Support pin assembly, support system, and method for the same

A support system for full size determinant assembly of an aircraft structure, the support system comprising:

• an assembly jig;
• at least one part of the aircraft structure for the full size determinant assembly, the at least one part positioned on, and supported by, the assembly jig;
• and
• one or more support pin assemblies coupled to the assembly jig and to the at least one part, each support pin assembly comprising:
• a clevis mounted to the assembly jig, the clevis having a clevis body with a first clevis lug and a second clevis lug;
• a first bushing disposed within the first clevis lug, and a second bushing disposed within the second clevis lug;
• a pin slideably disposed within the first bushing and within the second bushing, the pin comprising:
• a head end and a tail end;
• a shoulder portion at least partially disposed within the first bushing, the shoulder portion having a first end, a second end, and a pin groove formed circumferentially on an exterior portion of the shoulder portion;
• and
• a part support portion extending from the shoulder portion, and being at least partially disposed within the second bushing and inserted through a hole in the at least one part of the aircraft structure;
• a sleeve bushing slideably disposed over the part support portion and having a sleeve bushing first end engaging and clamping a portion of the at least one part against the second end of the shoulder portion;
• a retainer element coupled to the part support portion and retaining the sleeve bushing to the part support portion, the retainer element causing the sleeve bushing to clamp the portion of the at least one part against the second end of the shoulder portion;
• and
• a gauge assembly having a pin groove engagement portion coupled to the pin groove on the shoulder portion,
• wherein each of the one or more support pin assemblies allows for a lateral movement of the pin and the at least one part of the aircraft structure, to enable the full size determinant assembly.

A method of supporting an aircraft structure for full size determinant assembly, the method comprising:

• coupling one or more support pin assemblies to an assembly jig, each support pin assembly comprising:
• a clevis mounted to the assembly jig, the clevis having a clevis body with a first clevis lug and a second clevis lug;
• a first bushing disposed within the first clevis lug, and a second bushing disposed within the second clevis lug;
• a pin slideably disposed within the first bushing and within the second bushing, the pin comprising:
• a head end and a tail end;
• a shoulder portion at least partially disposed within the first bushing, the shoulder portion having a first end, a second end, and a pin groove formed circumferentially on an exterior portion of the shoulder portion;
• and
• a part support portion extending from the shoulder portion, and being at least partially disposed within the second bushing and configured to fit through a hole in a part of the aircraft structure;
• a sleeve bushing slideably disposed over the part support portion and having a sleeve bushing first end configured to engage and clamp a portion of the part against the second end of the shoulder portion;
• a retainer element coupled to the part support portion, the retainer element retaining the sleeve bushing to the part support portion, and the retainer element configured to cause the sleeve bushing to clamp the portion of the part against the second end of the shoulder portion;
• and
• a gauge assembly having a pin groove engagement portion coupled to the pin groove on the shoulder portion;
• positioning and supporting on the assembly jig the part of the aircraft structure for the full size determinant assembly;
• inserting through the hole in the part, the part support portion of the pin of a selected support pin assembly of the one or more support pin assemblies;
• clamping a portion of the part against the second end of the shoulder portion of the pin of the selected support pin assembly, by using the retainer element to urge the sleeve bushing to clamp the portion of the part between the second end and the sleeve bushing;
• and
• using the gauge assembly of the selected support pin assembly to position and to laterally move the pin and the part of the aircraft structure, to enable the full size determinant assembly.