Automated assembly of panelized aircraft fuselages
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsHarinder S. Oberoi, Blair P. Nelson, Alan S. Draper, Charles Y. Hu, Randall Matthewson, Branko Sarh
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A facility for assembling aircraft fuselages comprises a plurality of movable cradles. Each cradle is configured to support a fuselage keel structure and assemble a panelized fuselage in a single upright build position.
Claims20
A facility for assembling aircraft fuselages, the facility comprising a plurality of movable cradles, each cradle configured to support a fuselage keel structure and assemble a panelized fuselage in a single upright build position.
A method of assembling a plurality of aircraft fuselages, the method comprising moving movable cradles to different locations on an assembly floor;
- and using the cradles to assemble panelized fuselages upwards without changing orientations of the fuselages.
A method of assembling a panelized aircraft fuselage, the method comprising:
- loading a keel structure on a cradle;
- attaching stanchions to a floor grid;
- positioning the floor grid and stanchions over the keel structure and attaching the stanchions to the keel structure;
- and
- locating lower panels on the floor grid while using the cradle, the floor grid, and the keel structure to support the lower panels.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.