Alignment system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12351439-B2
Application number	US-202117999774-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 20, 2021
Priority date	May 27, 2020
Publication date	Jul 8, 2025
Grant date	Jul 8, 2025

Abstract

An alignment jig ( 10 ) configured to support and orient a load ( 500 ). The alignment jig ( 10 ) may form part of an alignment system ( 300 ). The alignment jig ( 10 ) comprises a first base unit ( 100 ) configured to carry a first support unit ( 200 ), the first support unit ( 200 ) being configured to support the load ( 500 ) and to space the first base unit ( 100 ) apart from the load ( 500 ). The first support unit ( 200 ) is moveable relative to the first base unit ( 100 ). The first base unit ( 100 ) comprises a first base unit actuation system ( 110 ) operable to act on the first support unit ( 200 ) along a first base unit operational axis X 1 . The first support unit ( 200 ) comprises a first support unit actuation system ( 210 ) operable to act on the load ( 500 ) along a first support unit operational axis Y 1.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An alignment system comprising:
an alignment jig configured to support and orient a load, the alignment jig including
a base unit configured to carry a support unit, the support unit being configured to support the load and to space the base unit apart from the load, the support unit being moveable relative to the base unit, the base unit including a base unit actuation system operable to act on the support unit along a base unit operational axis X 1 , the support unit including a support unit actuation system operable to act on the load along a support unit operational axis Y 1 ,
wherein the base unit actuation system includes a first actuator unit spaced apart from a second actuator unit along the base unit operational axis X 1 , and the first actuator unit is fixed relative to the second actuator unit by a base unit support structure, and
wherein the support unit actuation system includes a third actuator unit spaced apart from a fourth actuator unit along the base unit operational axis X 1 , and the third actuator unit is fixed relative to the fourth actuator unit by a support unit support structure;

a support track system configured to support the alignment jig, wherein the alignment jig is moveable relative to the support track, and the support track system includes two track members spaced apart from one another by a distance D, wherein the base unit spans the track members, and each track member is provided with a track actuation unit operable to move the alignment jig relative to the track members; and
a spacer member is provided between each track member and the alignment jig, the spacer member being configured to allow relative movement between the alignment jig and the respective track member.

2. The alignment system of claim 1 , wherein the base unit is a first base unit, the support unit is a first support unit, the base unit actuation system is a first base unit actuation system, the base unit operational axis X 2 is a first base unit operational axis X 2 , the support unit actuation system is a first support unit actuation system, the support unit operational axis Y 2 is a first support unit operational axis Y 2 , and the alignment jig further comprises:
a second base unit configured to carry a second support unit, the second support unit being configured to support the load and to space the second base unit apart from the load, the second support unit being moveable relative to the second base unit,
the second base unit including a second base unit actuation system operable to act on the second support unit along a second base unit operational axis X 2 , and
the second support unit includes a second support unit actuation system operable to act on the load along a second support unit operational axis Y 2 .

3. The alignment system of claim 2 , wherein:
the first support unit actuation system is operable independently of the second support unit actuation system, and
the first base unit actuation system is operable independently of the second base unit actuation system.

4. The alignment system of claim 2 , wherein the first base unit is spaced apart from the second base unit along an operational axis Z 1 , and wherein the operational axis Z 1 is substantially perpendicular to the operational axes X 1 , X 2 and to the operational axes Y 1 , Y 2 .

5. The alignment system of claim 2 , wherein the first base unit is fixed relative to the second base unit by the base unit support structure.

6. The alignment system of claim 1 , wherein the third actuator unit includes a pair of actuators which are spaced apart from one another along an operational axis Z 1 , and the fourth actuator unit includes a pair of actuators which are spaced apart from one another along the operational axis Z 1 , and wherein the operational axis Z 1 is substantially perpendicular to the operational axes X 1 and Y 1 .

7. The alignment system of claim 6 , wherein each actuator of the actuator units are operable independently of the other actuators.

8. The alignment system of claim 6 , wherein the support unit support structure comprises:
a first member which extends between one of the actuators of the pair of actuators of the third actuator unit, and one of actuators of the pair of actuators of the fourth actuator unit; and
a second member which extends between the other actuator of the pair of actuators of the third actuator unit, and the other actuator of the pair of actuators of the fourth actuator unit;
wherein the first member and second member are spaced apart from one another along the operational axis Z 1 , and attached to one another at least at one point along their length such that they may move relative to one another.

9. The alignment system of claim 1 , wherein each actuator unit may be controlled independently of the other actuator units.

10. An alignment jig, comprising:
a base unit configured to carry a support unit, the support unit being configured to support a load and to space the base unit apart from the load, the support unit being moveable relative to the base unit, the base unit including a base unit actuation system operable to act on the support unit along a base unit operational axis X 1 , the support unit including a support unit actuation system operable to act on the load along a support unit operational axis Y 1 ;
wherein the base unit actuation system includes a first actuator unit spaced apart from a second actuator unit along the base unit operational axis X 1 , and the first actuator unit is fixed relative to the second actuator unit by a base unit support structure; and
wherein the support unit actuation system includes a third actuator unit spaced apart from a fourth actuator unit along the base unit operational axis X 1 , and the third actuator unit is fixed relative to the fourth actuator unit by a support unit support structure;
wherein the third actuator unit includes a pair of actuators which are spaced apart from one another along an operational axis Z 1 , and the fourth actuator unit includes a pair of actuators which are spaced apart from one another along the operational axis Z 1 , and wherein the operational axis Z 1 is substantially perpendicular to the operational axes X 1 and Y 1 ;
wherein the support unit support structure includes
a first member which extends between one of the actuators of the pair of actuators of the third actuator unit, and one of actuators of the pair of actuators of the fourth actuator unit, and
a second member which extends between the other actuator of the pair of actuators of the third actuator unit, and the other actuator of the pair of actuators of the fourth actuator unit,
wherein the first member and second member are spaced apart from one another along the operational axis Z 1 , and attached to one another at least at one point along their length such that they may move relative to one another.

11. The alignment jig of claim 10 , wherein the base unit is a first base unit, the support unit is a first support unit, the base unit actuation system is a first base unit actuation system, the base unit operational axis X 2 is a first base unit operational axis X 2 , the support unit actuation system is a first support unit actuation system, the support unit operational axis Y 2 is a first support unit operational axis Y 2 , and the alignment jig further comprises:
a second base unit configured to carry a second support unit, the second support unit being configured to support the load and to space the second base unit apart from the load, the second support unit being moveable relative to the second base unit;
the second base unit including a second base unit actuation system operabl

Assignees

• Bae Systems Plc

Inventors

• Phizacklea Alan

Classifications

• B66F7/28

  Constructional details, e.g. end stops, pivoting supporting members, sliding runners adjustable to load dimensions · CPC title

• B63B73/60 Primary

  characterised by the use of specific tools or equipment; characterised by automation, e.g. use of robots · CPC title

• B23K37/047

  moving work to adjust its position between soldering, welding or cutting steps (B23K37/053 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B66F7/10 Primary

  with platforms supported directly by jacks · CPC title

• B64F5/10

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