Metal working – Method of mechanical manufacture – Structural member making
Patent
1997-09-25
2000-02-29
Bryant, David P.
Metal working
Method of mechanical manufacture
Structural member making
29429, 29722, 414589, B23P 1500
Patent
active
060293527
ABSTRACT:
A process and apparatus for fabricating wing panels from a plurality of elongated wing planks attached together with splice stringers along adjacent longitudinal edges and stiffened with stringers parallel to each other and to the splice stringers includes a fixture having a series of headers on which the planks can be assembled and held at the desired curvature with attachment devices for holding the planks as assembled on the fixture. An elevator supports the fixture in an elongated pit for precise adjustment in a generally vertical direction of the fixture and the assembled wing planks. A stringer positioning device is mounted along one longitudinal edge of the pit for positioning a stringer loaded thereon against the assembled wing planks accurately in accordance with the wing design. A downwardly opening yoke having two arms depending from a top cross member is suspended over the pit on a support structure. Tools are mounted on opposite arms of the yoke for performing clamp-up, drilling and fastener installation functions to fasten the stringers to the assembled wing panel planks on the fixture. A saddle mechanism is mounted on rails running longitudinally of the pit for moving the support structure longitudinally of the pit to position the yoke and the tools mounted thereon sequentially at fastener positions spaced along the stringer. A control system generates signals to an actuator for moving the elevator in a generally vertical direction to position the assembled wing panel planks at an elevation corresponding to a next stringer to be attached to the wing planks, and also controls operation of the support structure saddle and the tools on the yoke. The invention can also be used to fabricate individual planks from wing plate and stringers for assembly into complete wing panels on another apparatus.
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Bryant David P.
Butler Marc W.
Neary J. Michael
The Boeing Company
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