Mobile Fixture Positioning for Aircraft Structure Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current manufacturing methods for structures like aircraft wings face difficulties due to their wedge-shaped design, which complicates transportation and assembly, often resulting in performance reduction and increased costs due to the need for large, expensive platforms to maintain orientation and alignment during assembly lines.
Innovation Solution
A mobile fixture system with a motorized base and support system that allows controlled movement and orientation of structures along X, Y, and Z axes, using a connector system to maintain desired orientations and adjust for surface irregularities, enabling coordinated movement and stress relief during transportation and assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a fixed assembly system with stationary support fixtures is used to maintain structure orientation and alignment, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase due to the need for large platforms and separate transportation systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by transforming the traditional static fixed assembly system into a mobile fixture system. The fixtures are mounted on mobile bases with motors that enable the entire assembly system to move dynamically along the manufacturing line, eliminating the need for large stationary platforms while maintaining precision through active positioning control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the transportation function and assembly support function into a single integrated mobile fixture system. The mobile bases simultaneously perform transportation of the structure and provide stable support for assembly operations, eliminating the need for separate transportation systems and large stationary platforms.
2Manufacturing precision
If large stationary platforms are used to support structures during assembly, then manufacturing precision is improved, but loss of time increases due to the complexity of setup and reconfiguration
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile fixtures can dynamically adjust their positions and orientations along the manufacturing line, allowing rapid reconfiguration for different assembly tasks without the time-consuming setup required by fixed platforms. The motors enable quick positioning while maintaining precision.
3Stability of the object's composition
If stationary support fixtures are used, then structure stability is improved, but ease of operation worsens due to limited mobility and repositioning capability
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile fixture system provides both stability during assembly operations and mobility for repositioning. The fixtures remain stable when supporting the structure during manufacturing operations, while the mobile bases enable easy movement to different locations along the assembly line when repositioning is required.
Data Source
AI summary
A mobile fixture configured to move a structure in a manufacturing environment may include a motorized base configured to move on a surface and a support system connected to the motorized base, the support system being configured to support the structure, the support system being configured to position the structure along at least one of an X-axis, a Y-axis, and a Z-axis, the support system being configured to position the structure about the Z-axis, and the support system being configured to provide free rotation of the structure about at least one of the X-axis and the Y-axis.