Machining facility for aircraft structural components

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12337993-B2
Application number	US-201816634014-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 27, 2018
Priority date	Jul 24, 2017
Publication date	Jun 24, 2025
Grant date	Jun 24, 2025

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a processing installation for aircraft structural components having a processing station comprising a clamping frame, wherein the clamping frame extends along a station longitudinal axis, and a processing unit which has a first upper tool unit having an upper tool which is orientated along a first tool axis and a lower tool unit having a lower tool which is orientated along a second tool axis, wherein the first tool axis and the second tool axis can be orientated parallel with a vertical direction which is angled with respect to the longitudinal direction, and wherein in at least one processing position of the upper tool of the first upper tool unit and in at least one processing position of the lower tool of the lower tool unit the first tool axis and the second tool axis are orientated coaxially relative to each other.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A processing installation for aircraft structural components having a processing station comprising a clamping frame for receiving the aircraft structural component, which is intended to be processed, wherein the clamping frame extends along a station longitudinal axis which extends in a longitudinal direction, and a processing unit for processing the aircraft structural component,
wherein the processing installation comprises a frame comprising an upper frame portion having a guide,
wherein the clamping frame extends in a region inside the frame and can be pivoted within the frame about a longitudinal axis of the clamping frame which may be orientated parallel with the station longitudinal axis but which can also be tilted relative to it,
wherein the processing unit consists of two upper tool units comprising a first upper tool unit, which forms an end effector, and a second upper tool unit, which forms an end effector, and one lower tool unit, which forms an end effector,
wherein the first upper tool unit and the second upper tool unit are independently of each other movable in a linear manner on the guide over a travel path and are configured to be operated independently of each other in the processing unit and wherein the lower tool unit is movable,
wherein the first upper tool unit has an upper tool which is orientated along a first tool axis and the lower tool unit has a lower tool which is orientated along a second tool axis, wherein the first tool axis and the second tool axis are orientated and/or can be orientated parallel with a vertical direction which is angled with respect to the longitudinal direction, and wherein in at least one processing position of the upper tool of the first upper tool unit and in at least one processing position of the lower tool of the lower tool unit the first tool axis and the second tool axis are orientated coaxially relative to each other,
wherein the second upper tool unit has an upper tool which is orientated along a third tool axis, wherein the third tool axis is orientated or can be orientated parallel with the vertical direction, and wherein in at least one processing position of the upper tool of the second upper tool unit and in at least one processing position of the lower tool of the lower tool unit the second tool axis and the third tool axis are orientated coaxially relative to each other;
wherein the first upper tool unit and the second upper tool unit are configured to cooperate with the lower tool unit, wherein the first upper tool unit and the second upper tool unit each comprise a rivet head configured to perform a riveting operation with the lower tool, wherein the first upper tool unit and the second upper tool unit each further comprise a drill head, and wherein the first upper tool unit and the second upper tool unit are configured to take on the function of each other during the processing of the aircraft structural component such that when a rivet element is jammed in the first upper tool unit, the first upper tool unit is moved out of a previous processing region into a service position in order to remove the jammed rivet element and the second upper tool unit is moved into a corresponding processing region and continues processing the aircraft structural component.

2. The processing installation as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first upper tool unit and the second upper tool unit can be moved in the same direction over the travel path.

3. The processing installation as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the first tool axis and the third tool axis with respect to the direction over at least a portion of the travel path have no offset with respect to each other.

4. The processing installation as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the first tool axis and the third tool axis with respect to the direction over at least a portion of the travel path, over the main portion of the travel path, have no offset with respect to each other.

5. The processing installation as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first upper tool unit and the second upper tool unit are configured to be moved in the same plane over the travel path.

6. The processing installation as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first upper tool unit and the second upper tool unit can be moved on the guide over the travel path.

7. The processing installation as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the upper tool of the first upper tool unit and the upper tool of the second upper tool unit are each supported on a separate upper tool carrier, wherein the upper tool carriers are movably guided on the guide.

8. The processing installation as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the guide is a component of the upper frame portion of a portal-like or C-shaped frame.

9. The processing installation as claimed in claim 1 , wherein at least one of the upper tool units is configured to be moved into the service position, in which the at least one upper tool unit is spaced so far apart from the other upper tool unit, that the upper tool of the other upper tool unit is configured to be arranged in at least one processing position in which the tool axis thereof is orientated coaxially relative to the second tool axis.

10. The processing installation as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the processing installation has a first drive motor for the travel movement of the first upper tool unit and a second drive motor for the travel movement of the second upper tool unit, and/or wherein the processing installation has a common drive motor for the travel movement of the first upper tool unit and for the travel movement of the second upper tool unit.

11. The processing installation as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the first drive motor and the second drive motor can be activated independently of each other.

12. The processing installation as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first upper tool unit and the second upper tool unit can be moved in the same direction, in a transverse direction which is orthogonal with respect to the longitudinal direction and vertical direction, over the travel path.

13. The processing installation as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first upper tool unit and the second upper tool unit are configured to be moved in the same plane, wherein the plane is orthogonal with respect to the vertical direction, over the travel path.

14. The processing installation as claimed in claim 1 , wherein at least one of the upper tool units is configured to be moved into the service position, in which the at least one upper tool unit is spaced so far apart from the other upper tool unit, that the upper tool of the other upper tool unit is configured to be arranged in several processing positions in which the tool axis thereof is orientated coaxially relative to the second tool axis.

15. The processing installation as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the processing installation has a first drive motor for the travel movement, which is linear movement, of the first upper tool unit and a second drive motor for the travel movement, which is linear movement, of the second upper tool unit, wherein the first drive motor and the second drive motor can be activated independently of each other, and/or wherein the processing installation has a common drive motor for the travel movement, which is linear movement, of the first upper tool unit and for the travel movement, which is linear movement, of the second upper tool unit.

16. A method for processing an aircraft structural component using a processing installation as claimed in claim 1 ,
wherein during the processing of the aircraft structural component one of the upper too

Assignees

• Broetje Automation Gmbh

Inventors

• Varrelmann Nils
• Neemann Volker

Classifications

• B23P2700/01

  Aircraft parts · CPC title

• B23Q39/024

  consecutive working of toolheads · CPC title

• B23Q1/623

  followed perpendicularly by a single rotating pair · CPC title

• B21J15/42

  Special clamping devices for workpieces to be riveted together, e.g. operating through the rivet holes · CPC title

• B21J15/142 Primary

  Aerospace structures · CPC title