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US 5,555,616 AGranted
Method and apparatus for positioning of tooling efficiently
AssigneeGemcor Engineering Corp.
InventorsDavid Michalewski, Ernest K. Krell
Life of this patent
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AssigneeGemcor Engineering Corp.
InventorsDavid Michalewski, Ernest K. Krell
Estimating the term…
Apparatus and method for positioning tooling with respect to a workpiece such as for positioning an anvil and clamping members on the inner surface of a fuselage being riveted. The apparatus comprises a tooling head, a frame for supporting the head, a carriage for moving the frame relative to the workpiece including movement of the frame along an axis. The frame is movable radially of the axis toward and away from the workpiece for macro-movement of the head. The head is also movable relative to the frame for movement of the tooling radially of the axis toward and away from the workpiece for micro-movement of the tooling for clamping to and unclamping from the workpiece as well as to clear flange portions of stringers being riveted to the workpiece. The micro-movement of the tooling head relative to the frame is provided so as to achieve decreased production cycle time as well as reduced power expenditure for reduced cost during movement from one riveting location to another so that the riveting operation may be at reduced cost.
A method for positioning tooling with respect to a workpiece comprising the steps of:
Apparatus for positioning tooling with respect to a workpiece comprising head means, frame means for supporting said head means, means for extending and retracting said frame means for movement of the tooling toward and away from the workpiece, means for extending and retracting said head means relative to said frame means for movement of the tooling toward and away from the workpiece, and carriage means for moving said frame means relative to the workpiece including means for moving said frame means along and about an axis, wherein said means for extending and retracting said head means comprises toggle joint means for connecting said head means to said frame means, and wherein said head means includes a radially extending body portion and further includes a portion which is supported by and extends circumferentially from said body portion and is adapted to define workpiece engagement surface which is offset circumferentially from said body portion to allow positioning of said workpiece engagement surface under overhanging portions of workpiece strengthening members for engaging the workpiece.
Apparatus for positioning tooling relative to a workpiece comprising head means, frame means for supporting said head means, carriage means for moving said frame means relative to the workpiece including means for moving said frame means along and about an axis, means for extending and retracting said frame means for movement of the tooling toward and away from the workpiece, and means for extending and retracting said head means relative to said frame means for movement of the tooling toward and away from the workpiece, said extending and retracting means comprising a toggle joint means for connecting said head means to said frame means, said toggle joint means comprising a pair of links pivotly connected to each other and one of which is pivotly connected to said head means and an other of which is pivotly connected to said frame means and further comprising means for pivoting said links between a first position wherein said links are in line with each other for lockingly extending said head means relative to said frame means and a second position wherein said links form an angle with each other for retracting said head means relative to said frame means, and wherein said head means includes a radially extending body portion and a portion which is supported by and which extends circumferentially from said body portion and which is adapted to define workpiece engagement surface, and means for positioning said workpiece engagement surface in a position which is at least partially overhung by a workpiece strengthening member, said positioning means comprising means for offsetting said workpiece engagement surface circumferentially from said body portion.
Apparatus for positioning tooling with respect to a workpiece comprising head means, frame means for supporting said head means, carriage means for moving said frame means relative to the workpiece including means for moving said frame means along and about an axis, said head means including a radially extending body portion and a portion which is supported by and extends circumferentially from said body portion and which is adapted to define workpiece engagement surface, means for extending and retracting said frame means for movement radially of said workpiece engagement surface toward and away from the workpiece, means for extending and retracting said head means relative to said frame means for movement radially of said workpiece engagement surface toward and away from the workpiece, and means for positioning said workpiece engagement surface in a position which is at least partially overhung by a workpiece strengthening member portion, said positioning means comprising means for offsetting said workpiece engagement surface circumferentially from said body portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.