Method for forming a flexible single rail drilling system
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsDavid L. Fritsche, Thomas P. Von Minden
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for manufacturing a mobile platform component that may involve attaching only a single rail to the mobile platform component, and positioning a carriage system having a main carriage and a secondary carriage on the rail. The main carriage may be positioned along a first axis of movement on the rail. The secondary carriage may be positioned along a second axis of movement perpendicular to the first axis of movement on the main carriage. The main carriage may be releasably secured to the secondary carriage, and the carriage system may be releasably secured to the mobile platform component.
Claims18
A method for manufacturing a work piece component, the method comprising:
- attaching only a single rail to the work piece component;
- positioning a carriage system having a main carriage and a secondary carriage on the rail;
- positioning the main carriage along a first axis of movement on the rail;
- positioning the secondary carriage along a second axis of movement perpendicular to the first axis of movement on the main carriage;
- and
- releasably securing the main carriage to the secondary carriage, and
- further using a controller to control a vacuum cup assembly, where the vacuum cup assembly is supported from the secondary carriage so as to move with the secondary carriage, and which operates to releasably secure the secondary carriage of the carriage system to the work piece component.
A method for manufacturing a mobile platform component, the method comprising:
- attaching only a single rail to the mobile platform component;
- positioning a carriage system having a main carriage and a secondary carriage on the rail;
- positioning the main carriage along a first axis of movement on the rail;
- positioning the secondary carriage on the main carriage and along a second axis of movement perpendicular to the first axis of movement;
- clamping the secondary carriage to the main carriage in one of a fully clamped condition relative to the mobile platform component, a partially clamped condition relative to the mobile platform component, and an unclamped condition relative to the mobile platform component, and
- using a controller to control a fluid flow to a vacuum cup assembly to thus controllably anchor the secondary carriage to the mobile platform component.
A method for manufacturing a mobile platform component, the method comprising:
- using an elongated flexible rail including a plurality of attachment devices adapted to releasably attach the rail to a work piece, with the rail including a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis;
- operatively coupling a main carriage to the rail so that the main carriage is longitudinally moveable;
- operatively coupling a secondary carriage to the main carriage so that the secondary carriage is transversely moveable and adapted to receive a machining device;
- using a fastening device to couple the main carriage and the secondary carriage, wherein the fastening device is adapted to clamp the secondary carriage on to the main carriage, and wherein the main carriage and the secondary carriage are braced against one another to prevent the secondary carriage from moving;
- using a controller to control a fluid flow to a vacuum cup associated with the secondary carriage, wherein the vacuum cup is operative to releasably affix the secondary carriage to the surface of the work piece by vacuum;
- and
- further using the controller to control a clamping device so that the clamping device is used to place the secondary carriage and the main carriage in either clamped state or an unclamped state relative to one another.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.