Automated spar assemby tool

US5664311A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• The Boeing Company · US

Inventors

• David P. Banks · Lake Stevens, US
• James E. Brodhead · Everett, US
• James N. Buttrick · Seattle, US
• Paul E. Ffield · Marysville, US
• Darrell D. Jones · Mill Creek, US
• James C. Murphy · Burley, US
• John F. Richards · Woodinville, US
• Melvin R. Wiseman · Orting, US
• John W. Schooff · Janesville, US
• Steven C. Van Swearingen · Edmonds, US

Key dates

• Filing date: May 9, 1996
• Grant date: Sep 9, 1997
• Expiry date: May 9, 2016

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T408/93
• WIPO field: Machine tools
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

An automated assembly machine for fabricating large mechanical structures including a floor assembly jig for receiving and holding parts in a desired orientation, a pair of carriages, a first drive mechanism for independently driving the carriages longitudinally, a second drive mechanism for moving the carriages vertically, a tool tray mounted on the carriages, and a plurality of tools, including a drill, a hole diameter measurement probe, a nut runner, and an electromagnetic riveter, mounted on the tool tray for lateral movement toward and away from a workpiece clamp-up position. The tools are positioned at the workpiece clamp-up position by moving one of the carriages longitudinally along the floor assembly jig and raising the other carriage to elevate the tool tray to a desired elevation.