Exterior indexing process and tooling

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9981367-B2
Application number	US-201514793403-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 7, 2015
Priority date	Jul 7, 2015
Publication date	May 29, 2018
Grant date	May 29, 2018

Abstract

Method and apparatus for aligning fastener holes of two components. An alignment fixture includes two mating fixtures. Each mating fixture includes a reference plate that is aligned to the fastener holes of one of the components. Each mating fixture also includes an alignment device. The alignment devices can be aligned with the respective reference plates such that the alignment between the reference plates and the fastener holes are transferred to the alignment devices. Once aligned, the alignment devices can be temporarily attached to the respective components at locations away from the fastener holes. The reference plates can then be removed. Thereafter, the components can be brought together such that mating features on the alignment devices engage. Engagement of the mating features aligns the two components such that the fastener holes on the components are aligned.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for aligning a first component and a second component, wherein the first component includes a first plurality of fastener holes, wherein the second component includes a second plurality of fastener holes, and wherein the first plurality of fastener holes and the second plurality of fastener holes are alignable to receive fasteners that join the first component and the second component, the method comprising:
attaching a first reference plate to at least two of the fastener holes of the first plurality of fastener holes in the first component;
aligning mating features of a first alignment device with cooperating mating features of the first reference plate, thereby placing the at least two fastener holes and the first alignment device in a predefined relative arrangement;
having placed the at least two fastener holes and the first alignment device in the predefined relative arrangement, attaching the first alignment device to the first component;
attaching a second reference plate to at least two of the fastener holes of the second plurality of fastener holes in the second component;
aligning mating features of a second alignment device with cooperating mating features of the second reference plate, thereby placing the at least two fastener holes and the second alignment device in a predefined relative arrangement;
having placed the at least two fastener holes and the second alignment device in the predefined relative arrangement, attaching the second alignment device to the second component; and
mating a first alignment feature of the first alignment device and a cooperating second alignment feature of the second alignment device to urge the first plurality of holes in the first component and the second plurality of holes in the second component into alignment.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising removing the first reference plate from the first component and the second reference plate from the second component before mating the first alignment feature of the first alignment device and the cooperating second alignment feature of the second alignment device.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising applying fasteners through the aligned first plurality of fastener holes and the second plurality of fastener holes.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising removing the first alignment device from the first component and removing the second alignment device from the second component after the fasteners are applied through the first plurality of fastener holes and the second plurality of fastener holes.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein mating the first alignment feature of the first alignment device and the cooperating second alignment feature of the second alignment device comprises inserting a portion of the first alignment feature into the second alignment feature.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
attaching a third reference plate to at least a first different two of the fastener holes of the first plurality of fastener holes in the first component;
aligning mating features of a third alignment device with cooperating mating features of the third reference plate, thereby placing the first different at least two fastener holes and the third alignment device in a predefined relative arrangement;
having placed the first different at least two fastener holes and the third alignment device in the predefined relative arrangement, attaching the third alignment device to the first component;
attaching a fourth reference plate to at least a second different two of the fastener holes of the second plurality of fastener holes in the second component;
aligning mating features of a fourth alignment device with cooperating mating features of the fourth reference plate, thereby placing the second different at least two fastener holes and the fourth alignment device in a predefined relative arrangement;
having placed the second different at least two fastener holes and the fourth alignment device in the predefined relative arrangement, attaching the fourth alignment device to the second component; and
mating a third alignment feature of the third alignment device and a cooperating fourth alignment feature of the fourth alignment device to urge the first plurality of holes in the first component and the second plurality of holes in the second component into alignment.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising removing the third reference plate from the first component and the fourth reference plate from the second component before mating the third alignment feature of the third alignment device and the cooperating fourth alignment feature of the fourth alignment device.

8. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
attaching a fifth reference plate to at least a third different two of the fastener holes of the first plurality of fastener holes in the first component;
aligning mating features of a fifth alignment device with cooperating mating features of the fifth reference plate, thereby placing the third different at least two fastener holes and the fifth alignment device in a predefined relative arrangement;
having placed the third different at least two fastener holes and the fifth alignment device in the predefined relative arrangement, attaching the fifth alignment device to the first component;
attaching a sixth reference plate to at least a fourth different two of the fastener holes of the second plurality of fastener holes in the second component;
aligning mating features of a sixth alignment device with cooperating mating features of the sixth reference plate, thereby placing the fourth different at least two fastener holes and the sixth alignment device in a predefined relative arrangement;
having placed the fourth different at least two fastener holes and the sixth alignment device in the predefined relative arrangement, attaching the sixth alignment device to the second component; and
mating a fifth alignment feature of the fifth alignment device and a cooperating sixth alignment feature of the sixth alignment device to urge the first plurality of holes in the first component and the second plurality of holes in the second component into alignment.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising removing the fifth reference plate from the first component and the sixth reference plate from the second component before mating the fifth alignment feature of the fifth alignment device and the sixth alignment feature of the sixth alignment device.

10. An alignment fixture for aligning a first component and a second component, wherein the first component includes a first plurality of fastener holes, wherein the second component includes a second plurality of fastener holes, and wherein the first plurality of fastener holes and the second plurality of fastener holes are aligned to receive fasteners that join the first component and the second component, the alignment fixture comprising:
a first mating fixture, including:
a first reference plate adapted to align with at least two of the first plurality of fastener holes in the first component and including a first reference plate mating feature;
a first alignment device comprising:
a first alignment device mating feature and a first alignment feature, the first alignment device mating feature adapted to cooperatively engage the first reference plate mating feature to align the first alignment device with the first reference plate, to thereby place the at least two of the first plurality of fastener holes and the first alignment device in a predefined relative arrangement;

wherein the first alignment device is adapted to be coupled to a surface of the first component when the first alignment de

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Nestleroad Mark Edward
• Huckey Andrew Michael
• Whorton William Shawn
• Charlton Craig
• Wilson Jake Aspen

Classifications

• B64F5/10

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

• B23K37/053

  aligning cylindrical work; Clamping devices therefor · CPC title

• B23P19/10

  Aligning parts to be fitted together · CPC title

• B21J15/142 Primary

  Aerospace structures · CPC title

• F16L1/10

  for aligning · CPC title