Reconfigurable flexible rail method
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsEric M. Reid, Alan R. Merkley, James C. Murphy
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for performing operations on a work piece comprises a flexible rail system and a multi-axis carriage. The flexible rail system may be capable of being attached to a work surface. The multi-axis carriage may be coupled to the flexible rail system. The multi-axis carriage may be capable of moving along the flexible rail system and may be capable of moving a tool in axes relative to the work surface. The tool may be single use or multi use and may be removably coupled to the frame and or carriage
Claims21
1-18. (canceled)
A method for performing an operation on a work piece, the method comprising:
- attaching a flexible vacuum rail with a multi-axis carriage coupled to the flexible vacuum rail to a surface of a work piece;
- coupling a tool module to the multi-axis carriage, wherein the tool module has a tool capable of performing the operation;
- moving the multi-axis carriage along the flexible vacuum rail to a location on the work piece;
- and
- performing the operation at the location.
A method for performing an operation on an aircraft work piece comprising:
- attaching a flexible vacuum rail with a multi-axis carriage coupled to the flexible vacuum rail to a surface of the aircraft work piece;
- coupling a tool module to the multi-axis carriage, wherein the tool module has a tool capable of performing the operation;
- moving the multi-axis carriage along the flexible vacuum rail to a location on the aircraft work piece;
- and
- applying a force against the surface with a pressure unit located on a first side of the tool module, wherein the pressure unit is rotatable around an axis parallel to an axis of movement of the multi-axis carriage and wherein force is normal to the surface;
- providing a reactive force to the force with a reactive unit located on a second side of the tool module;
- and
- performing the operation after the force and the reactive force are applied, wherein the operation is selected from at least one of a drilling operation and a fastening operation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.