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AssigneeAirbus UK Limited
InventorsIan S Lloyd, Graham N Jones, Gordon Salt, Tony Sadler
Estimating the term…
A jig (10) is provided for holding an elongate member (56) to be surface treated. The jig (10) comprises a beam (12) and a plurality of hangers 14 spaced apart along the beam (12). The hangers (14) have supports (90) with retaining springs (96) thereon which are arranged to support and grip the elongate member (56). The beam (12) has hook-like members (18) for engagement with a lifting bar (30) of a crane (28). The crane (28) is used to transport the jig (10) to an anodising station (60) and subsequently to transport the jig (10) still with the anodised elongate member (56) thereon to a painting station. In that way, an elongate member to be surface treated can be manually placed on the respective supports (90) and held in place by the retaining springs (96) without having to use other forms of clamps.
A jig for holding an elongate member to be surface treated, the jig comprising a beam and a plurality of hangers spaced apart along the beam, the hanger having respective V-shaped supports thereon which have an upstanding abutment on either side of the V and which are arranged to receive spaced apart sections of the elongate member and which provide a resilient grip for holding the member in position.
A jig according to any preceding claim in which the vertical positioning of the supports on their respective hangers is adjustable.
A jig according to any preceding claim in which the jig is at least partly of titanium for ease of cleaning.
A jig according to any preceding claim in which the beam has hook-like members spaced therealong engageable with a lifting bar of a crane.
A method of applying a surface treatment to a member, the method comprising the steps of providing a jig, mounting the member on the jig, immersing the jig and member in an electrolyte at a surface treatment station, introducing an electrical current to the member to enable the member to be surface treated, removing the jig from the electrolyte, transferring the jig with the treated member thereon to a painting station, applying paint to the member on the jig, removing the jig from the painting station and removing the painted elongate member from the jig, characterised in that the method includes the steps of providing a crane with a lifting bar and hook-like members on the jig engageable therewith, locating the lifting bar of the crane beneath the hook-like members of the jig and lifting and transporting the jig to the surface treatment station, thereafter locating the lifting bar of the crane beneath the hook-like members and lifting the jig after the member thereon has been surface treated and transporting the jig to the painting station.
Apparatus for use in the surface treatment of a member, the apparatus comprising a lifting beam having an upwardly projecting lifting member for location beneath a hook-like member which, in use, is attached to a said member to be treated, a treatment tank into which the member is to be lowered and a location device for urging the beam against the hook-like member whereby to promote electrical contact therebetween to allow electricity to pass from the lifting beam via the hook-like member and member to be treated into a treatment solution in the tank.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.