction. In an embodiment of the invention, the computer-aided connector placement system (1 ) comprises a processor (9) that provides the creation of the connector (6) geometry as a shell (10) by placing the axis along which the connector (6) extends on the line (12) by taking the virtual coordinate axis information of the connector (6) from the database (5) and creating the geometry of the connector (6) as a shell (10). The manufacturer who makes the design and / or uses the program (4) places the additional point (11 ) and the main point (8) on the digital model (M) and by means of the line (12) obtained by connecting these two points, the direction of the shell (10) and the length of the axis on which it will extend are almost completely created. The line (12) is made to coincide with the axis of the connector (6) that passes through its centre. In an embodiment of the invention, the computer-aided connector placement system (1 ) comprises at least one connector head (601 ) which is formed integrally to the area corresponding to the main point (8) of the shell (10) by taking the virtual coordinate axis information from the database (5). By means of the processor (9), after creating the bolt as a shell (10), the connector head (601 ) is created in the area corresponding to the main point (8) of the shell (10) in a way that it will be a single piece in the desired dimensions. (Figure - 3)

[0047] In an embodiment of the invention, the computer-aided connector placement system (1 ) comprises at least one connector nut (602) that is formed in a way that it will be almost completely placed in the area where the virtual coordinate axis information is taken from the database (5) and corresponds to the attachment point (11 ) of the shell (10) and that it will have almost a partial opening. After the processor (9) creates a bolt as a shell (10), it ensures that the connector nut (60) is created in the area of the shell (10) that corresponds to the additional point (11 ) in the desired dimensions. By means of the connector nut (602), it contacts the surface of the second piece (3) and ensures the compression of the first piece (2) and the second piece (3) that are located between the main point (8) and the additional point (11 ).

[0048] In one embodiment of the invention, the computer-aided connector placement system (1 ) comprises multiple openings (13) into which the connectors (6) are placed on the surface (7) where the connectors (6) will be placed, and a processor (9) that enables the connector geometry to be created as a shell (10) within the opening (13) by matching the created line with at least one axis of the connector. The first piece (2) and the second piece (3) are combined by means of the multiple openings (13) required for the placement of the shells (10) in the digital model (M). (Figure - 2)

[0049] In one embodiment of the invention, the computer-aided connector placement system (1 ) comprises a processor (9) that allows shells (10) of different lengths to be placed on surfaces (7) with different thicknesses with a single command and their calculations to be made. By means of the lines (12) created on surfaces (7) with different thicknesses, the processor (9) provides the creation of shells (10) by obtaining the appropriate connector (6) information from the database (5) according to the length of each line (12). In one embodiment of the invention, the computer-aided connector placement system (1 ) comprises a tree (14) comprising commands symbolising each step made on the digital model (M) in the program (5), and a processor (9) that allows each line (12) to be visible and allows shells (10) created with lines (12) of different lengths to be grouped within the tree (14). The three-dimensional designs made on the digital model (M) appear as solid models on the tree (14). Each shell (10) that is created on the digital model (M) is placed in the tree (14) by grouping them instead of placing them one by one. Shells (10) with the same length, size or dimensions are placed in the same group.

[0050] In an embodiment of the invention, the computer-aided connector placement system (1 ) comprises a processor (9) that provides access to the connector (6) shells (10) grouped on the tree (14) and provides access to the shells (10) created as connectors (6) in the same group with a single command, and enables the display of axial movements and information previously defined by the manufacturer on the shell (10) on the program (5). Information or definitions can be added to solid models on the program (5) and the display of definitions on the shell is also provided. It is provided that the shells (10) grouped in the tree (14) are accessed with a single command and rotation, translation and similar axial movements are made on the shell.

[0051] In one embodiment of the invention, the computer-aided connector placement system (1 ) comprises a processor (9) that allows the geometric shells (10) of the connector (6) to be displayed as a three-dimensional digital model (M) within the program (4). In this way, the shells (10) are placed appropriately by making calculations on the three- dimensional digital model (M) on the program (4).

[0052] In one embodiment of the invention, the computer-aided connector placement system (1 ) comprises a processor (9) that allows the autonomous creation of the connector (6) geometry as a shell (10) with the three-dimensional technical information of the connector processed into the database. By providing access through an interface to be created by the manufacturer, data is received autonomously from the database (5) and the shells (10) are created on the digital model (M).

[0053] In one embodiment of the invention, the computer-aided connector placement system (1 ) comprises a first piece (2) and a second piece (3) used in aircraft. In this way, the computer-aided connector placement system (1 ) can be effectively used in aerodynamic areas in aircraft and / or in places where it will be mounted on the aircraft.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A computer-aided connector placement system (1 ) comprising a digital model (M) that is analysed and / or designed in a virtual environment by the manufacturer and creates a three-dimensional virtual model, at least one first piece (2) that is located on the digital model, at least one second piece (3) that is positioned opposite to the first piece (2), a program (4) that allows the three-dimensional digital model (M) to be created in a digital environment by the manufacturer, a database (5) in which the design information and features of the digital models (M) are stored, more than one connector (6) that are used to combine the first piece (2) and the second piece (3) and are located in the solid model information database (5), at least one surface (7) on which the connectors (6) located on the digital model will be placed, at least one main point (8) that is created on the surface (7) by the manufacturer through the program (4), and at least one processor (9) that allows the program (5) to operate, the digital model (M) to be created and the adjustments to be made by the manufacturer, characterised by at least one shell (10) where the virtual coordinate axis information of the connector (6) is taken from the database (5) by the processor (9) and the geometry of the connector (6) is created on the surface (7) by making at least one axis of the connector (6) coincide with the main point (8).

2. A computer-aided connector placement system (1 ) according to Claim 1 , characterised by at least one additional point (11 ) that is positioned at a distance from the main point (8) created on the digital model by the manufacturer through the program (4) on the digital model (M), and a processor (9) that provides the creation of the connector (6) geometry as a shell (10) by taking the virtual coordinate axis information of the connector (6) from the database (5) and overlapping at least one axis on the additional point (11 ) and the main point (8).

3. A computer-aided connector placement system (1 ) according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, characterised by a processor (9) that provides the creation of the connector (6) geometry as a shell (10) by placing the axis along which the connector (6) extends on the line (12) by taking the virtual coordinate axis information of the connector (6)from the database (5) and creating the geometry of the connector (6) as a shell(10).

4. A computer-aided connector placement system (1 ) according to Claim 2 or Claim 3, characterised by at least one connector head (601 ) which is formed integrally to the area corresponding to the main point (8) of the shell (10) by taking the virtual coordinate axis information from the database (5).

5. A computer-aided connector placement system (1 ) according to Claim 2 or Claim 3, characterised by at least one connector nut (602) that is formed in a way that it will be almost completely placed in the area where the virtual coordinate axis information is taken from the database (5) and corresponds to the attachment point(11 ) of the shell (10) and that it will have almost a partial opening.

6. A computer-aided connector placement system (1 ) according to any of the previous claims, characterised by multiple openings (13) into which the connectors (6) are placed on the surface (7) where the connectors (6) will be placed, and a processor (9) that enables the connector geometry to be created as a shell (10) within the opening (13) by matching the created line with at least one axis of the connector.

7. A computer-aided connector placement system (1 ) according to Claim 1 , characterised by a processor (9) that allows shells (10) of different lengths to be placed on surfaces (7) with different thicknesses with a single command and their calculations to be made.

8. A computer-aided connector placement system (1 ) according to any of the previous claims, characterised by a tree (14) comprising commands symbolising each step made on the digital model (M) in the program (5), and a processor (9) that allows each line (12) to be visible and allows shells (10) created with lines (12) of different lengths to be grouped within the tree (14).

9. A computer-aided connector placement system (1 ) according to any of the previous claims, characterised by a processor (8) that provides access to the connector (6) shells (10) grouped on the tree (14) and provides access to the shells (10) created as connectors (6) in the same group with a single command, and enables thedisplay of axial movements and information previously defined by the manufacturer on the shell (10) on the program (5).

10. A computer-aided connector placement system (1 ) according to any of the previous claims, characterised by the processor (9) that allows the geometric shells (10) of the connector (6) to be displayed as a three-dimensional digital model (M) within the program (5).

11. A computer-aided connector placement system (1 ) according to any of the previous claims, characterised by the processor (9) that autonomously creates the connector (6) geometry as a shell (10) with the three-dimensional technical information of the connector (6) processed into the database.

12. A computer-aided connector placement system (1 ) according to any of the previous claims, characterised by a first piece (2) and a second piece (3) used in aircraft.

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