Reconfigurable workpiece support fixture
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorMark A. Freeland
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An exemplary reconfigurable workpiece support fixture according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a base, and a plurality of spaced-apart plates are removably attachable to the base. Each plate defines a plurality of notches along an angular profile. A plurality of spaced-apart manifolds are receivable in the plurality of notches, and each manifold spans across the plurality of plates. A plurality of attachment devices are removably attachable to the plurality of manifolds.
Claims19
A method of supporting a workpiece on a workpiece support fixture, the method comprising:
- removably attaching a plurality of spaced-apart plates to a base, each plate defining a plurality of notches in an edge of the plate;
- receiving a plurality of spaced-apart manifolds in the plurality of notches, each manifold spanning across the plurality of plates and each manifold being free to move within the plurality of notches in a direction toward the edge;
- removably attaching a plurality of attachment devices to the plurality of manifolds, the plurality of spaced-apart plates being free of any of the plurality of attachment devices;
- and
- removably attaching a workpiece to the plurality of attachment devices.
A method of reconfiguring a workpiece support fixture, the method comprising:
- removably attaching a plurality of first spaced-apart plates to a base, each of the first spaced-apart plates defining a plurality of first notches in an edge of the plate;
- receiving a plurality of spaced-apart manifolds in the plurality of first notches, each manifold spanning across the plurality of first spaced-apart plates, each manifold defining a plurality of spaced-apart receptacles and each manifold being free to move within the plurality of first notches in a direction toward the edge;
- removably attaching a plurality of attachment devices to the plurality of manifolds in receptacles that are positioned within ends of a workpiece to be supported the plurality of spaced-apart plates being free of any of the plurality of attachment devices;
- and
- sealing any of the receptacles that are positioned beyond the ends of the workpiece.
A method of supporting a workpiece on a workpiece support fixture, the method comprising:
- removably attaching a plurality of spaced-apart plates to a base, each plate of the plurality of spaced-apart plates having a plurality of notches in an edge of the plate that is configured to support the workpiece;
- receiving a plurality of manifolds in the plurality of notches, each manifold of the plurality of manifolds being received in one notch of the plurality of notches in at least two of the plurality of spaced-apart plates and spanning across the at least two of the plurality of spaced-apart plates and each manifold being free to move within the plurality of notches in a direction toward the edge;
- removably attaching a plurality of attachment devices to the plurality of manifolds the plurality of spaced-apart plates being free of any of the plurality of attachment devices;
- and
- removably attaching a workpiece to the plurality of attachment devices.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.