Hydrostatic Fuselage Cradle Assembly Without Pitching Motion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems for supporting fuselage components during aircraft assembly, such as those using whiffletree mechanisms, introduce unneeded pitching degrees of freedom and safety concerns due to uncertain edge loading conditions, posing risks to both the airframe and personnel.

Innovation Solution

A fuselage cradle support assembly that limits motion to vertical and horizontal movements, utilizing hydraulic actuators communicatively coupled to distribute loads evenly across multiple cradles, with a hydrostatic system for passive load distribution and a support structure to secure the cradles and actuators.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Force

If whiffletree mechanisms are used to support fuselage components, then load distribution is achieved, but unneeded pitching degrees of freedom are introduced and uncertain edge loading conditions occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveload distributionVSAvoidpitching degrees of freedom

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the whiffletree mechanism entirely and replaces it with independent hydraulic actuators directly coupled to each cradle. This extraction eliminates the unnecessary pitching degrees of freedom while maintaining load distribution capabilities through the hydraulic system, directly resolving the contradiction between achieving load distribution and avoiding complex pitching motion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs hydraulic actuators with fluid coupling between multiple cradles to achieve load distribution. The hydraulic system provides controlled vertical motion and load sharing without the mechanical complexity of whiffletree mechanisms, eliminating uncertain edge loading conditions while maintaining force distribution capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

2Force

If whiffletree mechanisms are used to support fuselage components, then load distribution is achieved, but safety concerns arise due to uncertain edge loading conditions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveload distributionVSAvoidsafety

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The hydraulic actuator system with fluid coupling provides predictable and controllable load distribution across multiple cradles. The hydraulic system's inherent flexibility and damping characteristics eliminate uncertain edge loading conditions, improving safety and reliability compared to rigid whiffletree mechanisms while maintaining load distribution capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the fundamental parameter of load distribution from mechanical linkage (whiffletree) to hydraulic pressure control. This parameter change enables precise control over load distribution while eliminating the uncertain edge loading conditions that compromise safety, as hydraulic systems provide smooth, controllable force application without rigid mechanical contacts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple degrees of freedom are allowed in cradle motion, then positioning flexibility is improved, but unpredictable loading conditions may damage the airframe

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning flexibilityVSAvoidedge loading conditions

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the motion control of each cradle into independent vertical and horizontal movements through track constraints. This segmentation allows each cradle to be positioned independently while preventing unwanted pitching and rolling motions, thereby maintaining positioning flexibility while eliminating unpredictable edge loading conditions that could damage the airframe.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The hydraulic actuators provide controlled vertical motion with inherent damping, preventing sudden or unpredictable loading. The system maintains positioning flexibility through independent cradle adjustment while the hydraulic fluid coupling ensures smooth, predictable load distribution that avoids harmful edge loading conditions on the airframe.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

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 enhances safety by eliminating unneeded pitching degrees of freedom, ensuring predictable load distribution, and preventing damage to the airframe, thereby improving worker safety and assembly precision.

Implementation Method 1

a hydrostatic system fluidly coupling the first hydraulic actuator and the second hydraulic actuator so that loads are distributed between the first cradle and the second cradle

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydraulic pressure: Hydraulic Press

Data Source

PatentUS10919746B2Flexible hydrostatically normalized cradle to support fuselage sections for assembly

Publication Date: 2021.02.16 THE BOEING CO

AI summary

A fuselage cradle support assembly, which can be used as part of a jacking system during aircraft manufacture, is described. The fuselage cradle support assembly can include an array of fuselage cradles. The fuselage cradle support assembly can be configured to limit motion of each fuselage cradle in a cradle array to only vertical and horizontal movements. The vertical movements can be generated using actuators, such as hydraulic actuators, which are communicatively coupled to one another to distribute loads within the cradle array.