Apparatus for positioning tooling
US5477597A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 14, 1993 |
| Grant date | Dec 26, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 14, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T409/308512
- WIPO fieldMachine tools
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for positioning tooling with respect to a curvilinear workpiece which is curved in a first direction extending along a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the workpiece and which is curved in a second direction extending along a plane to the workpiece longitudinal axis, the degree of curvature in the first direction being greater than the degree of curvature in the second direction. An illustrative example is automatic drilling, inserting and upsetting one or two piece fasteners such as exterior skin rivets on an airplane fuselage. Inner and outer positioning systems carry or support inner and outer tooling, respectively, which engage the workpiece from opposite sides thereof during tooling operations thereon. Each of the inner and outer positioning systems move the respective tooling through a large number of axes, for example six axes of movement provided by the outer positioning system and seven axes of movement provided by the inner positioning system. Movements of the inner and outer positioning systems are controlled and co-ordinated by an adaptive, master-slave control system. A lateral trasfer s…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.