Adjustable part holding fixture, system and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10016866-B2
Application number	US-201514718048-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 20, 2015
Priority date	May 20, 2015
Publication date	Jul 10, 2018
Grant date	Jul 10, 2018

Abstract

There is provided an adjustable part holding fixture, system and method. The fixture has a base assembly with a container and a phase change material contained within the container. The fixture has a control device to convert the phase change material between a non-rigid state and a rigid state. The fixture has a plurality of part holding assemblies, each having a base anchoring portion for insertion into and positioning in the phase change material, and a part attachment portion configured to releasably attach to a surface of a part being held by the fixture. The phase change material in the non-rigid state allows for positioning of the base anchoring portion and adjusting to the part being held, and the phase change material in the rigid state holds the base anchoring portion in a desired position and holds the part in place during one or more processes performed on the part.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An adjustable part holding fixture comprising:
a base assembly comprising a container and a phase change material contained within the container;
a control device coupled to the phase change material and configured to convert the phase change material between a non-rigid state and a rigid state; and
a plurality of separate part holding assemblies, each part holding assembly comprising a base anchoring portion coupled to a part attachment portion, each base anchoring portion inserted into and positioned in the phase change material in the container, and each part attachment portion configured to releasably attach to a surface of a part being held by the plurality of separate part holding assemblies of the adjustable part holding fixture, each of the plurality of separate part holding assemblies being independently repositionable based on a shape of the part,
wherein the phase change material in the non-rigid state allows for positioning of each base anchoring portion in the container and adjusting to the part being held, and further wherein the phase change material in the rigid state holds each base anchoring portion in a desired position in the container and holds the part in place to each part attachment portion during one or more processes performed on the part.

2. The fixture of claim 1 wherein the container of the base assembly is a partitioned container comprising two or more separate compartments configured to separately hold the base anchoring portion of each part holding assembly partially or fully in the phase change material.

3. The fixture of claim 1 wherein the phase change material comprises a chemical-based phase change material or a physical-based phase change material.

4. The fixture of claim 1 wherein the phase change material is a material capable of storing and releasing thermal energy, and comprises one or more of magnetorheological materials, electrorheological materials, salt hydrate materials, paraffin materials, polyglycol materials, eutectic materials, shape memory alloys, compressed air freeze material, and rubber gripper with granular material.

5. The fixture of claim 1 wherein the control device is coupled to the phase change material via one or more connection elements, and the control device comprises an electric phase controller configured to convert the phase change material between the non-rigid state and the rigid state.

6. The fixture of claim 1 further comprising a flexible membrane coupled between the base anchoring portions and the part attachment portions of the plurality of part holding assemblies, the flexible membrane having a plurality of openings, each opening being of a sufficient size to accommodate insertion of a post member of each of the plurality of separate part holding assemblies through each respective opening.

7. The fixture of claim 1 wherein each base anchoring portion comprises one or more anchor members connected to a post member, and further wherein each anchor member has one or more flange elements to facilitate retention of each base anchoring portion in the phase change material, when the rigid state is activated by the control device.

8. The fixture of claim 1 wherein each part attachment portion comprises one or more of a vacuum cup, a clamping element, and an adhesive material.

9. The fixture of claim 8 wherein the part attachment portion comprises the vacuum cup, and the vacuum cup is attached to a vacuum generator via a vacuum tubing.

10. The fixture of claim 1 wherein the adjustable part holding fixture is automated and configured to be used with a robotic assembly that inserts and positions the plurality of part holding assemblies in the phase change material, and that releasably attaches the part attachment portions of the plurality of part holding assemblies to the surface of the part being held.

11. An adjustable part holding system comprising:
a machining assembly comprising at least a work surface and a machine tool, the machine tool coupled to a control and power system configured for controlling and powering the machine tool; and
a portable, adjustable part holding fixture installed in the machining assembly, the adjustable part holding fixture comprising:
a base assembly comprising a container and a phase change material contained within the container;
a control device coupled to the phase change material and configured to convert the phase change material between a non-rigid state and a rigid state;
a plurality of separate part holding assemblies, each part holding assembly comprising a base anchoring portion coupled to a part attachment portion, each base anchoring portion inserted into and positioned in the phase change material in the container, and each part attachment portion configured to releasably attach to a surface of a part being held by the plurality of separate part holding assemblies of the adjustable part holding fixture, each of the plurality of separate part holding assemblies being independently repositionable based on a shape of the part; and
a flexible membrane coupled between each base anchoring portion and each part attachment portion of the plurality of separate part holding assemblies, the flexible membrane having a plurality of openings, each opening being of a sufficient size to accommodate insertion of a post member of each of the plurality of separate part holding assemblies through each respective opening,

wherein the phase change material in the non-rigid state allows for positioning of each base anchoring portion in the container and adjusting to the part being held, and further wherein the phase change material in the rigid state holds each base anchoring portion in a desired position in the container and holds the part in place to each part attachment portion during one or more manufacturing processes performed on the part.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the adjustable part holding system is automated and configured to be used with a robotic assembly in contact with the adjustable part holding fixture, the robotic assembly configured to insert and position the plurality of part holding assemblies in the phase change material, and configured to releasably attach the part attachment portions of the plurality of part holding assemblies to the surface of the part being held.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the phase change material is a material capable of storing and releasing thermal energy, and comprises one or more of magnetorheological materials, electrorheological materials, salt hydrate materials, paraffin materials, polyglycol materials, eutectic materials, shape memory alloys, compressed air freeze material, and rubber gripper with granular material.

14. The system of claim 11 wherein the part attachment portion comprises one or more of a vacuum cup, a clamping element, and an adhesive material.

15. The system of claim 11 wherein the part is an aircraft part, and the one or more manufacturing processes comprise one or more of machining, milling, cutting, drilling, trimming, shaping, turning, boring, grinding, and planing.

16. An adjustable part holding method for holding a part during one or more manufacturing processes performed on the part, the adjustable part holding method comprising the steps of:
assembling an adjustable part holding fixture comprising:
a base assembly having a container and a phase change material contained within the container;
a control device coupled to the phase change material; and
a plurality of separate part holding assemblies, each part holding assembly comprising a base anchoring portion coupled to a part at

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Morihara Richard H
• Venkatesh Sid

Classifications

• B23Q3/088

  using vacuum means · CPC title

• B23Q3/086 Primary

  using a solidifying liquid, e.g. with freezing, setting or hardening means · CPC title

• Y10T29/49998

  Work holding · CPC title

• B23Q2703/04

  using fluid means or a vacuum · CPC title

• B64F5/10

  Manufacturing or assembling aircraft, e.g. jigs therefor · CPC title