Crawler Tool System for Aircraft Fuselage Assembly
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for assembling aircraft parts, such as attaching skin panels to frames, are labor-intensive, time-consuming, and often require bulky robotic equipment or tracks that necessitate additional holes and increased installation/removal efforts, limiting operational efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A mobile tool system comprising a crawler with a tool system and movement system that can attach to elongate frames using rollers and motors, allowing for efficient movement and operation along curved or straight frames without the need for additional tracks, and can perform tasks like fastener installation, drilling, or painting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If tracks are used to move the crawler, then the crawler can perform operations along the fuselage, but additional holes must be drilled to attach the tracks and more time is required for installation and removal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the track system from the overall solution, extracting only the essential function of movement along the fuselage. The crawler achieves this by directly attaching to existing structural elements (frames, ribs, skin panels) without requiring a separate track infrastructure, thereby eliminating the time-consuming installation and removal of tracks while maintaining the ability to move along the fuselage.
Solution Approach 2:
The crawler is designed to perform multiple functions: it can attach to different structural elements (frames, ribs, skin panels), move along the fuselage, and perform various operations (drilling, fastener installation). This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate track systems and multiple specialized devices, reducing overall installation time and complexity.
2Extent of automation
If bulky robotic equipment is used to perform assembly operations, then automated operations can be performed, but the equipment size reduces the ability to perform operations in confined spaces
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic system is segmented into a compact crawler platform with integrated tools. Instead of using a large centralized robotic arm, the system divides functionality into modular components mounted on a small mobile platform that can navigate confined spaces within the fuselage while maintaining automated operation capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from static bulky robotic equipment to a dynamic mobile crawler platform. The crawler can move autonomously along the fuselage, positioning compact tooling precisely where needed, thereby achieving automated operations in confined spaces without requiring large equipment footprints.
3Adaptability or versatility
If human operators perform assembly operations, then flexibility and adaptability are maintained, but the process becomes labor intensive and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The crawler system is designed to perform operations autonomously without continuous human intervention. The automated tools on the crawler can drill holes, install fasteners, and move to different positions independently, maintaining the adaptability of human operators while dramatically increasing assembly speed through automated execution.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary positioning and setup actions automatically. The crawler navigates to predetermined locations along the fuselage and prepares operation sites before actual assembly tasks, enabling high-speed automated operations while maintaining flexibility for different assembly configurations.
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
This solution reduces the need for bulky equipment, minimizes the number of holes required, and streamlines the assembly process by enabling precise and efficient operations directly on the aircraft fuselage, thereby enhancing productivity and reducing operational time and effort.
Implementation Method 1
a number of rollers configured to contact the elongate frame and a number of motors configured to turn at least one of the number of rollers such that the movement system and the tool system move along the elongate frame
Implementation Method 2
a number of motors configured to turn at least one of the number of rollers such that the movement system and the tool system move along the elongate frame
Implementation Method 3
a clamping system configured to attach the locomotion system to the elongate frame
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A method and apparatus for performing an operation on a structure. In one illustrative embodiment, an apparatus comprises a tool system (122) and a movement system (124). The tool system is configured to perform an operation at a location (130) on a structure (118). The movement system is configured to move the tool system along an elongate frame (116) on the structure to the location.