Assemblies and methods for handling, transporting and/or positioning component parts

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9327751-B2
Application number	US-201313886575-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 3, 2013
Priority date	May 3, 2013
Publication date	May 3, 2016
Grant date	May 3, 2016

Abstract

Assemblies and methods for the handling, transporting and/or positioning component parts include a jig assembly for supporting a component part is provided with an elongate spar assembly, a plurality of rib assemblies attached to the spar, and a plurality of tensionable strap assemblies operatively associated with the rib assemblies for capturing and holding the component part against the rib assemblies. The strap assemblies may include a strap ratchet mechanism and a strap, so that operation of the strap ratchet mechanism allows strap slack to be removed thereby tensioning the strap. The jig assembly may be positioned and oriented by suspension cables and a hoist mechanism to allow it to be removably connected to a moveable transport dolly.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A jig assembly for supporting a component part comprising:
an elongate spar assembly ;
a plurality of rib assemblies attached to the spar assembly;
a plurality of tensionable strap assemblies operatively associated with the rib assemblies for capturing and holding the component part against the rib assemblies; and
a support assembly for supporting the jig assembly to allow repositioning of the jig assembly between first and second orientations, wherein the support assembly comprises:
(a) a plurality of support cables comprising a central support cable and a pair of lateral support cables, each of the support cables having proximal and distal terminal ends, wherein
(i) the distal end of the central support cable is fixed to a central region of the jig assembly and the distal ends of the lateral support cables are fixed to a respective lateral region of the jig assembly, and wherein
(ii) the proximal terminal ends of the central and lateral support cables are fixed to an apex connection member; and

(b) a winch assembly operatively associated with the central support cable so as to change an effective length of the central support cable to thereby responsively reposition the jig assembly between the first and second orientations.

2. The jig assembly as in claim 1 , wherein the strap assemblies include a strap ratchet mechanism and a strap, wherein the strap has one end fixed to an end of a respective rib assembly and another end operatively engaged with the strap ratchet mechanism thereof so that operation of the strap ratchet mechanism allows strap slack to be removed thereby tensioning the strap.

3. The jig assembly as in claim 2 , wherein the rib assemblies include an upright rigid mounting plate, and wherein the strap ratchet mechanisms include a base fixed to the mounting plate.

4. The jig assembly as in claim 1 , wherein the rib assemblies include a spine plate having an upright connection flange connected to the spar assembly.

5. The jig assembly as in claim 4 , wherein the rib assemblies include cushion members carried by the spine plate.

6. The jig assembly as in claim 1 , further comprising L-shaped support brackets.

7. The jig assembly as in claim 1 , wherein the elongate spar assembly comprises a pair of outwardly divergent spar members jointed to one another a central junction thereof.

8. The jig assembly as in claim 7 , wherein one of the rib assemblies is positioned cross-wise of the spar assembly at the central junction of the divergent spar members.

9. The jig assembly as in claim 8 , wherein a pair of the rib assemblies are end rib assemblies positioned at a respective terminal end of each of the spar members.

10. The jig assembly as in claim 9 , wherein at least one rib assembly is positioned crosswise relative to the spar members between the end rib assemblies and the central rib assembly.

11. A combination comprising:
a transport dolly comprising a plurality of support sleeves, and
a jig assembly comprising a plurality of L-shaped support brackets received within a respective one of the support sleeves of the transport dolly to removably couple the jig assembly to the transport dolly, wherein
the jig assembly comprises:
(i) an elongate spar assembly;
(ii) a plurality of rib assemblies attached to the spar assembly;
(iii) a plurality of tensionable strap assemblies operatively associated with the rib assemblies for capturing and holding the component part against the rib assemblies;
(iv) a plurality of support cables having terminal ends connected to the jig assembly;
(v) a winch assembly operatively associated with at least one of the support cables so as to change an effective length thereof and thereby responsively reposition the jig assembly between first and second orientations.

12. The combination as in claim 11 , wherein the strap assemblies include a strap ratchet mechanism and a strap, wherein the strap has one end fixed to an end of a respective rib assembly and another end operatively engaged with the strap ratchet mechanism thereof so that operation of the strap ratchet mechanism allows strap slack to be removed thereby tensioning the strap.

13. The combination as in claim 12 , wherein the rib assemblies include an upright rigid mounting plate, and wherein the strap ratchet mechanisms include a base fixed to the mounting plate.

14. The combination as in claim 11 , wherein the rib assemblies include a spine plate having an upright connection flange connected to the spar assembly.

15. The combination as in claim 14 , wherein the rib assemblies include cushion members carried by the spine plate.

16. The combination as in claim 11 , wherein the elongate spar assembly comprises a pair of outwardly divergent spar members joined to one another at a central junction thereof.

17. The combination as in claim 16 , wherein one of the rib assemblies is positioned cross-wise of the spar assembly at the central junction of the divergent spar members.

18. The combination as in claim 17 , wherein a pair of the rib assemblies are end rib assemblies positioned at a respective terminal end of each of the spar members.

19. The combination as in claim 18 , wherein at least one rib assembly is positioned crosswise relative to the spar members between the end rib assemblies and the central rib assembly.

20. A method of positioning a component part during a manufacturing process comprising:
(a) providing a jig assembly comprising an elongate spar assembly, a plurality of rib assemblies attached to the spar, and a plurality of tensionable strap assemblies operatively associated with the rib assemblies for capturing and holding the component part against the rib assemblies;
(b) strapping a component part to the jig assembly by operating the tensionable strap assemblies; and
(c) moving the jig assembly so as to position the component part strapped thereto by:
(c1) suspending the jig assembly by support cables,
(c2) moving the support cables to position the jig assembly and the component part strapped thereto by operating a winch assembly operatively associated with a central support cable to thereby reorient the jig assembly and the component part strapped thereto between substantially horizontal and substantially vertical positions, and
(c3) lowering the jig assembly into coupling engagement with the transport dolly while the jig assembly and the component part strapped thereto are in a substantially vertical position.

21. The method of claim 20 , wherein step (b) includes operating a strap ratchet mechanism so as to tension a strap associated with the strap assemblies and thereby capture the component part between the tensioned strap and the rib assemblies.

22. The method of claim 20 , wherein step (c 3 ) comprises engaging L-shaped support brackets of the jig assembly with support sleeves of the transport dolly.

23. The method of claim 20 , wherein step (c) includes operating a winch assembly associated with at least one of the support cables so as to change an effective length thereof and cause repositioning of the jig assembly with the component part strapped thereto.

24. The method of claim 23 , wherein the winch assembly is operatively associated with a central support cable, and wherein operation of the central support cable causes the jig assembly and the component part strapped thereto to be reoriented between substantially horizontal and substantially vertical positions.

Assignees

• Embraer Sa

Inventors

• Nou Lallo Kametada
• De Albuquerque Bonifacio Marcelo Andrey

Classifications

• B66C1/42

  Gripping members engaging only the external or internal surfaces of the articles (for handling or stripping castings or ingots during manufacture B22D29/00) · CPC title

• B64F5/0036

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B62B3/04 Primary

  involving means for grappling or securing in place objects to be carried; Loading or unloading equipment · CPC title

• B64F5/0009

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B64F5/10 Primary

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