Aircraft Drilling Alignment Device with Vacuum Fixation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In the aircraft industry, accurately aligning hand-held drilling and reaming tools to precise tolerances in confined and obstructed areas is challenging, leading to potential misalignment and structural integrity issues with fastener holes, which can compromise the safety and functionality of aircraft structures.
Innovation Solution
A device with a base element, adjustable positioning element, and rotatable alignment element, featuring suction feet for fixation and pneumatically actuable components for precise alignment and locking, allowing for accurate positioning and alignment of drilling or reaming tools on aircraft structures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If hand-held drilling or reaming tools are used in confined areas, then accessibility to all locations is improved, but alignment precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an alignment device as an intermediary between the operator and the hand-held drilling/reaming tool. This device includes a base element that attaches to the aircraft structure, a positioning element with adjustable positioning members, and an alignment element with a guide bore. The intermediary device provides precise alignment through its guide bore while allowing the operator to work from accessible locations, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and manufacturing precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the purely manual mechanical alignment method with a hybrid system that incorporates pneumatic or hydraulic actuation. The positioning element includes actuators that can automatically adjust the positioning members to predetermined positions, reducing reliance on manual alignment skills and improving consistency. This substitution of manual mechanical adjustment with automated actuation helps maintain precision while improving ease of operation.
2Device complexity
If hand-held tools are used for rework, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability of hole geometry deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment device serves as a reliable intermediary that guides the hand-held tool to ensure consistent hole geometry. The guide bore in the alignment element provides a precise mechanical constraint that ensures the drilling or reaming axis remains perpendicular to the aircraft skin. This intermediary mechanism reliability compensates for the inherent unreliability of manual hand-held tool operation, maintaining hole roundness and geometry without requiring complex tooling.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates adjustable positioning members that can be set to specific parameters (positions, angles, depths) corresponding to the fastener hole locations. These parameters are predetermined and can be quickly adjusted by the operator. By allowing parameter changes in the positioning system rather than requiring complex custom tooling for each location, the patent maintains reliability of hole geometry while keeping the device relatively simple and adaptable.
3Manufacturing precision
If precise alignment is achieved through manual adjustment, then alignment precision is improved, but time consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment device incorporates pre-configured positioning members and adjustment mechanisms that have been prepared in advance. The positioning members can be quickly indexed to predetermined positions without requiring time-consuming manual measurements or calculations. The device is designed so that the alignment geometry is already established, and the operator only needs to make simple adjustments, thus achieving precise alignment rapidly and reducing time consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamic adjustment mechanisms that allow rapid repositioning of the alignment device to different fastener hole locations. The positioning element can be quickly moved and locked into new positions, and the alignment element can be adjusted on the fly. This dynamic capability enables the operator to maintain high alignment precision while minimizing the time spent repositioning and readjusting between holes, thereby reducing overall time loss.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device enables quick and accurate alignment of drilling and reaming tools, ensuring precise tolerances and maintaining the structural integrity of aircraft components, thereby enhancing the quality of reworked holes and ensuring aircraft safety and functionality.
Implementation Method 1
The mounting units may utilise vacuum cups, which when activated, will frictionally engage the aircraft skin
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments generally relate to an alignment device to assist in drilling or reaming an opening in a structure. The device comprises: a base element, the base element having at least one first fixation element to allow fixation of the device relative to the structure; a positioning element coupled to the base element, wherein a position of the positioning element relative to the base element is adjustable; an alignment element mounted to the positioning element and rotatable in at least two dimensions to allow precise alignment for a drilling or reaming tool with a drilling or reaming site on the structure; at least one second fixation element to allow fixation of the positioning element relative to the base element; and at least one third fixation element to allow fixation of the alignment element relative to the positioning element.