Machine tool comprising a longitudinal rail, a transverse arm, and a motorized unit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9597761-B2
Application number	US-201514956182-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 1, 2015
Priority date	Dec 3, 2014
Publication date	Mar 21, 2017
Grant date	Mar 21, 2017

Abstract

A machine tool adapted to perform operations, in particular machining, on the surface of a part of large dimensions. The machine tool comprises a longitudinal rail and a transverse arm orthogonal to the longitudinal rail, fixed at a first end to slide on the longitudinal rail. A second end of the transverse arm is fitted with at least one motorized unit comprising at least one sucker allowing the unit to be held in position on the part during an operation. The unit is motorized and comprises a movement system for crawling over the part parallel to the longitudinal rail. The transverse arm carrying a tool is thus positioned precisely on the part. The unit is articulated relative to the transverse arm around a pivot of axis parallel to said transverse arm, in order to adapt to the curvature of the part along the longitudinal rail.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A machine tool for performance of operations on a part, comprising:
a longitudinal rail configured to be positioned relative to the part;
a transverse arm orthogonal to the longitudinal rail, comprising a first end mounted in translation on the longitudinal rail;
a tool carried by the transverse arm;
at least one motorized unit arranged at a second end of the transverse arm and comprising:
a movement system for crawling over the part parallel to the longitudinal rail;
at least one sucker allowing the unit to be held in position on the part;
a vacuum generator device configured to apply a vacuum to the sucker;
the motorized unit being articulated relative to the transverse arm around a pivot with axis parallel to said transverse arm.

2. The machine tool according to claim 1 , the movement system of which comprises a crawler, a running track of which comprises a plurality of second suckers.

3. The machine tool according to claim 2 , further comprising a distributor for distributing the vacuum provided by the vacuum generator device to the second suckers of the running track of the crawler.

4. The machine tool according to claim 3 , wherein the distributor comprises a pulley mounted in rotation on a distribution cylinder, the pulley comprising, on a lateral face, orifices distributed regularly in a circle, the distribution cylinder comprising, on a face in contact with the lateral face of the pulley comprising the orifices, an arcuate groove facing at least one of the orifices of the pulley.

5. The machine tool according to claim 4 , wherein the groove with an arcuate form extends over an angle between 90° and 180°.

6. The machine tool according to claim 1 , wherein the movement system comprises a motorized roller.

7. The machine tool according to claim 6 , wherein the unit comprises an outer cover with an open face, around which a peripheral skirt is arranged, the assembly of outer cover and peripheral skirt forming a sucker allowing the unit to be held in position on the part.

8. The machine tool according to claim 7 , wherein the peripheral skirt comprises a coating of polytetrafluoroethylene.

9. The machine tool according to claim 1 , wherein the movement system comprises at least two motorized elements positioned on either side of the sucker.

10. The machine tool according to claim 9 , wherein the motorized elements are rollers or crawlers.

11. The machine tool according to claim 9 , comprising one or more groups of two suckers, two motorized elements being positioned on either side of each group of two suckers.

12. The machine tool according to claim 1 , comprising two motorized elementary units distributed on either side of the transverse arm.

13. The machine tool according to claim 1 , wherein the transverse arm comprises a system for moving the tool in translation along the transverse arm.

14. The machine tool according to claim 1 , further comprising a device selected the group consisting of:
a rotation sensor connected to a rotating part of the movement device,
a force sensor on the transverse arm and a force sensor on the longitudinal rail, and
an angle sensor configured to determine the angle between the transverse arm and the longitudinal rail.

Assignees

• Airbus Operations Sas
• Airbus Operations Sas

Inventors

• Albert Fabien

Classifications

• B23Q9/0007 Primary

  Portable machines comprising means for their guidance or support directly on the workpiece · CPC title

• B23Q9/0014 Primary

  Portable machines provided with or cooperating with guide means supported directly by the workpiece during action · CPC title

• F16M13/02

  for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle · CPC title

• F16B47/00

  Suction cups for attaching purposes; Equivalent means using adhesives {(devices using adhesives, suction or magnetism for hanging or supporting pictures or the like A47G1/17; vacuum work holders B25B11/005; anchoring of ships using suction B63B21/27; suction cups for handling glass B65G49/061; load-engaging elements for cranes using suction means B66C1/02)} · CPC title

• B23Q9/0042

  the guide means being fixed only on the workpiece · CPC title