Zero mask fixtures for parts

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10773272-B2
Application number	US-201816138019-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 21, 2018
Priority date	Sep 21, 2018
Publication date	Sep 15, 2020
Grant date	Sep 15, 2020

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for securement of parts. One embodiment is a method for securing a part during fabrication. The method includes forming an interference fit between a pin and a wall defining a hole, supporting a weight of the part with the interference fit, and rotating the part around an axis of the part while the weight of the part is supported.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for securing a part during fabrication, the method comprising:
forming an interference fit between a pin at a fixture and a wall defining a hole;
supporting a weight of the part with the interference fit; and
rotating the part around an axis of the part while the weight of the part is supported, by sliding a slider of the fixture along a groove of the fixture that has an arcuate shape.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein:
the slider is secured to a fixed body, and the pin is affixed to the fixture.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
increasing a diameter of the pin by:
driving an internal rod of the pin into an internal recess defined by flanges at the pin, wherein the internal rod has a diameter that is greater than a diameter of the internal recess, causing the flanges to elastically deflect outward.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
supporting the pin with a support that that is directly attached to the pin and secured to a fixture.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
applying a surface treatment to a surface of the part while the interference fit remains.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
affixing the pin to a fixture via an arm; and
adjustably positioning the arm with respect to a body of the fixture.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein:
the pin is coupled with a fixture, and rotating the part is performed by rotating the fixture.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein:
supporting the weight of the part is performed via multiple pins that have been inserted into multiple holes at the part, and the method further comprises:
releasing a subset of the pins of a first fixture from a subset of the holes at the part;
inserting a new set of pins of a second fixture into the subset of the holes at the part; and
releasing remaining pins of the first fixture.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
increasing a diameter of the pin, which causes a sacrificial jacket forming an outer surface of the pin to contact the wall defining the hole.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
replacing a sacrificial jacket at the pin after the interference fit has been released.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein:
a centerline of the hole intersects a cross-sectional center of mass of the part.

12. A portion of an aircraft assembled according to the method of claim 1 .

13. A non-transitory computer readable medium embodying programmed instructions which, when executed by a processor, are operable for performing a method for fixing a part in place, the method comprising:
aligning a pin at a fixture with a hole in the part;
inserting the pin into the hole;
increasing a diameter of the pin to form an interference fit with a wall defining the hole;
supporting a weight of the part with the interference fit; and
rotating the part around a cross-sectional center of mass of the part while the weight of the part is supported, by sliding a slider of the fixture along a groove of the fixture that has an arcuate shape.

14. A method of adapting a fixture for mounting a part to a track, the method comprising:
applying an adapter to an end of a barrel pin, at a fixture, that extends through a hole in a part and is in an interference fit with side walls of the hole;
placing the adapter onto a track; and
moving the part along the track by sliding the adapter within the track, by sliding a slider of the fixture along a groove of the fixture that has an arcuate shape.

15. A method of applying a surface treatment to a part, the method comprising:
connecting side walls of a hole in a part to a fixture;
rotating the part around an axis of the part while the weight of the part is supported, by sliding a slider of the fixture along a groove of the fixture that has an arcuate shape; and
applying a surface treatment to a surface of the part while an interference fit connects the inner walls of the hole to the fixture.

16. An apparatus for supporting a part during fabrication, the apparatus comprising:
a fixture comprising:
a body;
an engagement surface disposed along a length of the body that has an arcuate shape;
a slider that engages with the engagement surface and is configured to slide within the engagement surface, thereby enabling rotation of a part around an axis of the part while the weight of the part is supported;
a yoke having a first end affixed to the slider and having a securable second end; and
at least one pin that protrudes away from the body towards the part, the pin forms an interference fit with a hole in the part.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein:
the body has a shape that supports an ability to rotate the part.

18. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein:
the pin comprises:
flanges that define an internal recess; and
an internal rod that has a diameter greater than a diameter of the internal recess, and that cause the flanges to elastically deflect when driven through the internal recess, increasing a diameter of the pin.

19. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein:
the pin is affixed to an arm that extends from the body.

20. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein:
the pin further comprises a sacrificial jacket forming an outer surface of the pin.

21. The apparatus of claim 16 further comprising:
a support that is directly attached to the body and is directly attached to the pin in order to reinforce the pin.

22. The apparatus of claim 16 further comprising:
an adapter that is secured to the pin and facilitates sliding within a track assembly.

23. Fabricating a portion of an aircraft using the apparatus of claim 16 .

24. A method for securing a part during fabrication, the method comprising:
forming a connection between a pin at a fixture and a hole at a part;
supporting a weight of the part with the connection; and
rotating the part around an axis of the part while the weight of the part is supported, by sliding a slider of the fixture along a groove of the fixture that has an arcuate shape.

25. The method of claim 1 wherein:
the hole comprises an undersized hole.

26. The method of claim 25 further comprising:
removing the pin; and
drilling out the undersized hole to an assembly diameter.

27. The method of claim 15 further comprising:
rotating the part using the fixture.

28. The method of claim 15 further comprising:
drilling out the hole to a fastener installation diameter.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Shinozaki John
• Chungbin Jerry Deming
• Wu Steven Kuan-Chi

Classifications

• Y10T29/49998

  Work holding · CPC title

• Y10T29/49995

  Shaping one-piece blank by removing material · CPC title

• B23P25/00

  Auxiliary treatment of workpieces, before or during machining operations, to facilitate the action of the tool or the attainment of a desired final condition of the work, e.g. relief of internal stress · CPC title

• B05B13/0285

  Stands for supporting individual articles to be sprayed, e.g. doors, vehicle body parts · CPC title

• B05B13/0214 Primary

  the liquid or other fluent material being applied to the whole periphery of the cross section of the elongated body · CPC title