Shape holding fixture and method for manufacturing aircraft panel

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11273896-B2
Application number	US-201616074206-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 17, 2016
Priority date	Feb 2, 2016
Publication date	Mar 15, 2022
Grant date	Mar 15, 2022

Abstract

To simplify the structure of a holding fixture which holds the shape of the aircraft panel and conveys the aircraft panel, an object is to ensure shape accuracy required in the manufacturing process and hold an aircraft panel in an appropriate shape, in combination with a holding fixture. A shape holding fixture includes: a plurality of support units configured to be positioned on a lower surface side of an aircraft panel, and provided at intervals along a one-axis direction, the aircraft panel being held by a holding fixture configured to grip an edge portion of the aircraft panel; and a shape holding unit provided to each of the plurality of support units, including a rod which supports the aircraft panel from the lower surface side of the aircraft panel, and configured to adjust a position where the rod comes into contact with the aircraft panel to support the aircraft panel, corresponding to the shape of the aircraft panel.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for manufacturing an aircraft panel including a plate-like member, the method comprising the steps of:
conveying a holding fixture to a position above a shape holding fixture;
setting the holding fixture on the shape holding fixture in an overlapping manner;
causing a plurality of gripping units provided to the holding fixture to grip an aircraft panel including the plate-like member, at edge portions on two opposite sides of the aircraft panel on the holding fixture such that the aircraft panel has a curved shape in cross section taken in a direction perpendicular to a one-axis direction;
adjusting positions of rods conforming to a shape of the aircraft panel, the rods being provided to a plurality of support units of the shape holding fixture which are arranged at intervals along the one-axis direction;
causing the rods to come into contact with the aircraft panel from a lower surface side of the aircraft panel so as to support the aircraft panel;
joining an overlapping portion of the aircraft panel by a rivet; and
conveying the holding fixture while maintaining a state where the holding fixture holds the edge portions of the aircraft panel.

Assignees

• Mitsubishi Heavy Ind Ltd

Inventors

• Hirai Makoto
• Azuma Hiroki
• Goto Takuya
• Takeyama Sachio

Classifications

• B64C1/064

  Stringers; Longerons · CPC title

• B64C1/061

  Frames · CPC title

• B64F5/10

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

• B21J15/142 Primary

  Aerospace structures · CPC title

• B64C2001/0054

  Fuselage structures substantially made from particular materials · CPC title