Alignment tool

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9539679-B2
Application number	US-201414447783-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 31, 2014
Priority date	Jul 31, 2014
Publication date	Jan 10, 2017
Grant date	Jan 10, 2017

Abstract

A method and apparatus for installing alignment of fastener assemblies. The method comprises placing an alignment tool on a reference datum. The method also takes pitch, roll, and yaw readings from an instrument associated with the alignment tool. Further, the method positions the alignment tool relative to a number of holes. Still further, the method adjusts the alignment tool based on pitch, roll, and yaw readings. The method also installs a first fastener assembly relative to a first hole of the number of holes.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A tool comprising:
a base having a first face configured to contact a reference datum, an instrument platform on a second face, and a positioning feature on a third face; and
an alignment portion attached to the base and having a footprint of a head-up display projector of an aircraft.

2. The tool of claim 1 further comprising:
a number of captive fasteners on the alignment portion.

3. The tool of claim 2 further comprising:
a number of alignment adjusters on the alignment portion to adjust at least one of pitch, roll, and yaw of the tool; and
a number of clamps on the alignment portion.

4. The tool of claim 2 , wherein the number of captive fasteners are configured to be accepted by a number of alignment sockets of a number of fastener assemblies, the number of fastener assemblies configured to maintain orientation without potting material.

5. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the instrument platform interfaces with a magnetic compass or a digital inclinometer.

6. A tool comprising:
a base having a first face configured to contact a reference datum, an instrument platform on a second face, and a positioning feature on a third face; and
an alignment portion attached to the base and having a number of captive fasteners.

7. The tool of claim 6 , wherein the alignment portion has a footprint of a head-up display projector of an aircraft.

8. The tool of claim 6 further comprising:
a number of clamps on the alignment portion; and
a number of alignment adjusters on the alignment portion to adjust at least one of pitch, roll, and yaw of the tool.

9. The tool of claim 6 , wherein the instrument platform is configured to interface with a magnetic compass or a digital inclinometer.

10. The tool of claim 6 , wherein the number of captive fasteners are configured to be accepted by a number of alignment sockets of a number of fastener assemblies, the number of fastener assemblies configured to maintain orientation without potting material.

11. A method comprising:
placing an alignment tool on a reference datum;
taking pitch, roll, and yaw readings from an instrument associated with the alignment tool while the alignment tool is on the reference datum;
positioning the alignment tool relative to a number of holes;
adjusting the alignment tool based on the pitch, the roll, and the yaw readings; and
installing a first fastener assembly relative to a first hole of the number of holes.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:
attaching a number of alignment sockets to the alignment tool, and wherein positioning the alignment tool relative to the number of holes includes sending a portion of a first alignment socket of the number of alignment sockets through the first hole.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein installing the first fastener assembly relative to the first hole comprises installing a first self-aligning concave washer and a first nut over the first alignment socket, the first nut being selected from a jam nut or a self-locking self-aligning nut.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein positioning the alignment tool relative to the number of holes comprises securing the alignment tool to a bracket containing the first hole using a number of clamps of the alignment tool.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein installing the first fastener assembly relative to the first hole of the number of holes comprises installing a first self-aligning concave washer and a first nut over the first alignment socket, wherein the first nut is a jam nut or a self-locking self-aligning nut, and the method further comprising:
attaching a number of centering guides to the bracket relative to the number of holes; and
removing a first centering guide of the number of centering guides, the first centering guide associated with the first alignment socket of the number of alignment sockets.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising:
checking the pitch, the roll, and the yaw of the alignment tool after installing the first self-aligning concave washer and the first nut over the first alignment socket;
determining if the pitch, the roll, and the yaw of the alignment tool are acceptable; and
upon determining the pitch, roll, and yaw are unacceptable, loosening the first nut, adjusting the alignment tool, and tightening the first nut.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprising:
checking the pitch, the roll, and the yaw of the alignment tool after installing the first self-aligning concave washer and the first nut over the first alignment socket;
determining if the pitch, the roll, and the yaw of the alignment tool are acceptable;
upon determining the pitch, the roll, and the yaw are acceptable, removing a second centering guide of the number of centering guides, the second centering guide associated with a second alignment socket of the number of alignment sockets; and
installing a second self-aligning concave washer and a second self-locking self-aligning nut over the second alignment socket.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein positioning the alignment tool relative to the number of holes of the bracket comprises securing the alignment tool to the bracket with the number of clamps of the alignment tool.

19. A method comprising:
placing an alignment tool on a reference datum;
taking pitch, roll, and yaw readings from an instrument associated with the alignment tool while the alignment tool is on the reference datum;
positioning the alignment tool relative to a number of fastener assemblies; and
taking pitch, roll, and yaw readings from the instrument associated with the alignment tool while positioned relative to the number of fastener assemblies.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising:
determining if the pitch, the roll, and the yaw readings from the instrument associated with the alignment tool while positioned relative to the number of fastener assemblies are acceptable; and
upon determining the pitch, the roll, and the yaw are unacceptable, loosening a nut from a first alignment socket of the number of fastener assemblies, adjusting the alignment tool, and tightening the nut over the first alignment socket, wherein the nut is a jam nut or a self-locking self-aligning nut.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Nisperos Oscar Villanueva

Classifications

• B23P19/10 Primary

  Aligning parts to be fitted together · CPC title

• G02B27/0149

  characterised by mechanical features (G02B27/0176 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G01B5/25

  for testing the alignment of axes · CPC title