Hinged Drill Guide for Perpendicular Drilling on Curved Surfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional manual hand drilling systems lack the necessary structure to reliably and efficiently drill holes perpendicular to complex, curved surfaces in airframe assemblies, leading to high costs, labor intensity, and quality issues due to the need for custom drill blocks and inability to secure tools effectively.
Innovation Solution
A drill guide with a drill block body, legs, and hingedly connected wings that can be secured to a curved surface, allowing for precise alignment and attachment of a drill bit to form holes or bores perpendicular to the surface, using a bushing to accommodate different drill bit sizes and prevent rotation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional manual hand drilling systems are used on curved surfaces, then drilling can be performed, but the holes cannot be drilled perpendicular to the curved surface with required precision
Solution Approach 1:
The drill guide employs a curved base plate with a contoured bottom surface that matches the curvature of the workpiece surface. This curved geometry allows the guide to conform to and maintain perpendicular alignment with curved surfaces, resolving the contradiction between achieving precise perpendicular holes and maintaining simple device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a vertical dimension through the adjustable support leg mechanism. By allowing the support leg to extend vertically from the curved base plate and provide adjustable height, the system creates a third dimension for alignment, enabling precise perpendicular drilling on curved surfaces without increasing horizontal complexity.
2Manufacturing precision
If custom drill blocks are designed for each specific surface contour, then drilling precision can be achieved, but cost and manufacturing complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The drill guide is designed with a universal curved base plate and adjustable support leg mechanism that can accommodate multiple different workpiece contours and drilling locations. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for multiple custom drill blocks, reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining drilling accuracy across various applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The support leg incorporates an adjustable height mechanism with locking capability, allowing the drill guide to adapt dynamically to different workpiece geometries and drilling requirements. This adjustability provides the precision of a custom-fitted guide while maintaining the simplicity and reusability of a standardized tool.
3Manufacturing precision
If drill guides are not secured to the workpiece, then the guide structure remains simple, but the drill bit cannot maintain perpendicular alignment during drilling
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment mechanism is segmented into separate clamping elements that can independently secure the drill guide to the workpiece. This modular clamping system provides reliable perpendicular alignment during drilling while keeping the overall device structure simple and the attachment mechanism easy to operate.
Data Source
AI summary
A drill guide for drilling a bore into a workpiece having a curved surface. The drill guide comprises a drill block body having a first side portion and a second side portion opposed to the first side portion. The drill block body defines a throughbore between the first side portion and the second side portion. The throughbore extends along a throughbore axis. A first leg protrudes from the first side portion of the drill block body. A second leg protrudes from the second side portion of the drill block body. A first wing is hingedly connected to the first leg.