Universal Jig for Airship Frame Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for constructing airships are inefficient, costly, and pose safety risks due to the need for on-site assembly, which requires workers to climb and handle heavy components.
Innovation Solution
The use of preconfigured joints and universal jigs allows for the assembly of airship frames on the ground, utilizing detachable wheels and adjustable rollercoaster jigs to rotate the frames during assembly, enabling safer and faster construction of airships with adaptable configurations for various sizes and shapes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional on-site assembly methods are used for airship construction, then structural integrity can be maintained, but construction safety deteriorates due to workers climbing and handling heavy components
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of assembling the airship frame in its final vertical position (which requires workers to climb), the patent inverts the process by assembling the mainframe horizontally on the ground first, then erecting it to the vertical position. This reversal of assembly sequence eliminates the safety hazard of workers climbing during construction while maintaining structural integrity through controlled ground-level assembly operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-assembling the mainframe structure on the ground before erection. Components are prepared and joined in advance in a controlled horizontal position, allowing workers to assemble without climbing. The pre-assembled mainframe is then erected as a complete unit, ensuring structural integrity is established before the aircraft enters service.
2Reliability
If traditional on-site assembly methods are used, then structural integrity can be maintained, but construction speed deteriorates due to complex assembly procedures
Solution Approach 1:
By pre-assembling the mainframe on the ground before erection, the patent enables parallel preparation of components and reduces on-site assembly time. The horizontal assembly position allows for easier access and more efficient joining operations, increasing construction speed while maintaining structural integrity through controlled assembly procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
Inverting the assembly sequence to horizontal-first-then-vertical allows for more efficient assembly operations on the ground where equipment and materials are more accessible. This reversal eliminates the time-consuming operations of assembling in difficult-to-reach elevated positions while ensuring structural integrity is established during the controlled ground assembly phase.
3Manufacturing precision
If custom jigs are used for each mainframe size and shape, then manufacturing precision can be maintained, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs universal jigs that can accommodate multiple mainframe sizes and configurations through adjustable components. Rather than requiring a dedicated custom jig for each aircraft type, the universal jig system maintains manufacturing precision by allowing reconfiguration for different mainframe geometries, thereby reducing device complexity and eliminating the need for multiple specialized jigs.
Solution Approach 2:
The universal jig system utilizes adjustable parameters such as positioning locations, support heights, and alignment features that can be modified to match different mainframe sizes and shapes. This parameter adjustability enables the same jig to achieve manufacturing precision for various configurations without requiring complex custom designs for each case.
4Manufacturing precision
If custom jigs are used for each mainframe configuration, then manufacturing precision can be maintained, but construction cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
By using universal jigs that serve multiple purposes across different aircraft configurations, the patent reduces the total number of jigs required and eliminates the costs associated with designing, manufacturing, and maintaining multiple custom jigs. The universal jig maintains manufacturing precision through its adjustable features, thereby reducing construction cost while preserving quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The ability to adjust jig parameters for different mainframe configurations eliminates the need for expensive custom tooling for each aircraft type. This parameter flexibility allows a single jig investment to serve multiple production needs, significantly reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining the precision required for various mainframe sizes and shapes.
Data Source
AI summary
A jig for constructing a mainframe of an airship structure, including multiple tracks configured in a radial pattern, each track including rails that are configured to be parallel to each other, multiple front carts for securing inner portions of the mainframe corresponding to an inner circumference of the mainframe, each front cart configured to be positionally adjustable along one of the tracks, and multiple back carts for securing outer portions of the mainframe corresponding to an outer circumference of the mainframe, each back cart configured to be positionally adjustable along one of the tracks.