Multi-Fastener Alignment Tool for Aircraft Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
The installation of fasteners in complex structures, such as aircraft, is time-consuming and ergonomically challenging, often requiring sequential installation and posing risks of lost fasteners due to spatial constraints.
Innovation Solution
The development of fastener alignment tools with a gripping region and alignment tool body featuring fastener-receiving regions that correspond to predetermined fastening locations, allowing for simultaneous engagement and retention of multiple fasteners, facilitating efficient alignment and installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If sequential fastener installation is used, then installation precision is maintained, but installation time increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment tool allows fasteners to be pre-positioned and aligned at multiple locations before actual installation. The tool body with multiple alignment features enables technicians to prepare several fasteners simultaneously, then install them in sequence with maintained precision. This preliminary alignment action resolves the contradiction by separating the alignment phase from the installation phase, improving overall productivity without sacrificing precision.
2Reliability
If sequential fastener installation is used, then fastener control is maintained, but loss of time occurs due to searching for dropped fasteners
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment tool merges multiple fastener handling functions into a single integrated device. Fasteners are retained in the tool body during alignment and installation, eliminating the need to set them aside or search for them. This merging of functions maintains fastener control while preventing time loss associated with searching for dropped fasteners.
3Productivity
If multiple fasteners are handled simultaneously, then installation efficiency improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment tool is segmented into modular components: a tool body with multiple alignment features, each featuring a receptacle and retention mechanism. This segmentation allows the tool to handle multiple fasteners simultaneously through simple, repeatable alignment geometries rather than complex integrated mechanisms, thus improving efficiency without excessive complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Fastener alignment tools and methods of utilizing the same are disclosed herein. The fastener alignment tools are configured to operatively engage a plurality of fasteners with a corresponding plurality of fastening locations and include a gripping region and an alignment tool body. The alignment tool body defines a plurality of fastener-receiving regions. Each fastener-receiving region includes a fastener receptacle, which is configured to receive a corresponding fastener in a received orientation relative to the alignment tool body, and a fastener retention structure, which is configured to retain the corresponding fastener within the fastener-receiving region at a retained orientation relative to the alignment tool body. The methods include positioning each fastener of the plurality of fasteners within a corresponding fastener-receiving region, retaining each fastener within the corresponding fastener-receiving region, orienting the fastener alignment tool relative to the plurality of fastening locations, and simultaneously releasing each fastener.