Reconfigurable fixturing system and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9833865-B2
Application number	US-201514956809-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 2, 2015
Priority date	Dec 2, 2015
Publication date	Dec 5, 2017
Grant date	Dec 5, 2017

Abstract

A reconfigurable fixturing assembly including an elongate member defining a longitudinal axis, a support assembly slideably connected to the elongate member, the support assembly including a support member extending therefrom, a plurality of pivot assemblies slideably connected to the elongate member, each pivot assembly defining a pivot axis, and a plurality of transverse guide rails, wherein each transverse guide rail defines a guide rail axis that is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the elongate member, and wherein each transverse guide rail is slideably connected to an associated pivot assembly.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A reconfigurable fixturing assembly comprising:
an elongate member defining a longitudinal axis;
a support assembly slideably connected to said elongate member, said support assembly comprising a support member extending therefrom;
a plurality of pivot assemblies slideably connected to said elongate member, each pivot assembly of said plurality of pivot assemblies defining a pivot axis; and
a plurality of transverse guide rails, wherein each transverse guide rail of said plurality of transverse guide rails defines a guide rail axis that is transverse to said longitudinal axis, and wherein each transverse guide rail of said plurality of transverse guide rails is slideably connected to an associated pivot assembly of said plurality of pivot assemblies.

2. The reconfigurable fixturing assembly of claim 1 wherein said elongate member comprises a first side and an opposed second side, and wherein said support assembly is slideably connected to said first side and said plurality of pivot assemblies are slideably connected to said second side.

3. The reconfigurable fixturing assembly of claim 1 wherein said sliding connection between said elongate member and said support assembly is effected by a carriage slideably engaged with a guide rail.

4. The reconfigurable fixturing assembly of claim 3 wherein said carriage is fixedly connected to said support assembly and said guide rail is fixedly connected to said elongate member.

5. The reconfigurable fixturing assembly of claim 1 wherein said support member has a length, and wherein said length is fixed.

6. The reconfigurable fixturing assembly of claim 1 wherein said support member comprises a distal end and a head connected to said distal end.

7. The reconfigurable fixturing assembly of claim 6 wherein said head is a vacuum head or an indexing head.

8. The reconfigurable fixturing assembly of claim 1 wherein said support assembly further comprises:
a base, wherein said support member is connected to said base; and
a translation assembly connected to said base.

9. The reconfigurable fixturing assembly of claim 8 wherein said translation assembly comprises a motor comprising a motor shaft operatively connected to said elongate member.

10. The reconfigurable fixturing assembly of claim 9 wherein said translation assembly further comprises a first gear connected to said motor shaft and a second, elongated gear connected to said elongate member, and wherein said first gear is engaged with said second gear.

11. The reconfigurable fixturing assembly of claim 1 wherein said sliding connection between said elongate member and said plurality of pivot assemblies is effected by a plurality of carriages slideably engaged with a guide rail.

12. The reconfigurable fixturing assembly of claim 11 wherein each carriage of said plurality of carriages is fixedly connected to an associated pivot assembly of said plurality of pivot assemblies, and wherein said guide rail is fixedly connected to said elongate member.

13. The reconfigurable fixturing assembly of claim 1 wherein said pivot axis is orthogonal to said longitudinal axis.

14. The reconfigurable fixturing assembly of claim 1 wherein each pivot assembly of said plurality of pivot assemblies comprises a first member pivotally connected to a second member by a pin.

15. The reconfigurable fixturing assembly of claim 1 wherein each pivot assembly of said plurality of pivot assemblies further comprises a thrust bearing positioned between said first member and said second member.

16. The reconfigurable fixturing assembly of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of carriages, wherein each carriage of said plurality of carriages is fixedly connected to an associated pivot assembly of said plurality of pivot assemblies, and wherein each carriage of said plurality of carriages is slideably engaged with an associated transverse guide rail of said plurality of transverse guide rails.

17. The reconfigurable fixturing assembly of claim 1 wherein said guide rail axis of each transverse guide rail of said plurality of transverse guide rails is substantially parallel with said guide rail axes of the other transverse guide rails of said plurality of transverse guide rails.

18. A reconfigurable fixturing system comprising a plurality of said reconfigurable fixturing assemblies of claim 1 .

19. The reconfigurable fixturing system of claim 18 further comprising a workpiece supported by said plurality of said reconfigurable fixturing assemblies.

20. A method for fixturing a workpiece with a plurality of support assemblies, each support assembly of said plurality of support assemblies comprises a support member, said method comprising:
connecting said plurality of support assemblies to an elongate member such that each support assembly of said plurality of support assemblies is slideable along a longitudinal axis of said elongate member;
connecting said elongate member to a plurality of transverse guide rails by way of a plurality of pivot assemblies, wherein each transverse guide rail of said plurality of transverse guide rails defines a guide rail axis that is transverse to said longitudinal axis;
moving said elongate member relative to said plurality of transverse guide rails to a desired orientation within an x-y plane;
moving said plurality of support assemblies to desired positions along said elongate member;
optionally, adjusting a length of each of said support members of said plurality of support assemblies; and
positioning said workpiece on said support members of said plurality of support assemblies.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Stone Paul R

Classifications

• B23Q1/035 Primary

  with an array of longitudinally movable rods defining a reconfigurable support surface · CPC title

• B23Q1/037

  comprising series of support elements whose relative distance is adjustable · CPC title

• B23Q1/621

  a single sliding pair followed perpendicularly by a single sliding pair · CPC title

• B23Q1/4866

  followed perpendicularly by a single sliding pair · CPC title

• B64F5/40

  Maintaining or repairing aircraft · CPC title