Alignment device for drilling or reaming an opening in a structure

An alignment device to assist in drilling or reaming an opening in a structure, the alignment device comprising:

• a base element, the base element having at least one first fixation element to allow fixation of the base element relative to the structure;
• a positioning element coupled to the base element, the positioning element comprising a slider with a flat surface configured to engage a corresponding flat surface of the base element, wherein a position of the positioning element relative to the base element is selectively adjustable with at least two translational degrees of freedom relative to the base element to allow precise positioning for a drilling or reaming tool with respect to a drilling or reaming site on the structure;
• an alignment element mounted to the positioning element, wherein an angle of the alignment element is selectively adjustable with at least two rotational degrees of freedom relative to the base element to allow precise alignment for the drilling or reaming tool with respect to the drilling or reaming site on the structure;
• at least one second fixation element configured to selectively fix the positioning element relative to the base element by forcing respective parts of the flat surfaces of the slider and the base element together to achieve frictional engagement and thereby restrict movement of the positioning element relative to the base element;
• and
• at least one third fixation element to allow fixation of the alignment element relative to the positioning element to fix the angle of the alignment element relative to the structure,
• wherein the base element has a triangular shape and the at least one first fixation element comprises three suction feet arranged at the vertices of the triangular shape.

An alignment device to assist in drilling or reaming an opening in a structure, the alignment device comprising:

• a base element, the base element having at least one first fixation element to allow fixation of the base element relative to the structure;
• a positioning element coupled to the base element, the positioning element comprising a slider with a flat surface configured to engage a corresponding flat surface of the base element, wherein a position of the positioning element relative to the base element is selectively adjustable with at least two translational degrees of freedom relative to the base element to allow precise positioning for a drilling or reaming tool with respect to a drilling or reaming site on the structure;
• an alignment element mounted to the positioning element, wherein an angle of the alignment element is selectively adjustable with at least two rotational degrees of freedom relative to the base element to allow precise alignment for the drilling or reaming tool with respect to the drilling or reaming site on the structure;
• at least one second fixation element configured to selectively fix the positioning element relative to the base element by forcing respective parts of the flat surfaces of the slider and the base element together to achieve frictional engagement and thereby restrict movement of the positioning element relative to the base element;
• and
• at least one third fixation element to allow fixation of the alignment element relative to the positioning element to fix the angle of the alignment element relative to the structure,
• wherein the at least one second fixation element has opposed first and second portions positioned to allow fixation of the positioning element relative to the base element, and
• wherein the first portion includes a pneumatically actuable locking piston to selectively fix the position of the positioning element relative to the base element.

A device to assist in drilling or reaming an opening in a surface, the device comprising:

• a body, being removably affixable to a surface of the object to be drilled or reamed;
• a slider having a flat surface configured to engage a corresponding flat surface of the body, wherein a position of the slider relative to the body is selectively adjustable with at least two translational degrees of freedom relative to the body;
• a pneumatically actuable clamp configured to selectively fix the slider relative to the body by forcing respective parts of the flat surfaces of the slider and the body together to achieve frictional engagement and thereby restrict movement of the slider relative to the body;
• an arm, being removably affixable to the slider;
• and
• a receptacle adapted to receive a drilling or reaming tool or an alignment tool, wherein the receptacle is positioned at one end of the arm, and an angle of the receptacle is selectively adjustable with at least two rotational degrees of freedom relative to the arm and is fixable relative to the arm.