Sliding adjustable toggle clamp

A method for aligning panels while manufacturing an aircraft, the method comprising:

• bringing together a first skin panel and a second skin panel;
• setting a height of a pair of rails above a surface of the first skin panel via:
• connecting an indexing device to the pair of rails via sliding projections extending from opposing ends of a cross beam of the indexing device, respectively, into a groove within each rail of the pair of rails;
• and
• setting a height above the surface of the first skin panel for the pair of rails via:
• rotating the cross beam until an indexing foot at an end of a leg extending from the cross beam contacts the surface of the first skin panel at a first desired location, such that the leg stands normal to the surface of the first skin panel;
• pivoting the leg away from the first skin panel and sliding the indexing device along a length of the pair of rails;
• and
• rotating the cross beam until the indexing foot contacts the surface of the first skin panel at a second desired location, such that the leg stands normal to the surface of the first skin panel;
• attaching the pair of rails to the surface of the first skin panel after setting the height of the rails above the first skin panel;
• applying a backing force to the second skin panel;
• and
• pivoting a housing until a pressure foot connected to the housing applies a pressure against the surface of the first skin panel against the backing force, the housing, located between the pair of rails, comprising a first end and a second end opposite each other and being pivotally and slidably connected to the grooves in the pair of rails between facing inside surfaces of the pair of rails such that the housing is pivotable about a first axis defined between the facing inside surfaces of the pair of rails and through the housing.

A method for manufacturing an aircraft, the method comprising:

• using a tool that comprises:
• a pair of rails that comprise a first rail and a second rail, such that a length of the first rail extends substantially parallel to a length of the second rail, and the pair of rails attach to an inside surface of a first skin panel;
• the first rail comprising a substantially flat surface;
• the second rail comprising an opposing substantially flat surface that faces, and is substantially parallel to, the substantially flat surface of the first rail;
• a first groove in the first rail, the first groove extending along, and substantially parallel to, the length of the first rail;
• a second groove in the second rail, the second groove extending along, and substantially parallel to, the length of the second rail;
• and
• a housing pivotally and slidably connected to the pair of rails, the housing located between the pair of rails, the housing comprises:
• a first end, a second end opposite to the first end, and a peripheral surface extending between the first end and the second end;
• the first end comprises a first planar surface and a first hole configured to receive a rod;
• the second end comprises a second planar surface and a second hole configured to receive a bolt, the first planar surface being substantially parallel to the second planar surface, such that the first hole aligns, along a central axis substantially perpendicular to the first planar surface and the second planar surface, with the second hole, the substantially flat surface of the first rail separated from the opposing substantially flat surface of the second rail by a distance greater than a length of the second planar surface;
• and
• first and second indexing protrusions slidably connected to the first groove and the second groove, respectively, such that the housing pivots about a first axis that passes:
• through the first groove and the second groove, substantially perpendicular to the length of the first rail;
• through the housing;
• and
• slides along the first groove and the second groove;
• the rod comprising a third end and a fourth end, the third end attached to and extending from the first end of the housing;
• and
• a pressure foot attached to the fourth end of the rod, such that the pressure foot comprises a curved portion integrally formed with a flat flange, such that the curved portion curves into the flat flange, and wherein the pressure foot is configured to apply pressure along a portion of the inside surface of the first skin panel responsive to a central axis of the housing being substantially perpendicular to the inside surface of the first skin panel;
• bringing together the first skin panel and a second skin panel;
• attaching the pair of rails to the inside surface of the first skin panel;
• applying a backing force to the second skin panel;
• and
• pivoting the housing until the pressure foot applies a pressure against the inside surface of the first skin panel against the backing force.