Indexing Pins Align Structural Openings Without Fastener Sleeves

Solution Overview

Problem

In aerospace manufacturing, aligning machined openings in structural bodies for fastener installation is challenging, leading to potential damage and requiring the use of weight-increasing fastener sleeves to prevent misalignment issues.

Innovation Solution

The use of indexing pins with a central axis, threaded portion, stem, cylindrical surface, tapered surface, and flange to align and clamp structural bodies, eliminating the need for fastener sleeves by ensuring precise alignment of openings.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If fastener sleeves are used to prevent misalignment damage, then reliability of fastener installation is improved, but weight of the structure increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereliability of fastener installationVSAvoidweight of the structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The indexing pin performs preliminary alignment of the openings in structural bodies before fastener installation. By establishing precise alignment in advance through the indexing pin mechanism, the need for protective fastener sleeves is eliminated, thereby reducing weight while maintaining installation reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The indexing pin acts as an intermediary tool between the structural bodies and fasteners. It provides a mediating alignment function that ensures openings are properly positioned before fastener insertion, replacing the need for fastener sleeves as the protective intermediary

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If fastener sleeves are used to prevent misalignment damage, then reliability of fastener installation is improved, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereliability of fastener installationVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The indexing pin performs preliminary alignment of the openings in structural bodies before fastener installation. By establishing precise alignment in advance through the indexing pin mechanism, the need for protective fastener sleeves is eliminated, thereby reducing weight while maintaining installation reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The indexing pin acts as an intermediary tool between the structural bodies and fasteners. It provides a mediating alignment function that ensures openings are properly positioned before fastener insertion, replacing the need for fastener sleeves as the protective intermediary

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Device complexity

If traditional alignment methods are used, then device complexity is reduced, but manufacturing precision of opening alignment deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice complexityVSAvoidprecision of opening alignment

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The indexing pin is divided into functional segments: a stem for insertion, a flange for positioning, and a indexed portion with alignment features. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function while maintaining overall simplicity of the device

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The indexing pin is designed to be self-aligning through its geometric features. The flange and indexed portions automatically guide the pin into the correct position within the openings, enabling the device to perform its own alignment function without external assistance while maintaining high precision

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS10711815B2Indexing pins, indexing clamps, and methods of aligning a first body and a second body of a structure

Publication Date: 2020.07.14 THE BOEING CO

AI summary

A method of aligning a first body and a second body of a structure comprises orienting the first body so that first openings extend vertically and inserting indexing pins into the first openings. The method comprises orienting the second body so that the second openings extend vertically and aligning the second openings with the indexing pins. The method comprises moving the first body and the second body toward each other, while: allowing the first body and the second body to move relative to each other and applying a downward force to the indexing pins. The method comprises moving the first body and the second body toward each other until a first-body second surface contacts a second-body first surface, while applying the downward force to the indexing pins.