Six-axis alignment and installation tool
AssigneeBell Helicopter Textron Inc.
InventorDennis G. Radowick
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A six-axis alignment and installation tool having a multi-component base unit and a plurality of multi-component interchangeable units. Some of the degrees of freedom are provided by the components of the base unit, and the remaining degrees of freedom are provided by the components of each interchangeable units. The alignment and installation tool has two modes of transportation: levitation by air bearings, and rolling by removable casters.
Claims20
An alignment and installation tool having multiple degrees of freedom, the alignment and installation tool comprising:
- a base unit;
- and
- a plurality of interchangeable units, each interchangeable unit being configured to be releasably coupled to the base unit;
- wherein the base unit provides three separate and independent translational degrees of freedom and two separate and independent rotational degrees of freedom, and each interchangeable unit provides one separate and independent rotational degree of freedom when the interchangeable unit is coupled to the base unit.
A tool for aligning and installing a nacelle onto a wing of a tilt rotor aircraft, the tool comprising:
- a multi-component base unit;
- and
- a plurality of multi-component interchangeable units, each interchangeable unit being configured to be releasably coupled to the base unit and to be coupled to the nacelle;
- wherein the components of the base unit move relative to each other in three separate and independent translational degrees of freedom and two separate and independent rotational degrees of freedom, and the components of each interchangeable unit move in at least one rotational degree of freedom.
A tool for aligning and installing a nacelle onto a wing of a tilt rotor aircraft, the tool comprising:
- a multi-component base unit;
- and
- a plurality of multi-component interchangeable units, each interchangeable unit being configured to be releasably coupled to the base unit and to be coupled to the nacelle;
- wherein the components of the base unit move relative to each other in in three separate and independent translational degrees of freedom and three separate and independent rotational degrees of freedom.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.