Modular Tool Holder Sliding Rail System for Aircraft Fuselage
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Solution Overview
Problem
The construction of aircraft fuselages using riveted panels requires complex and bulky tools for drilling, rivet placement, and checking, which complicates their use and maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A modular tool holder with a sliding rail system, driven by a drive system and featuring guide elements with grooved wheels, actuation systems, and safety mechanisms, allowing for easy assembly and maintenance, and facilitating the movement of tools along curved surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional bulky tools are used for drilling, rivet placement, and checking, then the tools can perform the required operations, but the tools become complex and difficult to use and maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The tool holder is divided into modular components including a support module with fixing elements, a carriage with tool mounting, guide elements with grooved wheels, and actuation systems. Each component can be independently assembled, used, and maintained, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining operational reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The tool holder design integrates multiple functions into a single device: the support module provides fixing capabilities, the carriage enables tool movement and positioning, the guide elements ensure proper alignment, and the actuation systems control operations. This multi-functional integration reduces the need for multiple separate tools
2Stability of the object's composition
If fixed tool holders are used, then tools are stable during operation, but the tool holders cannot be easily adjusted or maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The tool holder incorporates movable components including a carriage that can translate along the assembly bar, actuation systems with movable arms and links, and guide elements with movable grooved wheels. These dynamic elements allow the tool holder to adapt its configuration for different operations while maintaining stability during use, and enable easy access for maintenance by reversing the actuation sequence
3Ease of manufacture
If simple tool holders are used, then the design is easy to manufacture, but the tool holders cannot move smoothly along curved surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The guide elements incorporate grooved wheels with curved grooves that match the curvature of the rails. This allows the tool holder to follow curved paths along the workpiece surface smoothly. The grooved wheels rotate to accommodate the curvature, enabling the tool to move along both straight and curved trajectories while maintaining contact with the surface
Data Source
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Figure 3A
AI summary
The invention relates to a tool holder (100) intended to be fixed to a surface (52) of a workpiece (50) and to carry a tool, said tool holder (100) comprising: - a first rail (102a) and a second rail (102b) parallel and each comprising first fixing elements (112) configured to ensure the fixing of said rail (102a-b) to the surface (52), - a leading slide (104) comprising first guide elements which have a guide position in which they are configured to ensure a sliding connection between the leading slide (104) and the first rail (102a), a drive system configured to ensure the movement of the leading slide (104) along the first rail (102a), and a first fixing system,- a driven slide (106) comprising second guide elements which have a guide position in which they are configured to provide a sliding connection between the driven slide (106) and the second rail (102b) and a second fastening system, - an assembly bar (108) carrying a first complementary fastening system intended to cooperate with the first fastening system so as to form a removable fastening between them, a second complementary fastening system intended to cooperate with the second fastening system so as to form a removable fastening between them, and a carriage (801) having a first assembly system, and a movement system on which the carriage is fixed and which is configured to move said carriage along the assembly bar, and - a support module (110) comprising second fastening elements ensuring the tool is fixed,and a second assembly system designed to cooperate with the first assembly system so as to form a removable connection between them.