# US 9,038,686 B2 · Positioning system of sectors of a device for producing an airplane fuselage > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,038,686 B2 - Document ID: US9038686B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/853,133 - Filed: 2013-03-29 - Published: 2013-11-07 - Granted: 2015-05-26 - Earliest claimed: 2012-03-30 - Assignees: Alenia Aermacchi S.p.A. - Applicants: Alenia Aermacchi S.p.A. - Inventors: Guido Sibona; Ettore Mostarda; Giuseppe Iovine - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9038686B2 ## CPC - B29D 99/001: {Producing wall or panel-like structures, e.g. for hulls, fuselages, or buildings (articles with hollow walls B29D24/00)} - B29C 53/824: {collapsible, e.g. elastic or inflatable; with removable parts, e.g. for regular shaped, straight tubular articles (B29C53/825 takes precedence)} - B64C 2001/0072: {from composite materials} - Y02T 50/40: Weight reduction - B29D: PRODUCING PARTICULAR ARTICLES FROM PLASTICS OR FROM SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE (making granules B29B9/00; making preforms B29B11/00) - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - B64C: AEROPLANES; HELICOPTERS - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract Positioning system of sectors of a device for producing an airplane fuselage in which a lamination mandrel comprises a plurality of sectors borne by a supporting structure and mobile along guides between: an expanded lamination position and a contracted disassembling position. Each guide comprises a fixed part borne by the supporting structure and a mobile part sliding along/with respect to the fixed part in a rectilinear direction H. Between a portion of each mobile part facing towards the respective sector and a stiffening structure of the sector a positioning device is provided which allows adjustment of the position of the sector with respect to the guide in two directions which lie in a plane RP perpendicular to the axis H of the guide. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A positioning system configured to operate with sectors of a device (2) for producing an airplane fuselage in which a lamination mandrel (4) is defined by an external surface (5) which defines a rotation solid with respect to a symmetry axis (7); said lamination mandrel (4) is adapted to receive and support a band of impregnated synthetic material which is deposited and wound on the external surface (5) forming a plurality of overlapping layers which are subjected to a high temperature polymerisation process under vacuum for forming a structural section of the airplane; the lamination mandrel (4) comprises a plurality of sectors (12) borne by a support structure which is elongated along said axis (7), angularly spaced about the axis (7) and mobile along guides (17) borne by the support structure (10) under the thrust of an actuator (60) between: an expanded lamination position in which the sectors (12) have greater rectilinear edges (13) parallel to the axis (7) and arranged side by side and the external surfaces of the sectors (12) opposite to the axis (7) define together said external surface (5); and a contracted disassembling position in which at least part of said sectors (12) approaches the axis (7) moving away from the trace of the surface (5) to reduce the radial dimensions of the mandrel and allow the extraction of the mandrel itself (4) from the structural section of the airplane; each guide (17) comprises a fixed part (17g) borne by said support structure (10) and a mobile part (18) which slides along/with respect to the fixed part (17g) along a rectilinear direction H, characterised by comprising a positioning device (P) arranged between a portion of each mobile part (18) facing the respective sector (12) and a stiffening structure (21) of a sector (12); said, positioning device (P) allowing the adjustment of the position of the sector (12) with respect to the guide along two directions (x, y) which lie in a plane RP perpendicular to the axis H of the guide (17) itself; said positioning device comprises a central body (45) arranged in a seat (42) obtained in said mobile part (18) and provided with a portion (51) which couples (52) with the support structure (21) of said sector (12); the position of said central body (45) within said seat (42) being adjustable by positioning within said seat (42) a plurality of catch bodies (53) which abut on side walls (47) of said central body (45) to displace it. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) System according to claim 1, wherein each sector (12) is supported by two pairs of rectilinear guides (17) arranged at end portions (16a, 16b) of the support structure. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) System according to claim 1, wherein said central body (45) is shaped as a frustum of pyramid with square bases and said catch bodies (53) are wedge-shaped. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) System according to claim 1, wherein each catch body (53) may be positioned within said seat (42) acting on a respective threaded element (55) which extends at least partially in a cavity obtained in the catch body itself. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) System according to claim 1, wherein said actuator is of the screw (31)-nut screw (29) type. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) System according to claim 1, wherein each sector (12) comprises a curved wall (20) which has a cross section with the profile of an arc of a circle and a stiffening structure (21) facing inwardly of the mandrel (4) and adapted to prevent deflections/deformations of the wall (20).