Coaxial Hinge Line Tool for Precise Determinate Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Accurate alignment and positioning of piece part features are crucial for Determinate Assembly (DA) to avoid match-drilling, but minor variations in alignment and positioning of hinge pieces with a common hinge line pose challenges, leading to inefficiencies and safety issues during assembly.
Innovation Solution
A multi-part hinge line location tool with a first and second pin coupled in coaxial alignment, featuring shouldered hinge pins and a ball and socket joint, allowing translation and pivotal adjustment to ensure precise alignment and assembly without match-drilling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If traditional assembly methods are used without precise pre-alignment, then assembly flexibility is maintained, but match drilling is required increasing labor costs and cycle time
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment tool is divided into multiple independent pins (first pin, second pin, third pin) that can be individually adjusted and positioned. Each pin serves a specific function in establishing the common hinge line, allowing for modular assembly and adjustment without requiring a single complex fixture
Solution Approach 2:
The tool establishes the common hinge line axis before the actual assembly operation. By pre-positioning the pins along the desired hinge line and using the ball and socket joint to define the axis, the alignment is prepared in advance, eliminating the need for match drilling during final assembly
2Manufacturing precision
If hinge line components are rigidly fixed, then alignment precision is maintained, but adaptability to manufacturing variations is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The tool incorporates movable and adjustable elements including the ball and socket joint that allows the pins to be positioned dynamically. The pins can be adjusted along the hinge line axis and the ball and socket joint can be repositioned to accommodate variations in component locations while maintaining the common hinge line alignment
Solution Approach 2:
The tool allows for adjustment of the pin positions and the ball and socket joint location to accommodate different locational deviations. By changing the parameters of pin positions and joint locations, the tool adapts to manufacturing variations while maintaining precise hinge line alignment
3Ease of operation
If match drilling is performed during assembly, then alignment issues are resolved, but labor costs and cycle time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The common hinge line axis is established in advance using the pinned tooling system before assembly occurs. By pre-defining the hinge line position and orientation through the ball and socket joint and pins, the alignment is prepared beforehand, eliminating the need for time-consuming match drilling operations during assembly
Solution Approach 2:
The ball and socket joint acts as an intermediary element that transfers and maintains the hinge line alignment from the tooling pins to the hinge components being assembled. This intermediary mechanism ensures that the alignment is preserved throughout the assembly process without requiring additional alignment operations
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 tool enables precise alignment and assembly of hinge pieces, eliminating the need for match-drilling, reducing labor costs, cycle time, and workplace injuries, while maintaining precision and product compliance.
Implementation Method 1
The first and second pins are disposed within a ball and socket joint. The ball and socket joint enables pivotal adjustment of the common hinge line axis while maintaining the first and second pins co-axial to each other during adjustment of the common hinge line axis
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, apparatuses, and methods provide for a tool to support components on a common hinge line axis. The tool includes a first pin and a second pin coupled in coaxial alignment with each other, defining the common hinge line axis. A first shouldered hinge pin is slidably disposed on the first pin and a second shouldered hinge pin is slidably disposed on the second pin. The first and second shouldered hinge pins allow translation along the common hinge line axis of the supported components when coupled to the first and second shouldered hinge pins. The first and second pins are disposed within a ball and socket joint, which enables pivotal adjustment of the common hinge line axis while maintaining the first and second pins co-axial to each other during adjustment of the common hinge line axis, to aid fit and assembly of the supported components to a mating structure.