Adjustable Work Stand for Precise Heavy Component Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft maintenance and construction often rely on overhead cranes, which create hazardous work environments due to unpredictable swinging of heavy components and require specialized facilities, leading to delays when such spaces are limited.
Innovation Solution
The development of work stands with a moveable base, vertical support member, and a support platform that allows independent rotational movement and adjustable extension, enabling precise positioning of mechanical components or tools without the need for overhead cranes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If overhead cranes are used to lift and position aircraft components, then components can be suspended and positioned, but the work environment becomes hazardous due to unpredictable swinging and potential strikes on workers
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of suspending components from above using overhead cranes, the invention positions components from below using work stands. The work stand includes a base that contacts the floor and a support platform that extends upward to support the component, completely inverting the traditional overhead support approach and eliminating the hazards of suspended loads
Solution Approach 2:
The work stand replicates the positioning functionality of overhead cranes but through a different mechanical approach. Rather than suspending loads, the work stand uses a base-support platform structure that provides stable support from below, achieving the same component positioning goal without the associated hazards
2Measurement precision
If overhead cranes are used for component positioning, then precise positioning can be achieved, but specialized facilities with overhead cranes are required, leading to delays when such spaces are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The work stand is designed to be universally applicable in various facility types without requiring specialized overhead crane infrastructure. The base can be positioned on standard floors, and the support platform can accommodate different component sizes and weights, enabling the same equipment to perform positioning operations in diverse locations including hangars, assembly facilities, and field locations
Solution Approach 2:
The work stand incorporates adjustable and movable components including the base position, support platform height, and arm configurations. This dynamic adjustability allows the work stand to adapt to different positioning requirements and facility constraints, eliminating the need for fixed overhead crane installations and enabling operations in spaces without such infrastructure
3Force
If conventional overhead cranes are used, then heavy components can be lifted, but the equipment complexity and facility requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The work stand system is segmented into independent modular components including the base, vertical support members, support platform, and positioning arms. Each component can be independently positioned and adjusted, eliminating the need for a single complex overhead crane system and reducing overall facility infrastructure requirements while maintaining the capability to handle heavy components
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for supporting and/or positioning mechanical components or tools, the methods and system employing work stands that have a moveable base, a vertical support member disposed on the moveable base, a support platform attached to an upper end of the vertical support member via a support coupling that permits independent rotational movement of the support platform, a plurality of extendable arms that are each pivotally coupled at a lower end to the vertical support member and pivotally coupled at an upper end to the support platform, and each extendable arm can be independently and controllably extended and retracted. The work stands further include a controller for controllably extending and retracting the extendable arms to position the support platform in a desired orientation, and a user input coupled to the controller and configured so that a user employing the controller can position the support platform in the desired orientation.