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US 11,229,982 B2Granted
Tooling fixtures and systems and methods of supporting a workpiece during manufacturing
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorDaniel J. McMillan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tooling fixture includes a tilt platform including an indexing point, defining an intersection of orthogonal axes, and a frame assembly coupled to the tilt platform. The frame assembly is configured to support rotational movement of the tilt platform about two of the orthogonal axes. A location of the indexing point is fixed relative to a reference frame during rotational movement of the tilt platform. The frame assembly allows access to the tilt platform from a direction opposite the frame.
Claims20
A tooling fixture for supporting a workpiece in an indexed position, the tooling fixture comprising:
- a tilt platform comprising:
- a work-support surface;
- and
- an indexing point that is located on the work-support surface at an intersection of orthogonal axes that extend through a center of the work-support surface;
- a frame assembly coupled to the tilt platform;
- and
- a brake assembly coupled to the frame assembly,
- wherein:
- the frame assembly supports rotational movement of the tilt platform about a first orthogonal axis and a second orthogonal axis of the orthogonal axes and is configured to enable access to the work-support surface from a direction that is opposite the frame assembly;
- the tilt platform rotates is configured to passively rotate relative to the frame assembly about the first orthogonal axis and the second orthogonal axis to an indexed orientation in response to engagement of the workpiece with the work-support surface from the direction that is opposite the frame assembly;
- a location of the indexing point relative to a reference frame is fixed during rotational movement of the tilt platform about either one of the first orthogonal axis and the second orthogonal axis;
- and
- the brake assembly locks the tilt platform in the indexed orientation to inhibit further rotational movement of the tilt platform about the first orthogonal axis and the second orthogonal axis.
10 more elements
A tooling system for supporting a workpiece during manufacturing, the tooling system comprising:
- a plurality of tooling fixtures, wherein at least one of the plurality of tooling fixtures comprises:
- a tilt platform comprising:
- a work-support surface;
- and
- an indexing point that is located on the work-support surface at an intersection of orthogonal axes that extend through a center of the work-support surface;
- a frame assembly coupled to the tilt platform;
- and
- a brake assembly coupled to the frame assembly;
- and
- a robotic manipulator that is moveable relative to the at least one of the plurality of tooling fixtures;
- wherein:
- the work-support surface is configured to support the workpiece;
- the frame assembly supports rotational movement of the tilt platform about a first orthogonal axis and a second orthogonal axis of the orthogonal axes and is configured to enable access to the work-support surface from a direction that is opposite the frame assembly;
- the tilt platform is configured to passively rotate relative to the frame assembly about the first orthogonal axis and the second orthogonal axis to an indexed orientation in response to engagement of the robotic manipulator or the workpiece held by the robotic manipulator with the work-support surface from the direction that is opposite the frame assembly;
- a location of the indexing point is fixed relative to a reference frame during rotational movement of the tilt platform about either one of the first orthogonal axis and the second orthogonal axis;
- and
- the brake assembly locks the tilt platform in the indexed orientation to inhibit further rotational movement of the tilt platform about the first orthogonal axis and the second orthogonal axis.
14 more elements
A method of supporting a workpiece during manufacturing, the method comprising steps of:
- locating a tooling fixture in a manufacturing environment, wherein the tooling fixture comprises:
- a tilt platform comprising:
- a work-support surface;
- and
- an indexing point that is located on the work-support surface at an intersection of orthogonal axes that extend through a center of the work-support surface;
- and
- a frame assembly coupled to the tilt platform and configured to support rotational movement of the tilt platform about a first orthogonal axis and a second orthogonal axis of the orthogonal axes;
- and
- a brake assembly coupled to the frame assembly and configured to inhibit rotational movement of the tilt platform about the first orthogonal axis and the second orthogonal axis
- locating the indexing point of the tilt platform at an indexed location relative to a reference frame of the manufacturing environment;
- applying a force to the work-support surface by a robotic manipulator from a direction opposite the frame assembly;
- passively rotationally moving the tilt platform about at least one of the first orthogonal axis and the second orthogonal axis of the orthogonal axes to an indexed orientation in response to the force applied by the robotic manipulator;
- maintaining the indexing point at the indexed location relative to the reference frame when rotationally moving the tilt platform about either one of the first orthogonal axis and the second orthogonal axis of the orthogonal axes;
- locking the tilt platform at the indexed orientation using the brake;
- and
- with the tilt platform in the indexed orientation, supporting the workpiece with the work-support surface.
13 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.