Aircraft Fuselage Section Assembly with Adjustable Mounting Supports
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing aircraft fuselage assembly methods require dedicated production units for different families of aircraft, leading to underutilization of production units and inefficiencies due to the need for multiple units and specific tools for varying aircraft sizes and configurations.
Innovation Solution
A method and production unit that allows the assembly of fuselage sections from upper and lower parts, using interchangeable tools and mounting supports with adjustable interfaces, enabling the same production unit to handle different aircraft families by positioning and joining panels along specific paths, and utilizing force sensors and adjustable links for precise panel alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If dedicated production units are used for different aircraft families, then assembly precision and reliability are improved, but device complexity and loss of time increase due to multiple production units
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting support is designed as a universal device that can accommodate multiple aircraft families through adjustable interfaces and positioning systems. The support structure includes adjustable arms, clamps, and fixtures that can be reconfigured for different fuselage sizes and panel configurations, eliminating the need for dedicated production units for each aircraft family while maintaining assembly precision
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting support incorporates dynamically adjustable components including movable arms, telescopic positioning mechanisms, and reconfigurable fixtures. These dynamic elements allow the support structure to adapt its geometry and configuration for different aircraft types, enabling a single production unit to handle multiple aircraft families with varying dimensions and assembly requirements
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple dedicated production units are used for different aircraft families, then manufacturing precision is maintained, but productivity decreases due to underutilization of production units
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting support serves multiple aircraft families simultaneously through its universal design, allowing a single production unit to produce different aircraft types. The adjustable interfaces and positioning systems maintain manufacturing precision across various configurations while maximizing production unit utilization by eliminating idle capacity associated with dedicated units
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting support enables parameter changes in its geometry, positioning, and configuration to accommodate different aircraft families. By adjusting arm lengths, fixture positions, and support heights, the system maintains manufacturing precision for various fuselage sizes and panel arrangements while improving overall productivity through continuous operation of a single production unit
3Adaptability or versatility
If interchangeable tools and adjustable interfaces are used, then adaptability improves for different aircraft families, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting support is segmented into modular components including adjustable arms, independent positioning systems, and interchangeable fixtures. Each module can be independently adjusted or replaced to accommodate different aircraft configurations, providing adaptability while managing complexity through modular design that allows systematic reconfiguration
Data Source
Figure 1~4
Figure 5~7
Figure 8~11D
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for assembling a fuselage section (10) which consists of producing a lower part of the section (34) from at least two panels (18.1 to 18.3) and an upper part of the section (36) from at least two panels (18.4 to 18.6), and then assembling the lower and upper parts (34, 36) to obtain the fuselage section (10). The invention also relates to tooling comprising a lower (54) or upper (56) mounting support, and a production unit for implementing said method.